REGULATORY ROUNDTABLE

Regulatory Roundtable – Global Leadership in Action

At the core of IMPPC2027 lies the Global Regulatory Roundtable on Next-Generation Biopesticides, structured as a high-level, science-driven, and policy-relevant forum designed to examine the evolving regulatory landscape for RNAi-based, peptide-based, and microbial biopesticides.

The Regulatory Roundtable will be co-moderated by Prof. Russell L. Groves (University of Wisconsin–Madison, USA) and Dr. Achim Gathmann (Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety [BVL], Germany), bringing together complementary expertise spanning academic science, regulatory implementation, environmental risk assessment, and international policy frameworks for next-generation biological crop protection technologies.

The Roundtable will convene senior regulatory authorities, academic leaders, and industry decision-makers, including representatives from:

• Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety (DG SANTE), European Commission
• Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAPA), Brazil
• Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA), China
• Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of Türkiye

Academic leadership within the Roundtable will include Prof. Raul F. Medina (Texas A&M University, USA), whose expertise in population genetics, resistance evolution, ecological risk assessment, and sustainable pest management directly informs modern regulatory science.

The International Biocontrol Manufacturers Association (IBMA) will contribute global industry perspectives regarding regulatory harmonization, implementation, and commercialization of biological crop protection technologies. From the industrial innovation side, GreenLight Biosciences will be represented at vice-presidential level through Dr. Peter McCahon, Vice President for Regulatory Affairs, ensuring direct insight into real-world regulatory pathways for RNA-based agricultural technologies.

Discussions will focus on regulatory frameworks for RNAi-based technologies (IRAC Group 35), peptide-based bioinsecticides (IRAC Group 32), microbial biologicals, environmental fate and persistence, non-target testing standards, resistance management, and convergence across OECD-, EPA-, EFSA-, and IRAC-relevant evaluation systems. Particular attention will be given to data requirements, target specificity, ecological risk assessment, biosafety communication, and opportunities for global regulatory harmonization.

As one of the flagship events of IMPPC2027, the Regulatory Roundtable is positioned to leave a lasting global imprint on how next-generation biologicals are evaluated, harmonized, and authorized worldwide, while fostering open dialogue among regulators, scientists, and innovators toward a shared vision of sustainable pest management under the congress theme “One Wor(l)d: Sustainability.”

Moderators

Prof. Russell L. Groves
University of Wisconsin–Madison, USA

Dr. Achim Gathmann
Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVL), Germany

Participants
Regulatory Authorities

• Dr. Ersin Dilber
  Head of Food and Control
  Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Türkiye
• Mr. Carlos Goulart
  Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAPA), Brazil
• Mr. Domenico Deserio
  Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety (DG SANTE),
  European Commission
• Prof. Dr. Jianzhen Zhang
  Policy Contribution on behalf of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA), China

Academic & Scientific Contributors

• Prof. Raul F. Medina
  Texas A&M University, USA

Industry Contributors

• Jérémy Belzunces
  Technical & Regulatory Director
  International Biocontrol Manufacturers Association (IBMA)
• Dr. Peter McCahon
  Vice President for Regulatory Affairs
  GreenLight Biosciences, USA

Program Structure

08:30–08:40 | Opening Remarks
Prof. Russell L. Groves & Dr. Achim Gathmann

08:40–10:00 | Session I – Regulatory Perspectives
Regulatory authorities will present current and emerging approaches for the assessment and authorization of RNAi-, peptide-, and microbial-based biopesticides.

10:00–10:30 | Coffee Break & Networking

10:30–11:10 | Session II – Cross-Sector Perspectives
Academic and industry insights on ecological risk, innovation pipelines, regulatory readiness, and future implementation pathways.

11:10–11:50 | Panel Discussion – Harmonizing Global Frameworks
Moderators: Prof. Russell L. Groves & Dr. Achim Gathmann
Key themes include:

• Alignment across EU, Brazil, China, and Türkiye
• Environmental safety, persistence, and non-target testing
• IRAC classifications (Groups 32, 35, and UNP) in regulatory evaluation
• Opportunities for global regulatory convergence
• Biosafety communication and public trust

11:50–12:00 | Closing Reflections
Prof. Russell L. Groves & Dr. Achim Gathmann