b"WORKING WITH NATURETHE IBMA SHARES ITS TAKE ON THE GREEN DEAL, SUR AND THE BENEFITSOF BIOCONTROL.BY: MARCEL BRUINSEUROPEAN SEED (ES): CAN YOU EXPLAIN IN Aby plants, animals and other organisms used for WHY IT MATTERS NUTSHELL WHAT THE IBMA IS, AND EXPLAIN Aintra-species and/or inter-species communication and The EU F2F StrategyBIT ABOUT ITS ACTIVITIES? have a target-specific and non-toxic mode of action.has set severalJennifer Lewis (JL): The IBMA represents the bio- 3. Natural Substances consist of one or more ambitious targetscontrol industry with over 230 member companiescomponents that originate from nature, including but to be achieved byglobally. It is the voice of biocontrol for a sustaina- not limited to: plants, algae/microalgae, animals, min-2030. One of thoseble and resilient global agriculture which aims for aerals, bacteria, fungi, peptides, protozoans, viruses, targets is to reducehealthier food system to benefit farmers, the envi- viroids and mycoplasmas. They can either be sourced the overall use andronment and consumers. By working with nature,from nature or are nature identical if synthetized. This risk of chemicalour members are leading the way in innovative anddefinition excludes semiochemicals and microbials.pesticides andeffective biocontrol for agriculture, forestry and public4. Invertebrate Biocontrol Agents (also called reduce the use ofhealth. The IBMA was founded 27 years ago by itsmacrobials) are natural enemies such as insect, mite more hazardousmembers. and has its office in Brussels.and nematode species providing control of pest pop-pesticides, bothulations through predation or parasitism.by 50%. But inES: YOU MENTIONED BIOCONTROL, WHICHThe first three categories of biocontrol are regu-order to make thisSEEMS TO ENCOMPASS QUITE A NUMBER OFlated under EC Regulation 1107/2009 the same regu-work, farmers willTECHNOLOGIES. HOW DOES IBMA DESCRIBElation that is used for placing chemical plant protection need alternatives.BIOCONTROL? products (pesticides) onto the market. Invertebrate bio-In our search ofIsabelle Pinzauti Babrzyski (IPB): The biocontrolcontrol agents are regulated nationally. those alternatives,technologies originate from nature, either directly or if European Seed synthetized they are identical to nature. They are usedES: WHAT ARE SOME OF THE BENEFITS OF came acrossto manage pests, weeds and diseases in agricultureUSING BIOCONTROL TECHNOLOGIES?the Internationalas well as home, garden and forestry. Our biocontrolJL: Biocontrol enhances biodiversity and soil health, Biocontrolsolutions achieve the sustainability goals that consum- and are generally safer for the farmers to use. Another Manufacturersers urgently demand for food safety, human healthkey benefit of biocontrol is that that it is very target Association (IBMA)and protection of the environment. specific, and therefore respects the nontarget fauna and spoke withAt the moment, there is no official Europeanand flora, so minimizing environmental impact. They Jennifer Lewis,Union definition for biological control, biocontrol,don't just work like pesticides, by killing the pest, but Executive Directoralso known as bioprotection. We separate four dif- they also work by regulating the pest for example and Isabelleferent categories of solutions:stopping mating. For example, with pheromones, it Pinzauti Babrzyski,1. Microbials are based on microorganisms,prevents the male and the female meeting. So, the Senior Advocacyincluding but not limited to bacteria, fungi, protozo- eggs are not fertilized and the larval pest does not and Outreachans, viruses, viroids, peptides, mycoplasmas, and maydevelop and the fruit remains pest free. Manager at theinclude entire microorganisms, living and dead cells,The use of biocontrol reduces the risk of chemical IBMA. any associated microbial metabolites, fermentationcontamination. In terms of human health, it means materials and cell-fragments. less exposure to chemical pesticides for farm workers 2. Semiochemicals are substances emittedand no chemical residues in food. 10IEUROPEAN SEEDIEUROPEAN-SEED.COM"