The 2025 Summit Speakers

Regional Field Coordinator & Associate Director, Western Region, IR-4 Project

George is Chief Innovation and Economic Development Officer, UC Davis

Danny Bernstein is the CEO of Reservoir.

Frederic is Vice President Biologicals, Corteva Agriscience

Shannon Borges is the Deputy Director for the Biopesticides and Pollution Prevention Division (BPPD) in the U.S. EPA’s Office of Pesticide Programs.

Don is the President of the California State Board of Food and Agriculture and is the Vice President and General Manager of Terranova Ranch

In 2018, Carl helped launch Ospraie Ag Science, the venture arm of Ospraie Management. In this role, he leads successful venture campaigns for select companies that help farmers do more with less environmental impact.

Brad is BDM for Seed Care North America, Syensqo

Todd is the North American Regional Manager for Nestle’s Sustainable Agricultural Development group.

Senior Director, Strategic Sourcing and Innovation, Sprouts Farmers Market

Dennis is Director of the Western Growers Center for Innovation & Technology and co-convenor of the 2025 Salinas Biological Summit

Lauren manages The Pest Management Research portfolio at the Almond Board of California.

Dr. Jim Farrar is the director of the Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program at University of California (UC IPM).

Bonnie Fernandez-Fenaroli is Executive Director, Center for Produce Safety

Gifford is Head of Science, Redox Bio-Nutrients

Matthew J. Grieshop is the founding director of the Grimm Family Center for Organic Production and Research at Cal Poly.

Roma is Director and Founder of Biorationale Limited

David has served as the Entomology and Pest Management Advisor for UC Cooperative Extension in Kern County, CA for the past 23 years.

François is President, CXC

Director, Sustainable Food Group, IPM Institute

Claire is Director, Growth Strategies, Wharf42

Jill is State Government & Industry Affairs Western Region Director, Corteva AgriScience

Jennifer was appointed as IBMA Executive Director in 2019.

Pam is Co-founder & Executive Chair, Invasive Species Foundation and Invasive Species Corporation

Rick Melnick, Partner and VP Global Business, DunhamTrimmer

Mike Mendelsohn is chief of the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s Emerging Technologies Branch.

Karen is Director, California Department of Pesticide Regulation

Todd is a former Agri-business leader and politician who lives in Tauranga, New Zealand.

Tim is the Co-Founder of AgList.com, the leading independent discovery platform for agricultural biologicals.

Matt Plitt is President and Chief Executive Officer of Valent USA LLC.

Keith is Senior Vice-President, Sustainability and Regulatory Strategy, Bioceres Crop Solutions

Secretary Karen Ross, California Department of Food & Agriculture

Andy is Co-Executive Director of DAFF-CSIRO Catalysing Australia's Biosecurity Initiative.

Chris is a Partner at The Mixing Bowl

Ed is VP of Government Affairs, The Fertilizer Association

Hillary is currently the Research and Technical Director, Naturipe Berry Growers,

Clarice is President and CEO of the Almond Board of California

Rob is Founder & Partner, The Mixing Bowl

Candace is the 2025 Summit MC. Candace is also Business Unit Lead for Bayer’s fruit and vegetable crop protection business.

Stuart is President and CEO of Woolf Farming & Processing and Chair, Western Growers

Peter is the founder & CEO of New Zealand-based Wharf42 & convenor of the 2025 Salinas Biological Summit

Nick Young is the Environmental Program Manager for the California Department of Food & Agriculture's Fertilizing Materials Inspection Program.