REGULATORY ROUNDTABLE

Overview

The Regulatory Roundtable will bring together leading international regulatory authorities, academic experts, and industry representatives to examine the global regulatory landscape for next-generation biopesticides, with a particular focus on RNAi-based, peptide-based, and microbial technologies.

This high-level forum will address critical regulatory dimensions, including data requirements, environmental safety, target specificity, persistence and environmental fate, and international harmonization efforts under OECD, EPA, EFSA-relevant, and IRAC frameworks.

As one of the flagship events of IMPPC2026, the Regulatory Roundtable is designed to foster open dialogue among global decision-makers, bridging science, regulation, and innovation toward a shared vision of sustainable pest control within the theme One Wor(l)d: Sustainability.

Moderator

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

Opening & Closing Contributor

Prof. Craig C. Mello
University of Massachusetts Medical School, USA
Nobel Laureate in Physiology or Medicine (2006 – RNA interference)

Participants
Regulatory Authorities

• Dr. Ersin Dilber
  Head of Food and Control
  Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Türkiye
• Dr. Wiebke Striegel
  Biopesticides Branch
  U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), USA
• Dr. Eder Victor Braganti Toppa
  Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAPA), Brazil
• Mr. Domenico Deserio
  Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety (DG SANTE),
  European Commission
• Dr. Achim Gathmann
  Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVL), Germany

Academic & Scientific Contributors

• Prof. Raul F. Medina
  Texas A&M University, USA
• Prof. Dr. Zümrüt Begüm Ögel
  Deputy Chairperson
  Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye, Agriculture and Food Policies Board

Industry Contributors

• Dr. Karel Bolckmans (President) or Jennifer Lewis (Executive 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
• Prof. Craig C. Mello

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, and regulatory readiness.
11:10–11:50 | Panel Discussion – Harmonizing Global Frameworks
Moderator: Prof. Russell L. Groves
Key themes include:

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

11:50–12:00 | Closing Reflections

• Prof. Russell L. Groves
• Prof. Craig C. Mello

Note
Speakers marked as pending confirmation are subject to final institutional approval.