ABIM 2024 insights from Dr Aoife Dillon

Events like ABIM take a little time to digest.

It’s no wonder that the conference programme runs for two and a half days straight; then there are workshops and poster presentations, as well as over 2,040 participants plus 150 exhibitors to speak with. 

Even when I’ve meticulously planned my days, I inevitably find myself rushing—there are just too many of those precious by-chance conversations as I bump into colleagues, counterparts, and acquaintances on route to the next thing. However, I wouldn’t change it one bit—it's a truly immersive experience.

This year, one of the official and unofficial talking points was the pivotal role whole-genome sequencing (WGS) is having and will have in the regulation and risk assessment of biopesticides. It was one of the reasons I was so glad to have our Molecular Biologist, Dr. Edward Haynes, alongside me on the stand. 

While we are both extremely passionate about the topic, his knowledge and experience with the technology is hard to beat. 

For me, that passion stems from the fact that whole-genome sequencing is a near-perfect example of what we've been aiming towards for more than a decade—a technology that is fit for purpose. When it comes to identifying microbes, their metabolites, and studying anti-microbial resistance, it’s extremely efficient and offers more information than anything that was derived from the conventional biochemical analyses.

For Ed, it’s the detail. It’s the opportunity to continue to explore the genomes of more complex organisms like fungi, different sequencing techniques, and design the right studies to find the answers manufacturers, regulators, and governments need for assessing the risks and approving new products.

Ed and I were joined by our colleague, Laura Rigo. As one of Fera’s Strategic Business Development Managers, she brought a wider perspective to the team. 15 years ago, Laura worked as a pot plant/cut flower grower. Back then, biocontrols were in their infancy, and individuals that were keen to explore these alternative products would have had limited information or choice.

I agreed with Laura when she said ‘amazing’ doesn’t quite describe the impact seeing all the solutions we now have all in one place. And with the improvements in science, the speed of discovery is increasing. It’s inspiring, even for those of us who’ve been embedded in the market since those early days.

Speaking with Laura after the event, she also reflected on the way the supply chain comes together at ABIM. It’s like a jigsaw puzzle, she said. With suppliers, scientists, regulators, service providers, and more, all coming together in one space at one time. Though each brings a different perspective, they are united in a common goal. That sense of collaboration is one of the reasons I’ve come back event after event.

Next year will see the industry celebrate milestones at ABIM. This will mean different things to different people, but for me, its about the barriers we’ve broken together as an industry. 

Not so long ago, we heard that biocontrols needed a controlled environment to be effective and that they would be too costly to apply at field scale. Today we’re seeing farmers across Brazil growing crops like corn and soy using biological solutions. This demonstrates that biocontrols are no longer niche but are mainstream, are successfully protecting staple foods, and at a tremendous scale. 

It fills me with tremendous hope for the future and makes me wonder what other milestones we’ll be celebrating at ABIM in 2025.

About Fera Science & Biocontrols

For over a century, we’ve been delivering world-class science for our partners, for the future. With over 250 years of combined biopesticide expertise, our team of dedicated scientists are here to guide you through the evolving landscape of biopesticide regulations.

We cover it all, from discovery and efficacy testing to microbiology, 5-batch analysis, contaminant and residue analysis, storage stability testing, analytical chemistry, ecotoxicology, metabolism, and environmental fate.

If you’d like to know more, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.