C. Fernandez, Futureco Bioscience R&D Director, candidate for the Vice-Presidency of the IBMA

Carolina Fernández, who has been the R&D director of Futureco Bioscience for more than 20 years, is running as a candidate for the vice-presidency of the IBMA (International Association of Biocontrol Manufacturers). Voting is available online and on-site, until October 18th, day of the general assembly in Basel, Switzerland, where the winner will be announced. Besides, Fernandez and others Futureco Bioscience delegates, will be present on 19-20th October at ABIM 2021 (stand number 20). 

More than 220 companies are part of IBMA around the world. They are the voice of the biocontrol technologies industry. This platform allows its members to share their points of view; to form a common position in front of institutional members, political leaders, the media, and the public. The principal goal is to promote innovation in biocontrol. The aim is to bring new solutions to the market by way of regulation, both reasoned and ethical. This regulation will allow farmers to increase their use of green technology and thereby produce healthy, productive, and profitable crops.  

Carolina has been an active member of IBMA since 2004. She was also president of IBMA Spain from 2011 to 2013. An expert in the biological control industry and its technologies, she has great experience from her career in research innovation. Now she is willing to face the challenge of helping other companies, bringing new tools and methods to market, just as she has done, and continues to do, at Futureco Bioscience.

Rafael Juncosa, CEO of Futureco Bioscience, expressed his maximum support for Carolina Fernández's candidacy: "I can confidently affirm that she has been not only a critical asset for the growth of the company, but also a very valuable reference for our whole network of stakeholders. In addition, I have always been impressed by her holistic understanding of biocontrol; and I believe she will be a great addition to the association”.

Whoever takes the vice-presidency position at IBMA will face the challenge represented by the implementation of the "Farm to Fork" strategy, part of the "European Green Deal", and promoted by the European Union; the purpose of which is to create a more ecological, sustainable, and healthy food system. It proposes a new global approach that provides healthy, affordable, and sustainable food, while at the same time protecting the environment and increasing biodiversity. The "Farm to Fork" strategy is a significant part of the Commission's agenda to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) outlined by the United Nations. The plan foresees measures to "reduce the use and risk of chemical pesticides by 50%" and "to decrease the use of the most dangerous pesticides by 50%" by 2030. In addition, the aim is for 25% of total farmland to be farmed organically by 2030. These goals will be enormous challenges to farmers and will create a significant driving force for the sector to develop effective alternative solutions. For this reason, it is paramount that there is the professional guidance of an individual with an extensive knowledge on the subject. 

Biocontrol technologies are a reality of sustainable agriculture; and they are the key to the future of our planet. This is something that Futureco Bioscience has practiced since its inception and, without Carolina this would not have been possible.