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'?

The Grower Keynote

The Grower is at the center of every Salinas Biological Summit. With Woodland and the surrounding region hosting a significant number of almond orchards, who better than Clarice Turner to provide the 'Grower's Voice'.

The Biopesticide Start-Up Pitch Event

As the Mixing Bowl's Ag Biologicals Landscape Map demonstrates, there are hundreds of companies - start-ups, scale-ups and established - operating in the biopesticide space.

This is your opportunity to hear from 4 of them!

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.

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 Australia & New Zealand. 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 Senior Specialist of Pest Management will provide an update on the field trial program and benefits it will offer almond growers.

Achieving Success with Field Trial Programs

As Platform10 begins to deploy its Grower-led field trials both in the US & offshore, achieving success in field trials outcomes becomes the optimum. The Achieving Success with Field Trial Programs panel brings together 3 experts in the field.

This is going to be a fascinating discussion!

The Mixing Bowl's Crop Biostimulant Landscape Map Release

The Summit is delighted to once again host a significant Mixing Bowl Landscape Map Release.

In 2023, the team released their Ag Biological Landscape Map. In 2024, the team released their Crop Biocontrol Landscape Map. In June, they will be releasing their first Crop Biostimulant Landscape Map. It promises to be an exciting first focused introduction to the biostimulant sector to the Salinas Summit.

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 and Ed Young will provide insights into the current biostimulant landscape and discuss how they can complement the use of biopesticide applications.

The Biostimulant Start-Up Pitch Event

We are expecting the Mixing Bowl's Crop Biostimulant Landscape Map to demonstrate that there are hundreds of companies - start-ups, scale-ups and established - operating in the biostimulant space.

This is your opportunity to hear from 4 of them!

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.

Understanding Investment Trends in the Innovation Economy

Hear from senior professionals in Finance and Venture Capital about the mega trends that are shaping today’s investment imperatives in innovation.

In this age of AI age, how should we be thinking about capitalizing on technology? How do startups access the right funding to get new ideas off the ground? What are mainstream investors thinking about? 

Understanding the value of Public-Private Partnerships

The world is changing rapidly. Farmers are facing extreme weather, diminishing natural resources and a growing global demand for their crops.

The Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR), builds public-private partnerships to support bold science. This research, co-created with the agriculture community, fills critical research gaps.

Who better to provide valuable insights into this work than Lauren Hershey.

Building resilience for the Future

One of the key questions facing growers and agribusinesses is how to build resilience for the future. It's hard to imagine a time when so many competing challenges have been posed to the agriculture sector at the same time.

Matt Plitt will be sharing personal insights based on his extensive experience of serving growers and managing a significant agribusiness.

The Agtech Pioneers. What's Next?

What better way to conclude this year's Summit than look ahead to the future. At a time of significant market disruption, agribusinesses, agritech companies and investors are collectively trying to identify the key trends that will define their future.

The Agtech Pioneers panel brings together three outstanding individuals who have 'been there' and 'done that'. What's next however?