The World BioProtection Forum (WBF) is pleased to announce that Dr TM Manjunath, often referred to as the “Father of Commercial Biocontrol and IPM in India” has joined the Advisory Committee of the WBF to help drive the organisation’s activities and advance the bioprotection sector globally.
Biological solutions for the control of pests and diseases present a fast-growing segment of AgriTech, and they offer a safe and sustainable alternative to chemical pesticides. This is particularly important as more chemicals are being withdrawn from the market due to their increasing incidence of environmental, human health and pest resistance, leaving growers helpless in the fight against a growing number of crop pests and diseases. The WBF is founded on the belief that, by creating the connections that allow individuals and companies to take biological technologies forward, the sector can more successfully provide the much-needed solutions without disturbing the environment.
The WBF connects academia, innovators, entrepreneurs, researchers, biocontrol manufacturers, distributors, and public offices relevant to the biocontrol sector, with a view to nurturing scientific and technological innovations and maximising their commercial potential. The latest high-profile personality to join the Forum is Dr TM Manjunath, currently a Consultant on Biocontrol, Agri-biotechnology and Integrated Pest Management (IPM), India.
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,” and a passionate promoter of environmentally-friendly IPM throughout his long career.
Dr Manjunath is enthusiastic about adding his expertise and experience to the WBF’s advisory panel. “Biological control is the mother of all crop protections,” he said. “The commercial production of bioprotectants should be treated as a passionate scientific adventure, as they provide the answer to plant protection without pollution, and give us the ability to revolutionise agriculture in the 21st century.”
Dr Minshad Ansari, Founder and Chairman of WBF, said “We welcome Dr Manjunath to the Advisory Committee. He will bring wealth of academic and commercial expertise to WBF which will benefits to its member globally”
If you would like to join the WBF, visit https://www.worldbioprotectionforum.com/members/# for information about membership and to download a membership application form.
Editor’s Notes
Contact: Dr Sarah Harding, Communication Consultant, sarah.harding@worldbioprotectionforum.com
About the World BioProtection Forum: The World BioProtection Forum (WBF) is a non-profit organisation for encouraging collaboration across the biocontrol industry and academia. The WBF was founded in 2019 by Dr Minshad Ansari – a scientist who became an entrepreneur – to encourage the successful development and commercialisation of novel biological control products for agricultural pests and diseases.
To join the WBF, or for more information, please visit www.worldbioprotectionforum.com
