Novel Pesticides

This conference will look at ‘Novel Pesticides’, new substances and biologicals that strive to add to the overall aim of achieving greater sustainability in agricultural practices as there are still many open questions for producers, regulators and down-stream users of innovative substances, such as micro-organism-based PPPs, pheromones, plant extracts, RNAi-based PPPs, peptides, or even antibodies.

Towards Sustainability in the Regulatory Framework of the EU

In their May 2023 REFIT Report on the Evaluation of Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009, the EU Commission declares the promotion of low-risk-solutions and efficient risk mitigation as one of their future priorities. Yet, many open questions remain for producers and down-stream users of innovative substances, such as micro-organism-based PPPs, pheromones, plant extracts, RNAi-based PPPs, peptides, or even antibodies. This is especially true, since the Sustainable Use Regulation, priorly a key element of ‘Farm-to-Fork’ was voted down in Parliament last November and it does not look like it will be revived.

The meeting will offer a discussion platform to producers, policy makers and regulators to discuss a way forward for innovative pesticides and low-risk substances. It will cover regulatory issues and needs as well as discussing implications for the risk assessment of promising new pesticides.

Conference Highlights

Regulatory Update

• Update from the Commission – biologicals and other green technologies

Registering Novel Technologies

• Insights about registering novel technologies – perspectives from various industry players
• Registration of peptide-based insecticides derived from Spider Venom
• Registration of peptides as crop protection products: strategies and reflections
• Challenges and opportunities of registering RNA – a novel technology
• Competent Authority view on RNAi registrations: First-hand experiences and insights.
• Crop Life Europe on the assessment of innovative Biochemicals in the EU

Risk Assessment

• EFSA on scope, objectives, deliverables and timelines of the project ‘Developing a stepwise approach for a fit for purpose risk assessment, in particular for low-concern active substances and uses’
• Julius Kühn Institute: Risk assessment for novel technologies, with a focus on RNAi
• A critical point of view: Assessing risks associated with novel pesticides

Who should attend this conference?

Professionals working in the fields of:

• Managing directors, managers, consultants and scientists working in the field of biological control
• Producers, distributors and downstream users of biologicals, pesticides that fall under low-risk category or were specifically developed to increase agricultural sustainability
• Technical Experts from Research & development
• Risk assessors
• Toxicologists
• Ecotoxicologists
• Product Stewards
• Regulators

Sectors that should take part:

• Agrochemical industry
• Biotech Industry
• Research institutes
• Authorities
• Professional associations
• Contract laboratories/consultancies