Revolutionary Breakthrough Defining the Future | BioEx 2025 (Novonesis • 6th Biopesticides, Biostimulants and Biofertilizers Summit) Successfully Held in Shanghai

Against the backdrop of numerous challenges facing global agriculture, innovation and development of agricultural biologicals are becoming important driving forces for promoting agricultural sustainability. From March 13 to 14, 2025, the Novonesis • 6th Biopesticides, Biostimulants and Biofertilizers Summit (BioEx 2025), meticulously planned by AgroPages, was successfully held in Shanghai, China, attracting some 500 industry elites from 260 companies and institutions across 40 countries and regions, which sets a new record.

The Summit specially set up an exhibition area where 20 leading companies from 9 countries around the world participated, including Novonesis, MoonBiotech, ALEXAM China, Bayer CropScience, Acadian Plant Health, knoell, Pherobio, Chengdu Newsun Crop Science, AGRITECNO FERTILIZANTES, Just agrotec, Runhe Chemical New Material, ASFERTGLOBAL, JBN-naturepower, Harworld, Grupo Silvestre, Xian Tbio Crop Science, REACH24H Consulting Group, Sega Science and Technology, Mérieux NutriSciences and Leading Bio-agricultural.

As an important exchange platform in the biological industry, BioEx 2025 not only promotes academic discussions but also builds key bridges for business cooperation. During the two-day conference, industry leaders such as Novonesis, MoonBiotech and Bayer Crop Science shared their latest technological innovations and market insights. Government representatives from countries including China and Brazil provided detailed interpretations of bio-input policies in their respective countries, offering valuable policy information to participants. In addition, European biostimulant experts, professors in the field of biosynthesis from the United States, and representatives from renowned research institutions also shared their latest research results, jointly demonstrating the strong development momentum and broad market prospects of biologicals.

Eva Hoo, General Manager at AgroPages (left) and Yenny Tao, Head of Animal and Plant, China, Novonesis (right) giving opening remarks for BioEx 2025

knoell Forum: Policy Leads Green Transformation and Sustainable Development of Bio-agriculture

At the critical period of global agricultural green transformation, governments and relevant departments from many countries have introduced policies to promote the application of biotechnology innovation in agriculture to improve resource utilization efficiency in agricultural production, improve the ecological environment, and ensure food security. This forum focuses on sharing the latest developments and policy trends in the global bio-agriculture field. Through policy promotion and technological innovation, bio-agriculture is developing in a more efficient and greener direction, helping global agriculture move towards a sustainable future.

Adam Kayser, Global Product Technical Manager at Novonesis and Dr. Qian Li, China BioAg Business Development Manager at Novonesis

Adam Kayser, Global Product Technical Manager at Novonesis and Dr. Qian Li, China BioAg Business Development Manager at Novonesis shared how Novonesis promotes sustainable agricultural development through biotechnology innovation. During the critical period of agricultural green transformation, biological solutions are playing an important role in helping to improve crop nutrient utilization, improve soil health, and enhance crop resistance to stress. Novonesis is actively developing the Chinese market and has successfully launched biological products such as phosphorus-solubilizing bacteria and rhizobia, and plans to continuously expand its product line to empower sustainable agricultural development through technological innovation and contribute to global food security.

Du Sen, Chief Expert, National Agricultural Technology Extension Service Center, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, China

Du Sen, Chief Expert, National Agricultural Technology Extension Service Center, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, China, had an in-depth exchange on the importance of scientific fertilization. In recent years, China's chemical fertilizer application has decreased from 60 million tons in 2015 to more than 50 million tons in 2023, a reduction of more than 10 million tons, while grain production increased from 650 million tons to 700 million tons during the same period, fully demonstrating the significant effectiveness of scientific fertilization. Currently, China's agriculture faces the dual challenges of increasing production capacity and green development, thus proposing the "fertilizer control and efficiency enhancement" action to ensure the dual goals of food security and ecological security. This action follows the four principles of "high yield, high quality, cost reduction, and environmental protection," and improves fertilizer utilization and promotes green and efficient agricultural development through scientific management, structure optimization, precision fertilization, and other measures.

Henrique Bley, Deputy Director of the Department of Plant Health and Agricultural Inputs and the General Coordinator of the Fertilizers, Biofertilizers and Inoculants Division, Department of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Supply (MAPA) of Brazil

Henrique Bley, Deputy Director of the Department of Plant Health and Agricultural Inputs and the General Coordinator of the Fertilizers, Biofertilizers and Inoculants Division, Department of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Supply (MAPA) of Brazil, introduced Brazil's regulatory framework for biological inputs and emphasized Brazil's success in agriculture supported by the three pillars of research, industrial investment, and regulation. He provided a detailed interpretation of Brazil's latest regulations on biological inputs, pointing out that the regulations cover multiple categories including biopesticides, biostimulants, and inoculants, and introduced different registration methods, including Conventional, By comparison and Reference Specification ("ER") registrations, to improve registration efficiency. He emphasized that Brazil's biological input market is developing rapidly and the regulatory system is continuously improving to promote sustainable agriculture and attract more high-quality biological products to enter the market.

Dr. Owen Hoffart, Group Leader, Regulatory Affairs, knoell Germany GmbH

Dr. Owen Hoffart, Group Leader, Regulatory Affairs, knoell Germany GmbH, pointed out that while the acceptance of biological control products in the EU has improved, farmers still have doubts about their performance, while biostimulants are more widely welcomed. Additionally, he introduced the latest changes in biostimulant regulations in the EU and the United States, including the development of the EU's FPR framework and the AAPFCO definition in the United States, and emphasized Brazil's successful experience in promoting biological products. He emphasized that to promote the development of biological control products, it is necessary to strengthen farmer training, optimize regulatory definitions, and learn from rapid approval mechanisms in countries such as the Netherlands to promote the development of global bio-agriculture.

Aijia Zhang, Crop Efficiency Asset Manager at Bayer CropScience China

Aijia Zhang, Crop Efficiency Asset Manager at Bayer CropScience China, introduced Bayer's strategy to promote the development of biological products and sustainable agriculture from a global perspective. She emphasized Bayer's innovative initiatives in the field of biological products, focusing on how to play a role in the rapid growth of the global biological product market. Bayer plans to launch a new crop health brand "DeLai", combining global resources and German enterprise quality standards to promote leadership in the field of crop health. In addition, Bayer will also increase investment in research and development of biostimulants and functional fertilizer products to promote crop resistance to abiotic stress and improve the sustainability of agricultural production.

Melinda Haley, Client Success Lead ANZ at Kynetec

Melinda Haley, Client Success Lead ANZ at Kynetec, explained the classification of biostimulants and biopesticides, pointing out that the industry currently lacks a globally unified classification standard, and Kynetec adopts its own classification framework covering the fields of crop nutrition and crop protection. The report also analyzed the growth trends of the global biostimulant and biopesticide market, with special emphasis on the situation in Latin America and European markets. Data indicates that the use of biostimulants and biopesticides is gradually increasing globally, especially in Brazil, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific region, driven by factors including rising fertilizer prices and increased crop planting area. Melinda also analyzed the Australian market in particular, where, according to their research, farmers and consultants in the region generally have good recognition with bioproducts, but feel that the reliability of product data needs to be improved.

Pherobio Forum: Explores Frontier Technologies and Applications

As agriculture faces more and more challenges, the application of innovative products is gradually becoming the key to promoting sustainable agricultural development. Biotechnology and new agricultural solutions have shown enormous potential in improving crop stress resistance, improving soil health, and enhancing yield and quality. This forum delves into the research and development and application of a series of agricultural innovative products, including active peptide enzymes, algae extracts, biopesticides, RNAi technology, and other cutting-edge technologies.

Jarod Lee, CEO of Alexam (China)

Jarod Lee, CEO of Alexam (China), shared the latest developments of active peptide enzymes (APE+) and their applications in agriculture. APE+ not only enhance crop resistance in adverse environments but also improve crop photosynthesis, root growth, and nutrient absorption, solving problems that traditional fertilizers and pesticides cannot address. He introduced how Alexam extracts enzymes from extreme environments in deserts and, through years of research and development, applies them to the agricultural field to help crops cope with adverse weather, soil problems, and the excessive use of chemical fertilizers.

Kevin Shiell, Director of Formulator Technology at Acadian Plant Health

Kevin Shiell, Director of Formulator Technology at Acadian Plant Health, introduced the company's algae extract biostimulants and their applications in fertilizer formulations, focusing on the advantages and uniqueness of this technology. He shared the company's research results applying this technology to various crops, proving its significant effects in promoting root growth, improving nutrient absorption, enhancing water utilization efficiency, and strengthening plant stress resistance. He also emphasized that the company not only sells algae extracts but also provides technical support and co-creation opportunities for customers, helping them develop customized fertilizer formulations to promote the progress and development of industry technology.

Cui Genzhong, Chairman at Pherobio Technology Co., Ltd.

Cui Genzhong, Chairman at Pherobio Technology Co., Ltd., shared the important role of semio-chemicals in insects, plants, and even microorganisms, especially in preventing biotic stress such as pests and diseases and pesticide resistance. He introduced successful cases of using insect pheromones for monitoring, trapping, and mating disruption, especially in the control of rice stem borers, where the application of pheromones significantly improves control effects. In addition to pest control, he also shared protein products through gene regulation, such as WEIDALI, to improve crop immunity, stress resistance, and disease resistance, especially in extreme environments such as drought and cold.

Dr. Wang Lin - COO of the Agricultural Division at MoonBiotech

Dr. Wang Lin - COO of the Agricultural Division at MoonBiotech, shared the company's latest progress in the field of biopesticides, focusing on the development and application of the world's first Trichoderma harzianum liquid formulation. She emphasized that although biologicals have great potential for application in agriculture, they still face challenges such as technical barriers, and insufficient market awareness. She mentioned that the development of biopesticide products is relatively difficult, especially the stability and formulation innovation of microbial products. MoonBiotech 's Trichoderma harzianum OD became the first registered Trichoderma harzianum liquid formulation in the world, marking the company's innovative breakthrough in the field of bio-agriculture.

Dr. Gavin Wang, Head of Product Development and Registration at AXEB China

Dr. Gavin Wang, Head of Product Development and Registration at AXEB China, introduced its first fungal vaccine product – SUNBK. As a biochemical pesticide, SUNBK enhances plants' resistance to fungal diseases by activating their own defense mechanisms, while also improving crop health, stress resistance, and growth performance. Unlike traditional chemical fungicides, SUNBK focuses on prevention rather than treatment, reducing the use of chemical pesticides by enhancing plant immunity, thereby reducing residue and resistance problems.

Dr. Jiarui Li, CEO at Innatrix

Dr. Jiarui Li, CEO at Innatrix, introduced the application of RNAi in the field of plant protection, especially its potential in pest and pathogen control. He introduced the company's current progress in the RNAi field, including the RNAi-based nematode control product (InnaNema), which has proven to effectively control soybean nematodes through field tests. The company is working closely with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and plans to obtain approval for the product in the next two years and promote its commercialization.

Jeferson Naue, Team Leader - Agriculture, Momentive Performance Materials Inc.

Jeferson Naue, Team Leader - Agriculture, Momentive Performance Materials Inc., shared Momentive's latest research progress in biological formulations, focusing on how to enhance the effectiveness of biologicals by using adjuvants. He emphasized that adjuvants can help overcome physical and environmental limitations in the spraying process, improve the rain wash resistance and coverage of biological formulations, ensuring products can better play their intended role. Particularly, organosilicon adjuvants excel in improving the adhesion, penetration, and rain wash resistance of biological formulations.

Professor Giuseppe Colla, Horticulture, Tuscia University, Italy

Professor Giuseppe Colla, Horticulture, Tuscia University, Italy, introduced the application of peptide biostimulants in modern agriculture, especially their role in stimulating plant potential. He mentioned that peptides have significant biological activity at low concentrations and can play a promoting role in different growth stages of plants, such as seed germination, root growth, and flowering and fruiting. In addition, he also shared research results on preparing peptides through plant-source protein hydrolysis and conducting a series of experiments to verify their effects. Experiments show that peptides can effectively improve crop root growth, nitrogen and phosphorus assimilation, and enhance plant antioxidant capacity.

Agritecno Forum: Integrated Solutions Driving Agricultural Transformation

Against the backdrop of global agriculture facing challenges such as climate change, resource scarcity, and environmental pollution, integrated solutions have gradually become an important force driving sustainable agricultural development. This forum focuses on the strategies and innovative cases of global leading enterprises, exploring how to promote the comprehensive upgrade of the agricultural field through means such as biological preparations, digital technology, and climate adaptation solutions. Through these innovative integrated solutions, agricultural production can not only improve efficiency and reduce environmental pressure but also achieve the dual goals of sustainable development and food security on a global scale.

Riccardo Vanelli, Chief Commercial Officer at Rovensa Next

Riccardo Vanelli, Chief Commercial Officer at Rovensa Next, shared the company's strategy and vision in promoting sustainable agriculture. He introduced the company's global business layout, emphasizing the importance of the Asia-Pacific region, especially the Chinese market, and stated that through investing in local resources and teams, Rovensa Next hopes to work with partners to promote the development of sustainable agriculture. Through research and development, technical support, and strategic cooperation, the company is committed to providing farmers with solutions covering the entire plant life cycle, helping them achieve sustainable development in agricultural transformation.

Jerome Cassayre, Head of Biologicals Research at Syngenta Crop Protection

Jerome Cassayre, Head of Biologicals Research at Syngenta Crop Protection, shared Syngenta's strategy in biological innovation and global collaborations. He introduced the company's progress in biological research and development, covering technologies such as plant pheromones, natural extracts, and RNAi, and discussed how to accelerate product innovation through technology fusion. In addition, Syngenta also focuses on collaborative innovation, forming a collaborative research and development strategy covering short-term, medium-term, and long-term, to further promote the integration of biotechnology and digitalization.

Eva Hoo, General manager at AgroPages

Eva Hoo, General manager at AgroPages, shared AgroPages' observations and thoughts on the development trends of Chinese agricultural biologicals. Through survey data, she analyzed the agricultural biological market demands in different regions, including Latin America, Southeast Asia, Africa, North America, and Europe. She pointed out that the demand for biological products in the Latin American market is strong, especially in the mature Brazilian market, while Southeast Asian and African markets face promotion and cost challenges. She showcased innovative cases of Chinese agricultural biological products, covering fields such as soil health, crop nutrition, and plant protection, and emphasized that the Chinese agricultural biological industry is building a complete innovation system, committed to providing global systematic solutions.

Ynwie Van Ackere, Product & Marketing Manager of AJINOMOTO AgroSolution and Blanca Garcia, Innovation Technician of AJINOMOTO AgroSolution

Ynwie Van Ackere, Product & Marketing Manager of AJINOMOTO AgroSolution and Blanca Garcia, Innovation Technician of AJINOMOTO AgroSolution, emphasized the threat of climate change to global crop yields. To address this issue, Agritecno proposes to improve crop resilience, reduce environmental pressure, and ensure farmer income and food security through biostimulants and regenerative agricultural technologies. Blanca further explored the impact of climate stress on plants and introduced Agritecno's solutions, such as enhancing plant water use and antioxidant capabilities through biostimulants.

Karine Framesqui, Head of Global Application Development Crop Solutions at Clariant

Karine Framesqui, Head of Global Application Development Crop Solutions at Clariant, introduced Clariant's innovation and practice in global biological solutions. She emphasized that biologicals have significant potential in plant protection and promoting plant health. To this end, Clariant adopts high-throughput testing technology and innovative formulation development methods to improve the bio-efficacy and environmental adaptability of microbial products. In addition, Clariant also focuses on enhancing the effectiveness of biologicals through improved adjuvants (such as Guard100), including enhancing their rainwater tolerance and coverage, thereby improving control effects.

Dr. Luiz Antonio Alves Jose, Head of Staphyt Brasil

Dr. Luiz Antonio Alves Jose, Head of Staphyt Brasil, shared the current situation and challenges of nematode problems in Brazil. He introduced Staphyt's research and development in Brazil, especially in the application of bionematicides. Through innovative seed treatment and furrow application technologies, bionematicides have begun to have a positive impact on agricultural production, expected to increase crop yields by about 10%. However, Brazilian farmers face challenges in accepting new technologies, especially in changing planting habits and controlling nematode reproduction.

Newsun Crop Science Forum: Regional Strategies and Development Dynamics of the Global Agricultural Market

Regional market demands, policy regulations, and cultural differences all have an important impact on business layout and product promotion. This forum will delve into how to overcome regional challenges, promote the popularization of biopesticides and biofertilizers, and respond to increasingly stringent regulatory environments in the global scope, especially in markets such as Asia-Pacific, Europe, Africa, and South America. Industry experts will discuss these topics, providing valuable insights for the future development of the global agricultural market.

Yadong Li, Global Strategy and Marketing Vice President, China Business Operations Vice President at Chengdu Newsun Crop Science Co., Ltd.

Yadong Li, Global Strategy and Marketing Vice President, China Business Operations Vice President at Chengdu Newsun Crop Science Co., Ltd., shared the company's strategy, especially the significant achievements made through research and development and technological innovation in fields such as biopesticides, biofertilizers, and biostimulants. He emphasized that the future development of the biological industry requires the joint efforts and cooperation of global peers, and also stated that the company will continue to expand overseas markets, especially in the field of Brassinosteroid, ensuring the sustainable application of technology and products globally.

Evelyne Gusken, CEO of sciBASICS

Evelyne Gusken, CEO of sciBASICS, shared strategic considerations for agrochemical products in the European market, especially the regulatory requirements for biostimulants and fertilizers. She pointed out that agrochemical products face a highly regulated environment, especially in the EU, where different countries have different regulatory requirements, so enterprises need to plan ahead in research and development and market promotion and understand the compliance requirements of various countries. She emphasized that mastering details is crucial when facing complex regulatory frameworks, as incorrect decisions may lead to long-term market delays. She provided a detailed introduction to the EU's unified fertilizer regulations and each country's independent regulatory pathways, especially how to quickly enter target markets through conformity assessment and mutual recognition pathways.

Jonathan Ramsey Etherington, CEO - Africa at Microbial Biological Fertilizers International (MBFi)

Jonathan Ramsey Etherington, CEO - Africa at Microbial Biological Fertilizers International (MBFi), shared the current situation, challenges of the African agricultural market, and the important role of biotechnology. He introduced MBFi's global market expansion strategy, emphasizing how the company starts from the fundamentals of agriculture, promotes the development of green chemistry and biological products, helps improve farmer productivity, and supports sustainable agriculture. He shared the company's global growth data and innovation results, emphasizing that green chemistry and biotechnology can significantly increase agricultural yields and reduce resource waste. He especially mentioned that the application of biotechnology and biological products will become a key factor in driving global agricultural development.

Dr. Antonio Gomez Cardona, Founder and CEO of Novagro-AG SAC

Dr. Antonio Gomez Cardona, Founder and CEO of Novagro-AG SAC, shared his experience in promoting biological solutions in Peru, focusing on how to improve agricultural production and promote sustainable development through biological products. He introduced the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) method and its successful application in Peruvian agriculture, especially its effectiveness in reducing pesticide use and increasing yields. He mentioned that by using biological preparations, farmers can not only reduce dependence on chemical pesticides but also significantly increase crop yields and income.

Lawrence Kin Wah Yu, Head of Asia Pacific at American Vanguard Corporation (AMVAC)

Lawrence Kin Wah Yu, Head of Asia Pacific at American Vanguard Corporation (AMVAC), shared the business model and development ideas in the field of biopesticides. He emphasized that the company mainly helps farmers increase income by providing pesticide and biopesticide solutions that meet farmers' needs, rather than simply selling chemical pesticides or fertilizers. The company expands the market through the acquisition of external products, technology, and sales channels, rather than conducting basic research and development itself. In addition, the application of SIMPAS precision agriculture technology further improves the efficiency of pesticide use and reduces unnecessary dosage.

Professor Desmond Jimenez of Woodland Community College, Cosumnes River College

Professor Desmond Jimenez of Woodland Community College, Cosumnes River College, California, shared his 35 years of industry experience, focusing on the difficulties and solutions of scaling up biologicals production. He discussed the application of various microorganisms, including nitrogen-fixing bacteria, methylotrophic bacteria, methane-oxidizing bacteria, and others in the frontier role of agriculture, especially their contribution to increasing crop yields and reducing emissions. He introduced successful cases in microbial screening and fermentation optimization, and how to reduce pesticide dependence, improve nitrogen utilization efficiency, and reduce antibiotic use through technological innovation.

Cam Camfield, Founder and CEO of Stratovation Group

Cam Camfield, Founder and CEO of Stratovation Group, shared quantitative research results on US farmers' perception and purchase intention of agricultural biological products. The research, through collaboration with multiple partners, deeply understands farmers' perception, usage, and purchase motivations for biological products (such as biopesticides, biostimulants, etc.). Additionally, farmers' preferences for purchase channels are concentrated in private retailers and online channels, and brand reputation is considered a key factor in purchasing decisions. The research results emphasize the necessity of improving farmers' awareness and trust in biological products, as well as promoting their use through effective market education.

See You at BioEx 2026

As BioEx 2025 successfully concludes, we not only celebrate the breakthrough progress in the field of bio-agriculture but also witness the common commitment of the global agricultural community to a sustainable future. Over the past two days, industry pioneers, policymakers, and leading researchers have delivered visionary speeches, outlining innovation-driven trajectories for agricultural technology. These multidisciplinary dialogues cover cutting-edge biotechnology, smart agricultural solutions, and climate adaptation strategies, mapping out a roadmap for transformative growth. With renewed enthusiasm, we eagerly look forward to BioEx 2026, when this vibrant community will gather again to share revolutionary breakthroughs and jointly redefine the future of global agriculture.

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For more information about BioEx 2026, please contact Christina Xie at christina@agropages.com