1 June 2026. Biological Control, Biopesticides and Sustainable Food Systems in Afro-Eurasia
Biological control and biopesticides are increasingly recognized as important tools for reducing dependence on synthetic pesticides, improving integrated pest management (IPM), supporting agroecological approaches, and enhancing compliance with residue-sensitive export markets. At the same time, adoption of bio-solutions remains uneven due to regulatory fragmentation, quality-control challenges, commercialization barriers, limited farmer awareness, and weak extension systems.
In response to these issues, regional and international organizations have intensified efforts to strengthen collaboration on biological control, sustainable pest management, regulatory harmonization, and knowledge exchange. One important initiative is the Asia-Pacific Biopesticide Community of Practice (ABCoP), established by the Asia-Pacific Association of Agricultural Research Institutions (APAARI) in 2024 following the STDF-funded regional project on pesticide residue mitigation through promotion of biopesticides.
This webinar provide a platform for researchers, regulators, development organizations, private-sector actors, students, and policymakers to discuss emerging developments in biological control and bio-solutions in Africa and Asia. The webinar will also contribute to broader discussions on sustainable agriculture, regulatory systems, trade opportunities, innovation platforms, and farmer adoption pathways.
The Asia-Pacific region faces increasing pressure to reduce pesticide residues, strengthen sustainable agricultural practices, and comply with evolving international trade standards, highlighting the growing importance of biological control and biopesticides. In response to these challenges, the Asia-Pacific Biopesticide Community of Practice (ABCoP) was launched by APAARI in May 2024 as a sustainability initiative emerging from the successful STDF-funded project, Asia Pesticide Residue Mitigation Through the Promotion of Biopesticides and Enhancement of Trade Opportunities, implemented by APAARI in partnership with AgAligned Global, USA, during 2020–2023.
The project established important foundations for promoting biopesticides in the Asia-Pacific region through the development of best practices and standardized protocols, while strengthening technical and functional capacities in maximum residue limit (MRL) data generation, biopesticide production, and regulatory harmonization among participating National Plant Protection Organizations (NPPOs). To sustain and expand these achievements, ABCoP was established as a regional knowledge-sharing and networking platform bringing together researchers, policymakers, industry leaders, government agencies, academia, private-sector stakeholders, and development partners. Supported by NPPOs, FAO, STDF, AARINENA, FARA, and other collaborators, the platform promotes regional cooperation, knowledge exchange, and sustainable pest management in the Asia-Pacific region.
The ABCoP 2024 and 2025 discussions primarily focused on biological control and biopesticide-related practices relevant to Asia-Pacific agroecosystems, including rice, horticultural, and diversified cropping systems. Key themes included classical biological control, microbial biological control, entomopathogenic biological control, integrated pest management (IPM), regulatory and policy aspects of biological control, commercialization and private-sector engagement, and digital knowledge platforms supporting biopesticide adoption. Discussions also addressed invasive pests, residue mitigation strategies, regulatory harmonization, and practical implementation challenges under tropical and subtropical agricultural conditions.
Emerging themes such as microbiome-based disease management, AI-supported biocontrol research, and digital bioprotection platforms further highlighted the evolving role of biological control in sustainable agriculture. ABCoP continues to serve as an inclusive regional platform supporting innovation, policy dialogue, capacity development, and multi-stakeholder collaboration for advancing environmentally responsible pest management and safe agricultural trade across the Asia-Pacific region.
Background documents:
The BioCOPPA Kenya pilot workshop successfully validated the relevance and applicability of the BioCOPPA Index in the Kenyan context.
ABCOP-2024-The-Rewind.pdf (18 p)
APAARI launched the Asia-Pacific Biopesticide Community of Practice (ABCoP) in May 2024, with the support of FAO, STDF, government agencies, private sector and international organizations such as AARINENA and FARA, to bring together stakeholders from the biopesticide sector, including industry leaders, researchers, policymakers, national representatives and other key actors.
ABCOP-2025-The-Rewinds.pdf (23 p)
The Asia-Pacific Biopesticide Community of Practice (ABCoP) builds on the momentum of 2024–25 as it moves into 2026, focusing on strengthening regulatory systems, accelerating adoption, and fostering an enabling innovation ecosystem for biologicals.
Upcoming:
10-11 June 2026. Biopesticides Europe 2026
Biopesticides Europe 2026 brings together the full biological crop protection value chain to focus on turning regulatory change, climate pressure and market demand into real, scalable opportunities for biologicals.
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