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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Bill Duan Leave a message

General Manager

Leili Marine BioIndustry INC.

Topic

Synergy Between Seaweed Polysaccharides and Functional Microorganisms: Reshaping Rhizosphere Ecology to Address Multiple Soil Challenges

Mikael Courbot Leave a message

Chief Technical Officer

Micropep Technologies

Topic

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

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

Dr. Shujian Zhang Leave a message

Director of Bioanalytics

GreenLight Biosciences, Inc.

Shujian Zhang, Ph.D, EMBA, is a scientist and industry leader with more than two decades of experience in plant protection, plant biotechnology, and microbiology. He currently serves as Director of Bioanalytics at GreenLight Biosciences, where he leads a multidisciplinary team and has built integrated platforms spanning molecular biology, proteomics, metabolomics, next-generation sequencing to support the full RNA-based biopesticide R&D pipeline. His work and research leadership span RNAi, gene editing, antibacterial molecules, peptide technologies, all focused on advancing sustainable and practical solutions for agriculture. In parallel, he drives innovative alliance efforts that connect scientific development with strategic partners and external stakeholders, securing and managing multiple collaborative funding initiatives. Dr. Zhang is an inventor of several patents and patent applications related to RNAi-based product development and is committed to translating scientific innov...

Topic

Innovative Applications and Development Prospects of RNA Biopesticides

Dr. Benjamin Scheinhardt Leave a message

Global Application Development Manager

Clariant International Ltd

Benjamin Scheinhardt serves as Global Application Development Manager for Crop Solutions at Clariant in Frankfurt, Germany, where he drives innovation in agricultural solutions. With expertise in formulation technologies and co-formulants science, he is developing innovative co-formulants and adjuvants to enhance performance of both conventional and biological crop protection products and is committed to supporting the industry’s attempt towards more sustainable products and practices. He provides long-standing experience from various industries in different technical roles and holds a PhD in Chemistry from the University of Konstanz, Germany. This multifaceted background enables him to effectively tackle innovation challenges towards sustainable solutions for modern agriculture.

Topic

Tailored Co-Formulants and Adjuvants for Enhancing Stability, Application Properties, and Efficacy of Microbial Biological Formulations

Li Qian Leave a message

Biocontrol product development manager

Syngenta Biologicals

Topic

SYNCBIO®，A Synergistic Approach to Comprehensive Crop Health Management

Dr. Marisé Borja Leave a message

Global Regulatory Affairs Director

SynTech Research Group

Dr. Marisé Borja is the Director of Global Regulatory Affairs at SynTech Research Group, bringing expertise in regulatory science and business development within the agricultural sector. She is also the President of IBMA Spain, actively advocating for the development and implementation of biocontrol solutions. Throughout her professional journey, Dr. Borja has been instrumental in advancing biosolutions, including biopesticides and biostimulants, across Spain, Europe, and globally. Dr. Borja's leadership and vision continue to drive the development and regulatory approval of sustainable agricultural technologies, contributing significantly to the global advancement of environmentally friendly farming practices.

Topic

Global Regulatory Pathways for Emerging Product Categories (RNAi and Peptide-Based Products)

Yu Yifa Leave a message

Deputy General Manager

Harworld

Yu Yifa serves as Deputy General Manager of Nanning Harworld Biological Technology Co., Ltd, General Manager of Shenzhen Harworld Life Science Co., Ltd., and Director of the Key Laboratory of Microbial Fertilizer under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs in China. He is a mid-level agronomist and high-level talent in Nanning. He also serves as Director of the Amino Acid Branch of the China Biofermentation Industry Association, and Deputy Director of the New Fertilizer Professional Committee of the Chinese Society of Plant Nutrition and Fertilizer. He has been engaged in the research, development, production and sales of special fertilizers, microbial products and biostimulants for 12 years. He has won the First Prize of the Shennong China Agricultural Science and Technology Award, and the Third Prize of Guangxi Science and Technology Progress Award, etc. He has participated in 3 national and provincial-level key research and development projects.

Topic

Harworld's Cell Factory Platform for Biomanufacturing High-Performance Biostimulants

Xinquan Hu Leave a message

Final-year PhD researcher

Ghent University

Xinquan is a final-year PhD researcher at Ghent University (Belgium), Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Department of Plants and Crops. Her PhD research focuses on microbial biostimulants in hydroponic systems, with particular emphasis on their modes of action related to auxin production and plant-microbe interactions under controlled environments. In collaboration with the applied research institute Inagro (Rumbeke-Beitem, Belgium), her work also focuses on the reuse of peat-based growing media and its impacts on strawberry fruit quality and the root-associated microbiome, contributing to more sustainable horticultural production systems. As a Chinese researcher studied in Europe, Xinquan is passionate about bridging science, regulation, and industry to facilitate China-EU collaboration in biostimulant. At BioEx, she will present the recent work on a comprehensive comparative review of biostimulant regulatory frameworks in China and the European Union, aiming to support regulatory ...

Topic

Biostimulants in China: Regulatory Status and Insights from the EU

Manel Cervera Comabella Leave a message

Managing Partner and Chief Commercial Officer

DunhamTrimmer LLC

Manel Cervera Comabella has 25 years’ experience in marketing and sales of biostimulants and added value fertilizers, with prior roles at Sustainable Agro Solutions as Export Manager and most recently Biovert, where he served as Vice President and Commercial and Marketing Director. Manel has got MSc in Fertilizers and Environment (Autonoma de Madrid) and Msc in International Business Executive (ESCI Barcelona). Based in Lleida, Spain, Manel provides DunhamTrimmer with a strong network and experience in the Biostimulant industry and designs commercial strategy for different business units and services provided by DunhamTrimmer at Global level.

Topic

New Updates on Biostimulant Market, Small Biostimulant Molecules and Pheromones

Bernardo G. Arnaud Leave a message

Founder AMD Agro / CEO

StarkSat Carbon Farming

Bernardo G. Arnaud is an industrialist, serial entrepreneur, and interdisciplinary strategist at the confluence of ESG, sustainable finance, and agricultural technology. Holding a Master of Arts in ESG and Sustainable Finance from Frankfurt School of Finance and Management, he specializes in soil carbon auditing, bioinputs production, and ecosystems creation for the advancement of bioinputs adoption, higher productivity agriculture, and carbon finance. His expertise bridges deep technical-scientific development—spanning biotechnology, agronomy, and special materials manufacturing—with market strategy and project finance for sectors like energy and mining. With a background in marketing and mobile AI strategies, Bernardo translates complex technical innovations into clear business opportunities. He also serves as a guest professor of the graduate course in Contemporary China, lecturing in Agribusiness and the Relation Brazil-China and China and the Natural Resources Economy, and as co...

Topic

Increasing Economic and Environmental Sustainability of Rice Cultivation Through the Use of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi and Microbial Consortia

Akashpratim Mukhopadhyay Leave a message

Manager, Agribusiness Crop Science Market Reporting

S&P Global

Akashpratim serves as managing editor for S&P Global Energy’s Agribusiness Crop Science Market Reporting service, leading a team dedicated to providing comprehensive news and analysis of the global agrochemical industry. His work encompasses crop protection, sustainability, digital agriculture, and biotechnology. Akashpratim brings extensive experience from covering the international crop protection sector with S&P Global and its legacy IHS Markit business, as well as holding various roles at one of the world’s largest financial dailies. He is a regular contributor at international conferences and maintains a strong interest in climate change and its impact on emerging economies.

Topic

Regulatory Reality Check for the Global Biopesticides Market

Mark Engel Leave a message

Chairman

Phagelux AgriHealth, Inc.

Topic

The Role of Bacteriophages in Sustainable Crop Bacterial Disease Management

Sandeepa Kanitkar Leave a message

Chairperson and Managing Director

Kan biosys Pvt. Ltd

Sandeepa Kanitkar is a founder chairperson and Managing Director of Kan biosys – The microbial company known for its microbial products for sustainable agriculture. An industrial microbiologist who has spent 34 years unleashing power of microbes for agriculture. Starting from the first patent for producing liquid biofertilizers which won the United Nations WIPO Gold Medal she is involved in improving the efficiency of fertilizers and pesticides using microbes. She believes that Carbon is the real backbone of soil which can be put to best use by microbes for growing our food. Kan Biosys has strategic tie-up with De Sangosse – France for for achieving scale for biologics in India and other countries. A serial entrepreneur and President of BASAI – an industrial body to voice the cause of the Biologics producers. Sandeepa believes in the power of ideas, innovation and technologies for improving the farmers income, the way our food is grown and reaching the goodness to the consumers as ...

Topic

From Stubble Burning to Soil Revival: How India's Biologicals Market is Driving Agricultural Green Transformation

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

DO PHAM TRUNG HAU (Harry) Leave a message

Regional Commercial Manager - Southeast Asia

Chengdu Newsun Crop Science Co., Ltd.

DO PHAM TRUNG HAU (Harry) joined New Sun in 2024 and brings over 20 years of business development experience. He previously worked for leading multinational agrochemical companies, including Syngenta and Corteva, and has a strong cross-disciplinary background in both agriculture and business. Since joining New Sun, he has successfully introduced two of the company’s flagship biostimulants—Pollen Polysaccharide and Astragalus Polysaccharide—into the Vietnamese market, achieving commercialization. He also led the organization of New Sun’s first overseas biostimulant product launch event in Vietnam.

Topic

Technology Supply + Localized Execution: A Proven Formula for Scaling High-Performance Biostimulants

Jonathan Ramsey Etherington Leave a message

CEO – Africa

Microbial Biological Fertilizers International (MBFi)

Jonathan Etherington is the founder and CEO of Microbial Biological Fertilizers International (MBFi), a leading multinational agricultural technologies company. Established in 2003, MBFi has grown under Jonathan’s leadership into a globally recognized organization, now encompassing nine entities worldwide under the Vertium Group. With a strong vision and a deep commitment to advancing sustainable agricultural practices, Jonathan has successfully steered MBFi through two decades of growth and innovation. Jonathan has cultivated a team of highly skilled professionals dedicated to transforming the agricultural market through cutting-edge, science-based research and development. Jonathan’s expertise is grounded in his hands-on experience in scientific research and trial management. As the study director, he has overseen 1,500 statistical trials, including over 100 international trials aimed at global product development. This extensive experience has made Jonathan a recognized leader in ...

Topic

Can New-Age Green Chemistry Technologies Compete with Conventional Products in Global Agriculture?

Dr. Rao Chitong Leave a message

Partner and Chief Scientist

Bluepha

• Bachelor of Science in Biology, Peking University; Ph.D. in Microbiology, University of Toronto; Postdoctoral Fellow in Microbiome Research, Harvard Medical School. • Published over 20 papers in top-tier international journals such as Natureand Cell. • Awarded the 2021 National Award for Outstanding Self-Financed International Students. • Recipient of the 2021 Distinguished Research Award from the Chinese Scholars and Experts Association at Harvard Medical School. • Awarded the 2022 National-Level Overseas Young Talents Project; previously served as an Associate Professor at the Health Science Center of Peking University before joining Bluepha as a full-time Chief Scientist. • Recipient of the 2023 Shanghai Magnolia Talent Program. • Awarded the 2024 Shanghai Science and Technology Rising Star Program.

Topic

Synthetic Biology: Building a New Generation of Biostimulant Matrix for Efficient and Sustainable Agricultural Development

Romy Ursúa Monreal Leave a message

CEO

IKAN Consultores

Romy is a regulatory and legal expert with more than 13 years of experience in Mexico’s crop protection and biologicals industry. As CEO of IKAN Consultores, part of the LATAM Regulatory Network, she defines the firm’s strategic vision and leads the development of regulatory and compliance strategies that help national and international clients achieve market access and regulatory alignment across Latin America. She also serves as Chair of the Crop Protection Commission at the Mexican Association of Professionals in Health Regulation (AMEPRES). Her leadership has positioned IKAN as a strategic partner for national and international companies seeking to operate within complex regulatory frameworks in Mexico and Latin America. Romy holds a Law degree, postgraduate studies in Administrative and Health Law, and a diploma in Customs Administration from Tecnológico de Monterrey, strengthening her focus on trade, regulatory compliance, and customs management.

Topic

Registration of Biostimulants in Mexico: Current Context and Strategic Opportunities