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IBMA, the International Biocontrol Manufacturers’ Association, matures and creates a new post of Executive Director.
The biological crop protection market is moving ahead very rapidly.
According to the "Pesticides Package" adopted in Europe in early 2009, non-chemical/biological methods should offer farmers alternative solutions to many chemical pesticides.
IBMA is increasingly involved in international, national and regional activities:
- OECD and IBMA co-organized a workshop on microbial biocontrol agents (MBCAs) in early July 2009 and have been invited to take a seat on the Minor Uses Steering Group.
- IBMA cooperates with GTZ, the German aid organization, to develop a harmonized registration scheme for biologicals which has been adopted in South East Asia.
- In Europe, after an intensive dialogue with the Commission and Parliament, IBMA has been invited to participate in the expert group “Thematic Strategy for the Sustainable use of pesticides”.
- IBMA is a core partner in the Network of Excellence on "Diversified Crop Protection Strategies, ENDURE".
- IBMA provides an important contribution for alternative/biological systems for the majority of essential crops.
- At local level, IBMA contributes actively to the development of National Action Plans (NAPs) aiming to reduce pesticide use.
- In France, a member of IBMA Executive Committee has been nominated to participate in the ECOPHYTO 2018 Steering Committee.
IBMA, in collaboration with Fibl and sponsored by the European Commissioner for Agriculture will again be organizing “ABIM”, the annual biocontrol industry meeting in Lucerne, Switzerland held on October 19th and 20th 2009. More than 400 participants will review the regulatory situation, take a closer look at market evaluation and the latest solutions available. ABIM, is also the business platform for biological control companies.
The market for biologicals is expanding fast at an annual rate of 15%. New industries are being created every day and IBMA is expanding significantly. Three new national groups were created recently; Germany/Austria in 2008, Turkey and Switzerland in 2009. Negotiations are well under way for a new Netherlands group in 2009, and Asia and Brazil should follow in 2010.
An increase volume of IBMA activities : coordination with regulatory and political authorities, promotion of the biocontrol industry, animation of the different professional groups, working parties and task forces, bringing technical support to extension services and farmers, management of biocontrol and IPM projects, informing the public and technical agencies about biocontrol, means that IBMA will be taking a big step forward at the end of this year. A post of permanent Executive Director will be created as from 1st January 2010. More information regarding this post is available on the IBMA website www.ibma-global.org or by e-mail from the IBMA Administrative Secretary: sara-chatham@orange.fr.
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