Tropical Agricultural Association Conference

TAA International is organising a conference on the Development and Use of Biological Agents and Extracts in Tropical Agricultural Systems. This conference will take place from 11.00 on Thursday 11th September to 15.30 on Friday 12th September 2025 at Rothamsted Research, UK.

The conference will address key issues in the research, development and use of biologicals in 1) soil and nutritive amendments and 2) plant protection, reviewing and drawing lessons from real-life experiences on:

  • Best practice in prospecting, identifying and developing biological agents and extracts;
  • Challenges and requirements for developing products through to market and use;
  • Future opportunities and implications for the development of different sectors;

Speakers will span the global experience with biologicals and will include:

  • Dr Dick Shaw, Senior Regional Director, CABI
  • Dr Ranajit Bandyopadhyay, Emeritus Scientist, IITA
  • Dr Wendy-Ann Isaac, Senior Lecturer, University of West Indies, Trinidad
  • Dr Henry Wainwright, Co-Founder of Real IPM, Kenya
  • Dr Atthawit Watcharapongchai, GIZ, Thailand
  • Emeritus Professor Ken Giller, Wageningen University, The Netherlands 
  • Others to be announced when confirmed

Their presentations will be used to stimulate discussions and share experiences to explore the breadth and potential of biologicals, and key issues in their deployment in the tropical agricultural systems of Latin America, Africa and Asia. Together, these will provide valuable insights into the practical realities of developing biologicals and how these processes can be further improved and taken up more widely. The Conference will be of value to those working in agricultural development, research, industry, farmers/users, policy makers, regulators and students.

The Conference will be a hybrid event with both in-person and online (Teams) participation possible. Registration fees are very competitive, with discounts for TAAI members, participants aged under 40, or citizens of developing countries. For in-person participants, the registration fee will include all sessions of the two-day conference; lunches, teas and coffees; the Conference Dinner; and a tour of Rothamsted.

Papers and posters presented at the Conference will be published in a special follow-up edition of TAAI’s open-access journal: Agriculture for Development.

You can see further details about the Conference, and register, here:

TAAI Conference 2025

Exhibitors