The WBF is a non-profit organisation that encourages collaboration between the biocontrol industry and academia in the AgriTech sector. Its goal is to connect stakeholders, enabling them to work together to ensure the successful development and commercialisation of biocontrol products.
The WBF brings together innovators, industry and academia through membership communications and specialist events featuring presentations from affiliated experts and stakeholders.
It is also spearheading an industry-wide lobbying campaign for regulatory reform for bioprotection products.
The WBF is guided by a panel of international advisors, who meet regularly to ensure that we are providing the best possible services to our members
Our mission is to bridge the gap between academia and industry, and to ensure the successful development and commercialisation of biocontrol products.
The WBF is at the forefront of the collaboration between industry and academia throughout the world, helping to connect researchers, business leaders, customers and investors, in order to turbo-charge innovation, commercialisation and uptake of bioprotection products in a real green revolution.
Encourage collaborations between academia and industry for research, innovation and commercialisation
Advance the development of next-generation formulation and delivery systems to improve efficacy
Support innovators and entrepreneurs in their efforts to raise investment for product development and commercialisation
Encourage different stakeholders to work together to address challenges and advance the biocontrol industry
The Board of Directors, led by the President, provides leadership for the WBF, leading and guiding the Advisory Board and Management Committee to ensure that the WBF’s mission is achieved and its goals are met.
Minshad is the Chairman of WBF. He is passionate about developing and commercialising natural bioproducts to protect crops from pests and diseases, reducing the use of synthetic pesticides, enhancing food security and increasing crop yields.
Minshad has >20 years of experience in developing and launching bioprotectors in AgriTech sector, having published >70 research publications in international journals and received many prestigious business innovation awards.
He is the Founder and CEO of Bionema, a bioprotectant technology company.
Carol Pullen has a BSc Business and started her chemical career in 1992 with POLO CITRUS, selling Citrus Oil Products to agricultural cooperatives in Southern Africa. After POLO was sold to Cremark Chemicals, she assumed a position as mining division manager for the group specializing in dust control and dewatering chemistries. Her skillsets took her to the USA where she worked for Nalco Chemicals for several years before transitioning to Hach, a DANAHER Company, as Industrial business and market development manager.
Due to Carol’s passion for wines and vines, she completed several training courses in viticulture and oenology and early 2008 Carol joined ORO AGRI in a California sales position specializing in vineyards and due to her success in developing the grape market in California, Carol was transferred to Europe as the General Manager to develop the European, North African, Middle East and Russian market.
Carol developed a passion for biocontrol and sustainable agriculture, and today Oro Agri Europe is one of the leading biopesticide providers in Europe with an international team servicing distributors across 28 countries in Europe, Middle East and North Africa with a state-of-the-art production facility based in Palmela, Portugal.
Professor Zhang has built an international reputation for developing original work on micromanipulation of single micro-/nanoparticles and encapsulation/bioencapsulation with applications in chemical, food, nutraceutical, pharmaceutical, household care and human/oral care industries.
Professor Zhang is a member of the Editorial Boards of the Journal of Microencapsulation and Artificial Cells, Blood Substitutes and Biotechnology, Senior Editor of Cogent Engineering (Chemical Engineering), EPSRC Peer Review College and Engineering Panel, an Overseas Assessor of Chinese Academy of Sciences, an Accreditation Assessor and member of Education and Accreditation Forum of IChemE.
He has authored and co-authored 148 journal papers and 284 other publications (refereed conference papers, book chapters, conference presentations, 9 patents, etc).
Dr. Shachi Gurumayum is a senior executive with experience in both the corporate and philanthropy sectors. Shachi grew up in a community of smallholder farmers and has two decades of R&D and General Management experience in four continents spanning the chemical industry, Oil & Gas, and agriculture.
Shachi is the Director of AgriMayum GmbH that provides strategic and implementation support to companies looking to expand into Africa, Asia and Europe. He is also the founder of the MaolKeki Foundation that provides last-mile ag training, health assessments and nurtures Agri Entrepreneurs. Shachi also advises LadyAgri (Brussels), sits on the Board of Directors of Sahel Consulting (Lagos) and St. Stephen’s College Alumni Advisory Board (Delhi) besides being a member of the Expert Review Committee, Food & Agriculture Benchmark of the World Benchmarking Alliance (Amsterdam). Dr. Shachi Gurumayum is a 2021 Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awardee (the highest honor conferred to an overseas Indian by the President of India).
The WBF is administered by the Management Committee.
Meraj holds a Master’s Degree in Commerce /Accounting & Knowledge and Information Management from the University of Ghent, Belgium.
She has more than 20 years’ experience in finance, accounting, business administration and modern business management practices.
With a PhD in Plant Pathology from the University of Birmingham (UK), and more than 20 years in scientific communications and publishing, Sarah has extensive experience in communicating about research and business in many scientific areas but admits to a particular passion for furthering the interests of the bioprotection sector.
Dynamic Marketing and Events Coordinator with over 8 years of experience and a strong Graphic Design background. Her creative prowess, honed through her degree, enables her to craft visually stunning marketing materials and memorable event experiences.
With her diverse skill set, creative mindset, and years of industry experience, Gulshanara Nuree is a valuable asset in the world of marketing and events. She is dedicated to driving results, fostering connections, and leaving a lasting impact through her work.
The Advisory Board provides counsel on pertinent matters to ensure the WBF is steered wisely and intelligently, in a manner that ensures we provide our members with the best possible advantages.
Mr. Abdul Awal Mintoo, The Chairman & CEO of Multimode Group of Companies has a high academic background and commendable experience in the field of Trade, Industry, Agriculture, Shipping, Banking, and Insurance. Mr.Mintoo obtained his B.Sc., M. Sc. in Transportation Management from the State University of New York (SUNY), M.Sc.
in Agricultural Economics from School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), Master of Laws (LLM) in International
Business Law from Queen Mary – University College London, University of London.
Mr. Mintoo involved himself with various business and industrial establishments. He advocates societal structure that
simultaneously embraces both the market and government. As a fearless champion of the cause of strengthening the
economic infrastructure of Bangladesh. Mintoo’s business edifice was built by his capitalizing on the rich and varied
experiences, steady resolve, and an indomitable spirit.
Alan publishes special reports and analysis on biologicals markets, policy and legislation. This includes gene-editing and NBT, IPM, organics, bioenergy, biofertilizers, carbon and regeneration farming, and biodynamics. He has direct area knowledge of the industry in Ukraine/Russia and Kazakhstan, South Asia and Brazil.
Dr Balaji Vasudevan is currently Agri-FoodTech SME at UM6P ventures based at Morocco in Africa. He is driven by a desire to help companies bring breakthrough agri-food technologies to market that create a better food and agriculture eco-system. At UM6P Ventures, Dr Vasudevan uses his academic and industry agtech experience across GMO, gene editing, RNAi, Alt proteins, Cellular agriculture, Gene silencing, RNA Biopesticides, Plant molecular farming, Plant disease resistance, AgBiologicals, Plant tissue culture, Plant cell biology, plant molecular biology, Agtech scouting, Agetch market landscape and competitive intelligence in agtech to identify and support exceptional technology-focused future food and agtech start-ups.
He is also an advisor/consultant for a US based RNA company that uses topical RNAi for crop protection and for a US based plant molecular farming that use plants as host for biologics production. He earned his PhD in plant biotechnology in India and did post-doctoral studies in Israel and USA. He has over 20 years of agtech industry and academia, and is very active in the agtech space and in helping people to establish collaborations.
Dr Vasudevan has 16 refereed international publications in top plant science journals, he is an editorial board member for two, and an invited reviewer for eight reputed journals. He is also a grant reviewer, Invited speaker and OCM member in agtech conferences. Very recently, invited by ASPB/Plantae for an Interview on My Agtech Journey and Career Advice for Young Minds to Enter Agri-Food Tech. Recently invited by American Society of Microbiology as a speaker for webinar “Career Options in Biotechnology” focused on providing ideas and steps needed for biology graduates to enter industry career. Also invited by academic institutions for several talks on Agtech as a career and its role in food security and sustainability
Dr. Chang Keun Sung is the founder, CEO of DBIO, INC., specializing in green biotechnology. In Asia, DBIO, INC. is one of the leading manufacturers of biopesticides.
Also, he is Professor Emeritus at the Chungnam National University, Korea.
Dr Sung received his Ph.D. from NDSU, USA, in microbiology and worked in biological control for over 35 years. He has published 189 peer-reviewed SCI journal articles and holds five patents, including one international patent.
He focuses on the biological control of pinewood nematode and currently takes a joint project with the Korean government agencies and overseas research institutes.
David Shapiro-Ilan is a Supervisory Research Entomologist/Research Leader at the USDA-ARS Southeastern Fruit and Tree Nut Research Station in Byron, GA, USA; he is also an Adjunct Professor, Department of Entomology, University of Georgia,, and Department of Biology, Fort Valley State University.
Dr Shapiro-Ilan’s research focuses on invertebrate pathology/microbial control. Areas of interest emphasize the study of entomopathogenic nematodes and fungi, and include biological control applications, production and formulation technology, and studies on nematode behavior (especially foraging dynamics).
He has published 210 peer-reviewed journal articles plus 24 book chapters and > 50 trade journal/extension articles; he has co-edited 3 books and is inventor on 7 patents. Selected awards include Fellow of the Society of Nematologists, EEO/Civil Rights, Excellence in IPM, and > $13 million as PI/co-PI on competitive grants. Selected professional services include Scientific Quality Review Officer (USDA-ARS) and Editor-in-Chief for the Journal of Nematology; he currently serves as Editor-in-Chief for the Journal of Invertebrate Pathology.
Dr Dean Metcalf is a Plant Pathologist based in Tasmania Australia. He has worked on Trichoderma spp in biological control for 30 years on a range of vegetable and horticultural diseases, with particular interests in Sclerotinia, Sclerotium, Botrytis, Phytophthora and Pseudocercospora spp. He also has specialised in diseased of Allium crops. He lead the Tasmanian Governments plant disease diagnostic lab for 13 years providing very wide experience, including as Quarantine Plant Pathologist. In 2002 he founded Metcalf 8ioControl which researches, develops and manufactures biological control agents.
Dr. Deborah Henderson leads an active applied research program in biological and non-chemical management of
agricultural and landscape pests and diseases and develops environmentally sound bioproducts in partnership with
industry. Two other themes of her research program are resilient cropping systems and agri-tech. Before coming to
KPU, she founded and led E.S. Cropconsult Ltd. to offer Integrated Pest Management services and research that
integrated biocontrols and alternatives to pesticides into vegetable and berry crop production. The company is still an
integral part of the BC agriculture industry. Her research continues to be industry-relevant and focussed on cost-
effective practical pest management solutions, and agritech that contributes to sustainability and resilience of the
agriculture and landscape sectors.
Dr Diana Leemon is the Principal Consultant at Myco-Vation Research Services, having previously been the principal scientist for bee health and arthropod pest management in Agri-Science Queensland where she led a research group investigating the non-chemical control of livestock pests and parasites.
Diana has specialist expertise in the isolation and mass production of entomopathogenic fungi, particularly Metarhizium and Beauveria; as well as the design and conduct of practical bioassays and field trials for evaluating the biopesticide potential of these fungi.
Diana has been a mycologist for over 40 years and is passionate about the potential for fungi to solve agricultural problems. She has been the chief investigator on many discovery and development research projects investigating fungal biopesticides for arthropod control, mostly in livestock industries.
Diana has also led projects investigating the non-chemical control of honeybee pests and currently serves on the national R&D advisory panel for the Australian honeybee industry.
Doyle Ray Oakey, Ph.D. is currently the Regional Vice-President, Americas CoverGo a provider of a
global, end-to-end insurance technology. He continues to pursue a personal interest in making
financing and insurance available to vulnerable and unbanked populations with a focus on SME’s and the agricultural sector. To that end Dr Oakey has led multiple projects in Asia and Latin American
developing agricultural traceability, finance, and insurance tools using low-latency satellite data,
processed with Artificial Neural Network (ANN) algorithms, for unsupervised change detection to accelerate, enhance reliability, of underwriting and claims.
Earlier in his career, Dr Oakey has been instrumental in the global strategy, launch, and development of insurers and InsurTech globally such as QBE, Ping An, China Life, Sun Life, Bradesco, DXC and Insurance Technologies among others. He continues to advise insurance clients globally supporting their internationalization, distribution and process improvements, and new product development.
Prior to his consulting career, Dr. Oakey was an adjunct faculty member in Business Management,
Sociology, Demography, and Anthropology. His dissertation employed unique statistical methods to create a practical model predicting insurance participation rates worldwide (https://goo.gl/9qNaoR)
in addition to other academic publications on globally population transition and dynamics
(https://goo.gl/4sPRtd; https://goo.gl/4BTsGh).
As Innovation Lead for the Agri-Tech Centres within Innovate UK, Ian is leading the £130 million programme that are the four Centre’s for Agricultural Innovation as part of the UK’s Strategy for Agricultural Technologies. The Centres are engaged in over 500 applied research projects with farmers, industry and academia.
With a Degree in Microbiology from the University of Leeds, Ian also has an MBA from Sheffield Business School, and is a Chartered Scientist, Chartered Biologist, and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology. Ian has co-authored book chapters and given keynote speeches in the UK and internationally.
John is the owner of JMM Solutions – a land based consultancy especially focused upon change management, diversification of business activity, innovation and research. Other current roles include being independent chairman of the Amenity Forum, Trustee and Board member of BASIS Registration, advisory board member for the Warwickshire Colleges Group a member of the advocacy group for Winterbourne House and Gardens at the University of Birmingham. He a regular contributor on farming matters to the Property Chronicle and presents widely on amenity and agricultural issues.
John graduated First Class from Cambridge in 1971, being top student in his year and, following on from that, he obtained a Research Fellowship and Lectureship at Nottingham University. He is an elected Fellow of the Royal Agricultural Societies and the Institute of Agricultural Engineers and holds honorary Fellowships at both the University of Central Lancashire and Myerscough College and his chair is at De Montfort University. In 2004, he was awarded the OBE for services to agriculture and education. He has recently held the role of President at St. Catharine’s College, Cambridge and has held a large number of national and regional roles and has considerable overseas experience and networks.
Keith Matthews has practiced environmental law focussing on the regulation of chemicals and genetically engineered organisms for over 20 years. He has practiced in the private sector, and for over 13 years was a staff attorney and Assistant General Counsel in the Office of General Counsel at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. He then served for four years as the Director of the Biopesticides and Pollution Prevention Division (BPPD) in EPA’s Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP). Now, as Of Counsel with Wiley Rein LLP, his practice focuses on the regulation of chemical products, including biotechnology products regulated by EPA and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Keith counsels and advises his clients using his breadth of knowledge on a variety of statutes, including the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), the Endangered Species Act (ESA), and the Plant Protection Act.
Kellye Eversole is a pioneer in agricultural genomics, biotechnology, and the development of pre-competitive, public-private agricultural research. Since 1994, she has led international consortia and projects to obtain reference genome sequences for agriculturally important crop, livestock, and poultry species. She leads the International Wheat Genome Sequencing Consortium, the international, public-private consortium that obtained the reference sequence of the bread wheat genome, and, since 2016, the International Alliance for Phytobiomes Research which is pioneering a holistic, systems approach to understanding the complex interactions between the biological and geophysical components of agricultural production systems and support the development of novel, site specific products for enhanced sustainability. In addition to her work in genomics and convergent systems, Kellye advises public and private entities on regulations related to agricultural biotechnology/genetic engineering, microbial products, and plant protection products. She is a faculty affiliate in the Ag Biology Department at Colorado State University and is on the scientific advisory board for Trace Genomics. She was elected as a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science for her work in plant and microbial genomics and has published widely in top tier journals including multiple articles in Science and Nature.
Passionate about innovation for societal benefits, increased diversity in STEM, and giving back to society through volunteering, Kellye mentors entrepreneurs from emerging economies who are launching science and technology based businesses, serves on the advisory board for Zaidi-STEM (a nonprofit organization supporting STEM innovation and mentoring for girls in Sub-Saharan Africa) and the advisory board for Women in the Enterprise of Science and Technology (WEST), and founded in 1998 the Women in Genomics networking group. She is also a member of the Arlington Diversity Task Group and an active participant in anti-racist activities in Massachusetts.
Kellye grew up in Oklahoma in a farming and ranching family. This early agricultural foundation led her to pursue a career of service in support of the agricultural enterprise. She founded Eversole Associates in 1991 following years of professional training in political science and philosophy (Oklahoma State University, George Washington University, and Georgetown University), working as a professional staff member in the US Senate, and leading a Federal study commission. She co-owns a farm in southwestern Oklahoma.
Dr Reddy is a professor in the Department of Entomology & Plant Pathology, Auburn University, USA.
For 15 years Dr Reddy served as senior scientist and R & D global manager for several agro-chemical industries such as ExxonMobil (Esso – Imperial Oil), before switching to academia in 1998. Over 40 years he orchestrated multi-disciplinary, global research for biological control of soil-borne diseases (IPM), biofertilizers & biofungicides (PGPR), induced systemic resistance, and organic agriculture, for safer, environment-friendly products. Poverty alleviation for rural farmers was a key objective. Dr Reddy contributed over 350 peer-reviewed research papers and several book chapters. He worked with national and international research and development organizations funded by multi-million-dollar grants. National bodies in Europe, Australia and many Asian countries regularly invite him to speak. Dr Reddy has trained several M.Sc. and Ph. D. graduates, post-doctorates, and visiting national and international scientists. He received prestigious international awards for research and entrepreneurship. Successful Businessperson, Investor & Entrepreneur of www.auburnventures.com, Auburn, Alabama, USA. He consults for educational, private sector, government bodies and NGOs globally
Prof. Ahmmed has 19 years experience in research for bio-rational management of crop diseases. He is the Technical Editor of a scientific journal – The Agriculturists. Moreover, he is an adjunct faculty of another two universities named Bangladesh Open University and IUBAT.
He is a national expert in many areas of agriculture including GAP, IPM, food safety, SPS (sanitary & phytosanitary) and urban agriculture. Moreover, he has good experience in quarantine requirements, pest risk analysis and plant health issues for exporting agro produces. Prof. Ahmmed serves as the PI and Co-PI for dozens of scientific projects in Bangladesh. He is the Registered Trainer of GLOBAL G.A.P. He is also working as a Master Trainer on different agricultural topics including use of biopesticides in Bangladesh. He published 54 scientific papers, 15 conference proceedings, 2 books and many popular articles. He received fellowships from Netherlands Fellowship Program, The Netherlands, Crawford Fund Fellowship, Australia, Chinese Government Fellowship and Rockefeller Foundation, Thailand.
Dr Owen Jones is a partner in the consultancy company Lisk & Jones Consultants Ltd that specialises in life-science technologies. He advises clients on technology issues related to semiochemicals, microbial products, biostimulants and plant-derived products.
Prior to his semi-retirement in 2012 he was responsible for Global Strategy at Suterra LLC and was based at AgriSense BCS Ltd, a company which he helped establish in 1984 to develop and commercialise insect monitoring and control systems based on pheromones.
Owen was President of the International Biocontrol Manufacturers’ Association (IBMA) for two years until December 2012, and on the board of IBMA for 5 years prior to that. He has been a Fellow of the Royal Entomological Society of London since 1978, an Honorary Professor in the School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, and an Honorary Fellow of Bangor University.
Dr Patricia Stock is an internationally recognized nematologist and insect pathologist who has studied for three decades insect pathogens and parasites as alternatives for the management of agricultural pests. Through her research and teaching, she pioneered and promoted research on entomopathogens as biological model systems. She has mentored and trained scientists from over 30 countries; and authored/co-authored over 120 peer-review scientific articles, 12 book chapters, and edited two books.
Dr Stock served as faculty member at the University of Arizona for 20 years. From 2018 to August 2021, she served as the director of the School of Animal and Comparative Biomedical Sciences (ACBS) housed in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) at the University of Arizona. She is currently the Dean of the College of Agriculture at California State University in Chico, California, USA.
Throughout her career Dr Stock has received numerous prestigious awards and Fellowships including the Rockefeller Biotechnology Career Fellowship, Fulbright Senior Specialist Fellowship, Founder Lecturer Award from the Society of Invertebrate Pathology, among others. She has served on various leadership roles in three international scientific societies including vice-president and president of the Organization of Nematologists of Tropical America (ONTA) from 2008 to 2010 and vice president for education at the International Symbiosis Society (2015-2018). Currently, she is the vice president of the Society of Invertebrate Pathology (SIP).
Richard A. Sikora is a University Professor Emeritus at the University of Bonn, Germany. He was Chairman of the Institute of Plant Health and Head of the Soil-Ecosystem Phytopathology Department where he maintained an strong research and teaching programme in soil-ecosystem pathology, nematology, microbiology with emphasis on IPM in the tropics and subtropics.
His research interests dealt with nematode and microbial complexity in the rhizosphere, biocontrol and overall management of root health. He was chairman of the CGIAR System wide program on IPM. More recently he was offered a Fellow position at the Stellenbosch Institute of Advance Study (STIAS) where he led a Think-Tank dealing with The Impact of Sustainable Intensification on Food, Environment and Human Wellbeing in Southern Africa. He is a Distinguished Alumni of the University of Illinois, Fellow of two Scientific Societies, recipient of the American Phytopathology Society (APS) International Service Award and the Anon de Barry Medal of the German Phytomedizin Society (DPG) for his contributions to plant protection science.
Richard has co-authored nine books and published over 300 peer-reviewed scientific papers. He remains active and has recently published edited a CABI open-access handbook: Integrated Nematode Management: State of the Art and Visions for the Future. He trained 95 PhD and 75 MS post-graduates, with a large number working internationally around the world. Many of his students became national leaders in agricultural sciences.
Highly motivated and long term passionate believer in biological products from 1993 with the Introduction of Natures Friends in ICI.
Expert in International Agrochemical and Biotech Marketing, Product Management and Product Development in highly regulated markets. Including acquisition and licensing of products with major Tier 1 & 2 companies worldwide and change management to integrate new product ranges. Specialist in managing the bridge between Research & Development, acquiring distribution and Product Marketing.
Experience in working for successful start-up companies and within the largest agrochemical companies. Currently establishing a new global biological business and seeking new technologies to commercialise.
Professor Ehlers is a renowned scientist who is deeply engaged in European bioprotection research projects. He Founded E-nema in 2012 to produce nematodes and microorganisms for pest control. In 2020, he won the IBMA Bernard-Blum Award for Most Innovative Biocontrol Product.
Dr Jones is the Technical Manager at International Pheromone Systems, a position he has held for over 10 years. His academic achievements include a PhD in Chemical Ecology from the University of Sussex, a Masters in Entomology from Imperial College and Undergraduate degrees in Zoology and Chemistry from the Universities of Leeds and Leicester, respectively. He won the Dunlop Polymer Prize in Chemistry while studying at the University of Leicester.
Sam uses his academic and industrial experience to develop and commercialise insect pest monitoring and control systems and has a particular interest in chemical ecology, insect behaviour and taxonomy and insect-plant interactions. He is responsible for devising and creating new products and solutions for the Integrated Pest Management market, usually in collaboration with commercial partners and Research Institutes.
During the last 40 years of his international career, Professor Sharma has served as a scientist, science leader, coordinator, policy maker, manager, program leader and director of a diversity of programs focusing on plant and environment health, food security, market access and trade.
Positions that he has held include: Professor and Chair in Biosecurity and Food Security at Murdoch University, Australia; Director and Chief Plant Health Manager at the Department of Agriculture and Food, Government of Western Australia; Founder Co-Director of Australia-China Centre for Abiotic and Biotic Stress Management in Agriculture, Horticulture and Forestry, a joint centre of the Murdoch University and the Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University, China; Professor and Head of the Division of Nematology, the largest nematology centre in the world at the Indian Agriculture Research Institute, New Delhi; and Scientist at the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics.
He has more than 215 publications, and is recipient of several awards and fellowships, including fellowship of the National Academy of Sciences, India.
Dr Ford is the founder of Ecolibrium Biologicals, a multi award winning agri-biotech company based in Auckland, New Zealand, with a global perspective on the provision of sustainable pest control solutions in agriculture and horticulture. Stephen is a Plant Pathologist specializing in Mycology and Metabolomics.
In 2004 he founded one of New Zealand’s leading Agri Biotech companies, leading the development of a novel systemic biological insecticide recently sold to the global agri-pesticides market leader. Stephen is a Winner of Auckland Universities prestigious Entrepreneurs Challenge, a recipient of an NZ Bio Award and a Finalist in the Bayer NZ Innovators Awards.
Surendra Dara is an entomologist with more than 25 years of experience in IPM and microbial control. Throughout his career, he worked on numerous invasive and endemic species of arthropods and plant pathogens. He developed a strong research and extension program working on irrigation, nutrient, and pest management issues, biostimulants, and biological soil amendments to develop sustainable agricultural solutions. His research and extension covered commodities such as alfalfa, cassava, cotton, small fruits, and vegetables serving agricultural communities locally, regionally, and internationally.
Dara has authored/co-authored more than 400 scientific and extension articles, which include three co-edited books, four co-edited special issues of journals, 25 book chapters, and 54 peer-reviewed journal articles. He has extensive international outreach experience training farmers in Bangladesh, Guatemala, Haiti, Kosovo, Moldova, Mozambique, Myanmar, and Zimbabwe.
Dr Manjunath is a versatile agricultural entomologist with over five decades of research and executive experience in biological control, biopesticides, pheromones, IPM, insect resistant transgenic Bt-cotton and other related areas of plant protection. Starting his career in 1961, he initiated work in these areas at a time when these were barely explored, relentlessly worked to popularize them, and made several pioneering contributions. He is hailed as one of the pioneers of biological control of crops pests, “The Father of Commercial Biocontrol and IPM in India,” a champion of Bt-cotton, and a passionate promoter of environment-friendly IPM throughout his long career.
He is an author of over 135 technical papers and 6 books and has delivered innumerable lectures at national and international symposia, schools and colleges, and farmers’ forums. He has served and continues to serve on several technical committees constituted by international and national organization such as FAO, WHO, ICAR, DBT, Agricultural and other universities.
Dr Manjunath has served in the following organizations: Entomologist, Commonwealth Institute of Biological Control, Indian Station, 1961-1976; Entomologist, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bengaluru, 1976-81; Vice President, Bio-Control Research Laboratories, Pest Control India Limited, Bengaluru, 1981-1997; Director, Monsanto Research Centre, Bengaluru, 1998-2004; and from 2004, post-retirement, as an independent Consultant on Biocontrol, Agri-biotechnology and IPM. He continues to be as active as evers.
Tristan is a Director level, Senior Public Affairs and Communications Consultant. One of the sectors in which he specialises is the Life Sciences, with expertise stemming the fields of biotechnology, nanotechnology and diagnostics.
Tristan has directed public affairs campaigns aimed at changing and reforming Government policy, laws & regulations and regulatory regimes & processes: designing carefully messaged submissions and targeting key decision-makers and influencers. He has also led integrated communications campaigns to position companies competitively in key markets, differentiate their offerings, build awareness of their unique selling points and appealing market messages, and enhancing and building their reputations amongst key target audiences; be they investors, partners, collaborators, buyers, licensees, key opinion leaders or new business leads. His agency experience has included working for brands: Chime Communications/the Bell Pottinger Group, De Facto Communications and Instinctif Life Sciences.
Dr Ravensberg began work in 1981 at Koppert BV, then a small producer of natural enemies for greenhouse pests. He established the R&D Department and, with the team, selected and developed a range of natural enemies. In 1999, he headed the newly established R&D Dept Microbials, and this new team accomplished the development of a novel fungicide, Enzicur. The company’s first patent was obtained on this work, with Dr Ravensberg as one of the inventors.
Dr Ravensberg’s experience and expertise in registration affairs has been built over 30 years. He has been an active member of Artemis, a Dutch (Belgian) association of biocontrol producers and distributors, from its foundation in 1994 (Board member since 2011). He has also participated in many IBMA working groups, has been a member of the Regulatory Affairs Advisory Group since 2008, and a member of the Executive Committee since 2009. From 2013 – 2018 he served as President of IBMA. He also represents his company in BPIA and is a member of the BPIA’s Government Affairs Group since 2011.
Dr Ravensberg has published over 80 scientific publications and book chapter on biocontrol including his book based on his PhD thesis and some papers on registration issues meant to help applicants and evaluators in the evaluation of microbial plant protection products.
Dr Manjunath is a versatile agricultural entomologist with over five decades of research and executive experience in biological control, biopesticides, pheromones, IPM, insect resistant transgenic Bt-cotton and other related areas of plant protection. Starting his career in 1961, he initiated work in these areas at a time when these were barely explored, relentlessly worked to popularize them, and made several pioneering contributions. He is hailed as one of the pioneers of biological control of crops pests, “The Father of Commercial Biocontrol and IPM in India,” a champion of Bt-cotton, and a passionate promoter of environment-friendly IPM throughout his long career.
He is an author of over 135 technical papers and 6 books and has delivered innumerable lectures at national and international symposia, schools and colleges, and farmers’ forums. He has served and continues to serve on several technical committees constituted by international and national organization such as FAO, WHO, ICAR, DBT, Agricultural and other universities.
Dr Manjunath has served in the following organizations: Entomologist, Commonwealth Institute of Biological Control, Indian Station, 1961-1976; Entomologist, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bengaluru, 1976-81; Vice President, Bio-Control Research Laboratories, Pest Control India Limited, Bengaluru, 1981-1997; Director, Monsanto Research Centre, Bengaluru, 1998-2004; and from 2004, post-retirement, as an independent Consultant on Biocontrol, Agri-biotechnology and IPM. He continues to be as active as evers.
Tristan is a Director level, Senior Public Affairs and Communications Consultant. One of the sectors in which he specialises is the Life Sciences, with expertise stemming the fields of biotechnology, nanotechnology and diagnostics.
Tristan has directed public affairs campaigns aimed at changing and reforming Government policy, laws & regulations and regulatory regimes & processes: designing carefully messaged submissions and targeting key decision-makers and influencers. He has also led integrated communications campaigns to position companies competitively in key markets, differentiate their offerings, build awareness of their unique selling points and appealing market messages, and enhancing and building their reputations amongst key target audiences; be they investors, partners, collaborators, buyers, licensees, key opinion leaders or new business leads. His agency experience has included working for brands: Chime Communications/the Bell Pottinger Group, De Facto Communications and Instinctif Life Sciences.
Dr Ravensberg began work in 1981 at Koppert BV, then a small producer of natural enemies for greenhouse pests. He established the R&D Department and, with the team, selected and developed a range of natural enemies. In 1999, he headed the newly established R&D Dept Microbials, and this new team accomplished the development of a novel fungicide, Enzicur. The company’s first patent was obtained on this work, with Dr Ravensberg as one of the inventors.
Dr Ravensberg’s experience and expertise in registration affairs has been built over 30 years. He has been an active member of Artemis, a Dutch (Belgian) association of biocontrol producers and distributors, from its foundation in 1994 (Board member since 2011). He has also participated in many IBMA working groups, has been a member of the Regulatory Affairs Advisory Group since 2008, and a member of the Executive Committee since 2009. From 2013 – 2018 he served as President of IBMA. He also represents his company in BPIA and is a member of the BPIA’s Government Affairs Group since 2011.
Dr Ravensberg has published over 80 scientific publications and book chapter on biocontrol including his book based on his PhD thesis and some papers on registration issues meant to help applicants and evaluators in the evaluation of microbial plant protection products.
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