The Summit Program

What's happened this past year?

Since last year's 2024 Salinas Biological Summit, there have been a number of significant developments in the biological space. New technologies are emerging, and some key new trends are taking hold.

It's not however been all plain sailing. The tough economic funding environment has seen some well-known names disappear and the challenge and time required to register new active ingredients continues to take its toll. Who better to analyze the impact of these developments than our first keynote speaker.

Understanding California’s Approach to Sustainable Pest Management

At last year's Summit, Julie Henderson, former Director, California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR), provided an update on; 'Accelerating Sustainable Pest Management: A Roadmap for California'.

We are delighted to be joined this year by the new Director of DPR, Karen Morrison. Karen will provide an update on the Roadmap's progress and address some of the key issues facing specialty crop growers.

Understanding the Global Biological Regulatory Environment

The global trend towards 'less chemistry, more biology' is well underway. What can California growers and others around the world learn from these developments and the regulation that is managing their growth? And what impact are we experiencing from the different registration processes and regimes that are in play?

Understanding the Consumer & Retail Dynamics

Whilst regulation often drives evolutionary change in today's agricultural practices and processes, it is frequently the 'Voice of the Consumer' that has the greatest impact.

In this panel discussion, we'll hear from key stakeholders in the retail, food service, and F&B sectors to get a better understanding of their approach to changing consumer behaviors and demands. Is it still a truism that 'Regulators bark, retailers bite'?

Announcing the Global Biological Challenge

Identifying emerging biocontrol technologies which can support growers address ongoing pest and disease challenges in the specialty crop sector is a key purpose for Platform10 and the Salinas Biological Summits.

Over the past six months, we have been working with the Yield Lab Foundation to support a significant new initiative called the 'Global Biological Challenge'. In this session, Larry Taylor, Co-founder at the Yield Lab Asia Pacific will introduce the Challenge and how biocontrol startups from around the world can apply.

ON THE GROUND: Biologicals State of Affairs

Understanding the Grower Landscape

Against the ongoing backdrop of accelerating climate events, labor shortages and increasing regulation, growers across the State continue to face multiple challenges. Some of these challenges are challenges shared across the world. 

The Grower Panel will discuss these and provide insights into the steps they are taking to address them.

Understanding the current Biostimulants Landscape

Biostimulants play a hugely important part in the biologicals landscape. Some biostimulants have been found to stimulate plants’ natural defense systems, increasing their resistance to pests and diseases.

In this session, Nick Young will provide insights into the current biostimulant landscape and discuss how they can complement the use of biopesticide applications.

Navigating the Transition to more Biologicals

In this fireside chat, Frederic Beudot, Vice President Biologicals, Corteva Agriscience, will talk about Corteva Agriscience's investment into ag biologicals and the significance this investment will make for specialty crop growers.

Platform10 Field Trial Update

Platform10 is an international, multi-year collaboration that will accelerate promising biopesticide companies, rigorously assess products, enhance grower confidence, and facilitate market development and adoption.

Grower-led Platform10 field trials are commencing in California through 2025, targeting specific pests and diseases impacting tomatoes, citrus, leafy greens, table grapes & strawberries. Almond field trials commenced in 2024.

What progress is being made and how can delegates to the 2025 Salinas Biological Summit become involved?

Platform10 International Updates

Two of Platform10's first international partners are New Zealand & Australia. Both countries are looking to commence Platform10 Grower-led field trials in 2026. Given that both countries are located in the Southern Hemisphere, this will provide counter-seasonal opportunities to accelerate both the research & development, as well as the commercialization of new biopesticide solutions.

The Almond Board of California Case Study

The Almond Board of California began its biopesticide field trial program with the release of an RFP in January 2023. Lauren Fann, the Almond Board's C will provide an update on the field trial program and benefits it will offer almond growers.

Understanding Biopesticide Field Trial Protocols & Data

As Platform10 begins to deploy Grower-led field trials both in the US & offshore, understanding biopesticide field trial protocols and data becomes ever more important. They do not simply replicate chemical pesticide field trial protocols. And no single target specialty crop is the same.

For growers, understanding the products efficacy is just one metric. Understanding the economic (cost benefit) metric is just as important. The Summit is therefore delighted to be joined by Carl Casale, Senior Agricultural Partner, Ospraie Ag Science and former CEO and President of CHS, Inc., the largest farmer-owned agribusiness in the United States.

Financing the Future

According the AgFunder, venture investment into the agrifoodtech sector has dropped significantly since its high point in 2022. The amount of deal flow has reduced and a number of investors have exited the sector. It does raise the question. Is traditional venture capital the best form of funding for agrifoodtech entrepreneurs?

In this Financing the Future panel discussion, we will look at the potential entry of new players and what they will be looking for, in terms of returns, from the entrepreneurs of the future

Biological Technologies: Pipeline or Pipe Dreams?

Emerging Technologies

Technology has a huge role to play in the long-term implementation of biological applications 'in the field'. The ability to spray, manage and monitor the application of any agricultural input is critical to understand their effect and performance. Biologicals are no different.

In this session, we'll learn more about the increasingly important role that technology will play in accelerating the use of ag biologicals.

AI for Food Systems

We are exceptionally fortunate to be based just outside UC Davis. 

Established on October 1, 2020, the Artificial Intelligence Institute for Next Generation Food Systems, or AIFS, aims to solve the world’s biggest challenges to crop and food production facing our planet: ensuring a sustainable, nutritious, efficient, and safe food supply while mitigating the impacts of a changing climate.

AI offers huge potential opportunity for biologicals and it's a key area of interest to AIFS. A fascinating panel discussion will explore this potential.

What you need to know

One of the biggest challenges facing growers, entrepreneurs and investors is just 'what they need to know'. The Ag biological space is a complex one and only through experience can stakeholders really grasp its potential. Understanding potential pitfalls is an important part of that process.

The 'What You Need to Know' panel will be sharing that experience with the Summit