Ryan McCann Leave a message

Director of Microbiology and Data Science

Ginkgo Bioworks

Ryan McCann leads an integrative team of microbiologists, molecular biologists, bioinformaticians, and data scientists, who develop next-generation microbial solutions. Ryan was introduced to agriculture and plant-microbe interactions at an early-stage startup, Agradis, Inc., where he helped build a novel culture collection that was purchased by Monsanto in 2013. He would go on to lead the Nominations and Enabling Technologies team at Monsanto, where he was responsible for establishing a discovery and testing pipeline that enabled large-scale broad acre microbial field trials for the BioAg Alliance. After the acquisition of Monsanto by Bayer in 2018, his role expanded to overseeing strain improvement and tech development programs for their Biologics division. Since joining Ginkgo in 2022, he has had the opportunity to partner with customers from across industries and is eager to explore new ways to develop leads and bring the company’s unique collection of 200,000 sequenced environmen...

Topic

Competing with Conventional Chemistry on Performance and Cost through Synthetic Biology

#Novonesis • 7th Biopesticides, Biostimulants and Biofertilizers Summit (BioEx 2026)#

Mikael Courbot Leave a message

Chief Technical Officer

Micropep Technologies

Topic

AI-Powered Discovery of Micropeptides for the Next Generation of Sustainable Crop Protection

#Novonesis • 7th Biopesticides, Biostimulants and Biofertilizers Summit (BioEx 2026)#

Bill Duan Leave a message

General Manager

Leili Marine BioIndustry INC.

Topic

Practice and Value of Constructing "Self-Sustaining" Rhizosphere Micro-ecosystems via Functional Marine Bioactives

#Novonesis • 7th Biopesticides, Biostimulants and Biofertilizers Summit (BioEx 2026)#

Topic

Development opportunities of Chinese biostimulants and the upgrading impact on agriculture

#Virtual Participation! BioEx 2022 Asia Summit - Biopesticides, Biostimulants and Novel Fertilizers#

Dr. Owen Hoffart Leave a message

Head of Division Agricultural Solutions (II)

knoell Germany GmbH

Dr. Owen Hoffart possesses interdisciplinary experience that integrates business, science, and regulatory affairs, with over ten years of expertise in consulting and CRO work. His experience spans multiple regulatory areas, including crop protection, fertilizers, biocides, and pharmaceuticals, where he has demonstrated outstanding performance and achieved remarkable results in strategically developing new products and successfully bringing them to market. Dr. Owen Hoffart holds a bachelor’s degree in Chemistry (specializing in Organic Synthesis) and a PhD in Soil Science (focusing on soil erosion in arable land), complemented by postdoctoral research in Environmental Science (specializing in phosphate chemistry in surface waters). Dr. Owen Hoffart joined knoell in August 2024 and currently serves as the Head of Division II – Agricultural Solutions, responsible for global business operations.

Topic

The EU's New Biocontrol Regulation: Seizing Opportunities, Mastering Implementation, and Staying Ahead of Change

#Novonesis • 7th Biopesticides, Biostimulants and Biofertilizers Summit (BioEx 2026)#

#Novonesis • 6th Biopesticides, Biostimulants and Biofertilizers Summit (BioEx 2025)#

Pedro Sebastião Leave a message

Chief Technology Officer

AGRONOVA Biotech

Pedro Sebastião holds a Master’s degree in Agro-Environmental Management of Soils and Organic Waste from the Escola Superior Agrária de Castelo Branco (Portugal) and completed the Advanced Management Program for Executives at Universidade Católica Portuguesa. He has over 20 years of experience in the plant nutrition and fertilization sector, with a strong focus on innovative, biological and zero-residue products. Throughout his career, he has held several leadership positions, managing strategic business areas and leading high-performance technical teams. Pedro Sebastião joined Asfertglobal in 2012 as Technical Director. He currently serves as Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of AGRONOVA Biotech, the comprehensive biotechnology solutions platform for agriculture, a group to which Asfertglobal belongs. In this role, he leads the technological and technical-commercial strategy, overseeing the execution of market plans and supporting commercial and marketing teams across the group. ...

Topic

INomics® Technology: Advanced Fermentation for High-Performance Microbial-Based Solutions

#Novonesis • 7th Biopesticides, Biostimulants and Biofertilizers Summit (BioEx 2026)#

Piyush Nagar Leave a message

Head of Strategy and Business Development, Biologicals

PI Industries Ltd

Topic

PI AgSciences' PREtec Technology Platform and Global Expansion Strategy

#Novonesis • 7th Biopesticides, Biostimulants and Biofertilizers Summit (BioEx 2026)#

Prof. YE Jian Leave a message

Director of Department of Agri-microbiomics and Biotechnology

Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Prof. YE Jian is currently the Director of Department of Agri-microbiomics and Biotechnology at the Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences. He received his bachelor's degree from Zhejiang University in 2000 and his Ph.D. from the Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences in 2007. He subsequently conducted postdoctoral research at the Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory at the National University of Singapore. He returned to China and joined the Institute in 2014. His research team published a cover article in Science on April 11, 2025, successfully elucidating the core molecular mechanisms of citrus Huanglongbing and solving a long-standing scientific challenge in the international agricultural sector regarding the lack of resistance genes. The study revealed a disease-resistance regulatory hub formed by the jasmonoyl signaling pathway's core transcription factor MYC2 and the E3 ubiquitin ligase PUB21. Utilizing artificial intelligence technology, the team sc...

Topic

AI-Driven Peptide Discovery for a New Citrus Huanglongbing Control Paradigm

#Novonesis • 7th Biopesticides, Biostimulants and Biofertilizers Summit (BioEx 2026)#

Danny Geelen Leave a message

Full Professor

Ghent University

Danny Geelen graduated with a master’s in biology, direction Plant Biotechnology from Ghent University (UGent, Belgium) and holds a PhD in Plant Biotechnology. He was principal investigator at the Plant Systems Biology (VIB) from 2000-2005 heading the plant cell biology research unit. Thereafter he was appointed professor at the faculty of Bioscience Engineering leading the research unit HortiCell (www.horticell.ugent.be). His research is at the cross section of fundamental and applied research. HortiCell develops innovations in plant tissue culture, plant breeding, and plant biostimulants. Since his appointment, he is promoter of 25 PhD studies, published >200 papers cited >10.000 times with h-index 60. Biostimulants research: Biostimulant research at HortiCell includes the development of novel biostimulants from organic waste extractions and bacterial isolates from hydroponic cultures. The mode of action of biostimulants is investigated using tissue culture bioassays (aseptic condi...

Topic

Beyond the Byproduct: Novel Biostimulants from Crop Waste—Discovery and Mode of Action

#Novonesis • 7th Biopesticides, Biostimulants and Biofertilizers Summit (BioEx 2026)#

Juan Antonio Leave a message

Managing Director of TBIO Spain

Xian Tbio Crop Science Co.,Ltd

As Managing Director of TBIO Spain, Juan Antonio leads strategic planning and marketing initiatives for TBIO's brands across Spain and other European markets. He has extensive experience with European REACH regulations and EBIC-related matters, and has provided valuable expertise in the biostimulants sector, particularly concerning registration and regulatory compliance for humic acid products. Drawing on years of practical market experience, Juan Antonio has developed deep insights into the European biostimulant market—with particular expertise in Spain—including product dynamics and emerging trends. He actively analyzes market entry strategies and business models for Chinese companies to establish presence in Europe. Through this work, he has cultivated distinctive perspectives on cross-cultural and cross-regional partnerships, positioning himself as a vital link between the Chinese and European agricultural inputs industries.

Topic

TBIO’s Localization Practices in Belt and Road Markets: Operational Experience, Product Adaptation and Technical Services

#Novonesis • 7th Biopesticides, Biostimulants and Biofertilizers Summit (BioEx 2026)#

Aijia Zhang Leave a message

Crop Efficiency Asset Manager

Bayer CropScience China

Major in Plant Nutrition and Crop Cultivation, with over 8 years of experience in multinational corporations, specializing in biostimulants and biocontrol products. Currently employed at Bayer China as the Crop Efficiency Asset Manager, responsible for the management of plant nutrition products.

Topic

Bridging Global Excellence with Local Fields: Bayer Delai® and the Localized Future of Bio-Agriculture

#Novonesis • 7th Biopesticides, Biostimulants and Biofertilizers Summit (BioEx 2026)#

#Novonesis • 6th Biopesticides, Biostimulants and Biofertilizers Summit (BioEx 2025)#

Dr. Qian Li Leave a message

Senior Agronomist, China BioAg Business Development and Portfolio Manager

Novonesis

Qian Li earned her Ph.D degree in Plant Pathology of China Agricultural University, and finished postdoc work in Seed Science. She has two years of research experience in the Dept. of Plant Pathology and Microbiology of Iowa State University, supported by the China Scholarship Council. She has ten years of work experience with Syngenta and Bayer as a technical leader or market development leader.

Topic

Biotechnology Activates New Potential of Green Agriculture

#Novonesis • 7th Biopesticides, Biostimulants and Biofertilizers Summit (BioEx 2026)#

#Novonesis • 6th Biopesticides, Biostimulants and Biofertilizers Summit (BioEx 2025)#

Maria Luiza Castro Leave a message

Director

CESIS

Maria Luiza Castro is a Brazilian biologist and entomologist with more than 20 years of experience enabling market access for biological products in Latin America. She previously served for 12 years at Brazil’s federal environmental authority - IBAMA contributing to regulatory frameworks and product evaluation processes that remain in force today. For the past 21 years, she has been a partner at CESIS, the leading consultancy for the regulatory registration of biological inputs in Brazil, supporting multinational companies, innovative scale-ups, and APAC-based manufacturers in introducing biological solutions to Brazil and LATAM. She also serves on the Presidency and Executive Board of RED LATAM, a network of senior consultants operating in 17 Latin American countries that provides coordinated regulatory pathways, compliance support, and commercialization strategies across multiple jurisdictions. Maria Luiza is also a certified GLP Inspector under the OECD framework through Inmetro,...

Topic

Biologicals in Latin America - From Regulation to Market Access

#Novonesis • 7th Biopesticides, Biostimulants and Biofertilizers Summit (BioEx 2026)#

Topic

Regulation of Biocontrol in Brazil

#BIOCONTROL & BIOMES 2022#

Duan Luqin Leave a message

Senior Marketing Director

MoonBiotech

Mr. Duan Luqin holds a Master's degree in Plant Pathogenic Bacteriology from South China Agricultural University. He previously served for ten years at Shenzhen Noposion Crop Science Co., Ltd., where he held the position of Northern Market Department Director, overseeing the operation of a fungicide product line with annual sales exceeding several billion RMB. In 2019, he joined MoonBiotech, and played a pivotal role in establishing the market team from inception and developing the product system. Within three years, he successfully launched five microbial inoculant products, each achieving sales exceeding ten million RMB, and facilitated the company’s total agricultural microbial product sales to rapidly surpass 100 million RMB. Currently, as Senior Marketing Director of the Agricultural Business Unit at MoonBiotech, he is fully responsible for market strategy and operational management of the agricultural division.

Topic

Refinement, Advancement, Evolution: How Jin Xiao Xian® Paves a New Path in Nematode Control Through Microbial Innovation

#Novonesis • 7th Biopesticides, Biostimulants and Biofertilizers Summit (BioEx 2026)#

Imme Gerke Leave a message

Global Regulatory Strategist

IDRG(International Development of Regulatory Globalization)

#BIOCONTROL & BIOMES 2022#

Lawrence Middler Leave a message

Senior Analyst

Agbioinvestor

Topic

Top Trends and Market Prospects in the Agricultural Biological industry

#Novonesis • 5th Biopesticides, Biostimulants and Biofertilizers Summit (BioEx 2024)#

Topic

Bio stimulants Market Review and Future Opportunities

#International Crop-Science Conference & Exhibition#

Yan Xiaojing Leave a message

Researcher

The Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences

Topic

Precision Agriculture × Drone Plant Protection Technology: How to Reconstruct a New Paradigm for the Development of Drone Plant Protection Formulation?

#6th Ag Formulation & Application Technology Congress (FAT 2025)#

Polina Podobed Leave a message

Lead Innovative Projects

Ajinomoto AgroSolutions

Topic

Dual-Function Surfactants: A Universal Approach to Complex OD Formulations

#6th Ag Formulation & Application Technology Congress (FAT 2025)#

Topic

Addressing global microplastic concerns through a film forming system for sustainable seed coating solutions

#5th Ag Formulation & Application Technology Congress (FAT 2024)#

Chen Tingzhuo Leave a message

Vice Dean of the Biotechnology Research Institute

Chengdu Newsun Crop Science Co., Ltd.

Topic

Enhancing Agricultural Efficiency through the Active Molecule Clusters in Bio-based Materials.

#6th Ag Formulation & Application Technology Congress (FAT 2025)#

Topic

Development of Integrated Biological Solutions and the Application Scenarios in Overseas

#Qilu Pharmaceutical· 2024 China Pesticide Exporting Workshop (CPEW)#

Landon Bunderson Leave a message

Chief Science Officer

Nano-Yield

Topic

Evaluating Emerging Nanotechnologies in the Fertilizer and Pesticide Industry from Manufacturer to Consumer.

#6th Ag Formulation & Application Technology Congress (FAT 2025)#

Dr. Michael Berkovitch Leave a message

Agrochemical Formulation Expert

MICHBERK

Topic

CS Under Pressure: From Microplastics Constraint to a New Paradigm

#6th Ag Formulation & Application Technology Congress (FAT 2025)#

Topic

Chromophore pesticide molecules: Color dynamics & stabilization

#5th Ag Formulation & Application Technology Congress (FAT 2024)#