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International Scientific Workshop "Diversifying Business Models for Biocontrol Deployment"

The French Priority Research Programme "Growing and Protecting crops Differently" (PPR-CPA),  organises its International Scientific Workshop "Diversifying Business Models for Biocontrol Deployment", from May 31 to June 2, 2023. The event will be held both in Paris (within the limits of available places) and online, in English only (no translation into French). It will be organised as follows: 

  • The sessions from May 31 to June 1, 2023 are open to all, 
  • The session of June 2, 2023 is reserved for speakers and guests.

During this scientific event, we will provide an overview of the diversity of business models used worldwide for the different types of biocontrol strategies (together with autocidal control and scouting activities supporting biocontrol), discuss their pros and cons, evaluate their potential for wider deployment and discuss the way public and private policies can facilitate their implementation.

Find out more about the PPR Growing and Protecting crops Differently.

Biological control strategies range from the use of organisms or natural substances to the management of ecological infrastructures promoting pest control services provided by resident biodiversity. The implementation of these strategies relies on different types of economic actors, different tools offered to farmers (products, services), different modes of financing and require a variety of interactions between stakeholders. In other words, biocontrol can use a diversity of business models. Large-scale use of biocontrol is highly dependent on the fit between business models and the socioeconomic context.

The currently dominant business model in biocontrol, derived from agrochemistry, corresponds to the use of products manufactured by the upstream industry and sold to growers. This business model, which mobilizes a very narrow part of the agribusiness value chain, is not adapted to all biocontrol strategies (e.g. conservation or establishment biocontrol) and displays limitations in terms of potential for large-scale deployment.