Celebrating five years of pioneering an innovative future
3-4 March 2026
Brussels
Day I
3 March 2026
- 10:00
Introduction
Olivier de Matos
Director General, CropLife Europe
Olivier de Matos
Director General, CropLife Europe
Olivier de Matos
Director General, CropLife Europe
Olivier de Matos is the Director General of CropLife Europe. Prior to CropLife Europe he was the Secretary General at ECETOC, the European Centre for Ecotoxicology and Toxicology of Chemicals, where he spent 4 years leading the association and promoting its scientific programme activities and initiatives. Before that he held various leadership positions at Burson-Marsteller (now BCW) where he worked for more than 15 years.
- 10:05
Keynote - TBC
- 10:25
Science, Politics, Citizens: A Triangular Dialogue
Professor Sergio Della Sala
University of Edinburgh
Professor Sergio Della Sala
University of Edinburgh
Sergio Della Sala, MD, MSc, PhD, FRSA, FRSE, FBPsS, is Professor of Human Cognitive Neuroscience at the University of Edinburgh. His research focuses on the relationship between the brain and behavior. He has published over 700 experimental papers in peer-reviewed journals, as well as numerous specialized and popular science books. He has been editor-in-chief of Cortex for over 20 years, is Fellow of the Royal Society, and the recipient of the first Tam Dalyell Prize for “Excellence in Engaging the Public with Science.” and of the 2024 FESN “Global Ambassador” award.
- 10:45
Audience Q&A
- 11:15
Coffee and Networking
- 11:45
The Perfect Storm - Agronomic challenges for EU agriculture due to a diminishing toolbox of solutions, increased pest pressure and climate change
PANELISTS
Elli Tsiforou
COPA and COGECA
Elli Tsiforou
COPA and COGECA
Elli TSIFOROU is the Director General of GAIA EPICHEIREIN, a broad coalition between agri-
cooperatives & farmers that have teamed up with partners from the IT sector (NEUROPUBLIC
SA) and the banking sector (PIRAEUS BANK GROUP), sharing a common vision of a more
sustainable and competitive Greek agriculture based on knowledge and innovation.
Since January 2020, Elli is the Chairwoman of the Cooperative Coordination Committee (CCC)
at COGECA (General Committee for Agricultural Cooperation in the European Union), the
European umbrella organization representing 22000 agri-cooperatives.
Between 2015-2019 she was the Head of the Brussels Office of GAIA EPICHEIREIN and the
Permanent Representative of the Greek delegation in the European farmer & agri-cooperative
organizations COPA & COGECA.
Elli has studied Communication & Media in Greece and in France and has worked for more
than 10 years as policy advisor on agriculture and rural development at the European and the
Hellenic Parliament. She was also Chief of Staff to the cabinet of the Minister of Culture and
Tourism during the Caretaker Government in 2012.
She has participated in congresses, written articles and published translations mainly in the
fields of media theory, political communication and agricultural policy.
Iga Wasilewicz
BASF
Iga Wasilewicz
BASF
Iga is a senior expert in governmental affairs and communications with 15+ years of experience in various sectors. Since 2024, she has been a Chair of CropLife Europe Sustainable Agriculture committee.
Iga began her career in corporate communications at GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals. She then worked for the Polish Spirits Industry Association as External Relations Director, representing the voice of the industry (SMEs and multinational corporations) among decision makers and media, covering tax, health, and trade policy. Since 2017 with BASF, a leading chemical company. Iga started her career in BASF as public affairs manager for Poland, then took responsbility for public affairs function in North & Central Europe region, overseeing advocacy campaings on agricultural policy on twelve markets. Few years ago, she joined BASF office in Brussels to lead EU policy advocacy related to crop protection, sustainable agriculture and trade.
She holds a MA in Sociology from University of Warsaw and postgraduate degrees in public policy and international business. In her free time, Iga serves as a mentor in public affairs in Polish European Professionals Network in Brussels.
Paulo Do Nascimento Cabral
MEP
Paulo Do Nascimento Cabral
MEP
Paulo do Nascimento Cabral was born in the Azores and holds a degree in Clinical Psychology from the University of Lisbon. He has completed postgraduate studies in Diversity Management and Communities of Practice, Clinical Neuropsychology, and Psychological Coaching. He also holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) and a Master’s degree in the Management of European Programmes and Funds.
Paulo do Nascimento Cabral previously served as Head of Cabinet to His Excellency the President of the Regional Government of the Azores, and as Counsellor at the Permanent Representation of Portugal to the European Union, where he was responsible for dossiers related to the Azores and Energy.
Paulo do Nascimento Cabral was elected Member of the European Parliament on 10 June 2024, and currently serves on the Committee on Fisheries (PECH), the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development (AGRI), the Committee on Regional Development (REGI), and the Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality (FEMM).
Paulo do Nascimento Cabral is also a member of the Delegations for Relations with the United States of America, with South Africa (where he serves as Vice-Chair), for relations with the Mediterranean, and for relations with the Mashreq countries.
Paulo do Nascimento Cabral is one of the three Co-Chairs of the Intergroup on Cohesion Policy and Outermost Regions, and also serves as Vice-Chair of the Intergroup on Seas, Rivers, Islands and Coastal Areas (SEArica).
Elisabet Nadeu
IEEP
Elisabet Nadeu
IEEP
Elisabet Nadeu leads IEEP’s work on agriculture and natural resources management. She is an environmental scientist by training and holds a PhD in sustainable soil management. Her work focuses on analysing and providing recommendations for EU agricultural and environmental policies to achieve sustainable food systems.
MODERATOR
Jacki Davis
Meade Davis Communications
Jacki Davis
Meade Davis Communications
Jacki Davis is a leading commentator and analyst on European Union affairs. She is an experienced journalist, speaker and moderator of high-level events; a regular broadcaster on television and radio news; and a Senior Adviser to the Brussels-based think tank, the European Policy Centre. She has been based in Brussels for nearly 30 years, and was previously the EPC’s Communications Director; editor-in-chief of E!Sharp, a magazine on EU affairs; launch editor of European Voice, a Brussels-based newspaper on EU affairs owned by The Economist Group, from 1995-2000 (now Politico); and Brussels correspondent of a British national newspaper.
- 12:45
Lunch
- 14:15
Product Authorisation in the EU: Access to Crop Protection Solutions
SPEAKERS
Christian Prohaska
Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety (AGES)
Christian Prohaska
Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety (AGES)
I studied at the University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences (Vienna) Food- and Biotechnology (1984 – 1993). From 1994 to 2000 I worked for different public bodies (Federal Institute for Food Control and Research; Federal Chancellery; Department for Toxicology; Austrian Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management) dealing with various risk assessment issues in the field of plant protection products (risk assessment for consumer; evaluation of plant protection products with respect to residue behaviour; fate and behaviour of plant protection products in the environment with respect to drinking water contamination). In 2000, I completed a postgraduate programme in toxicology at the Medical University Vienna, Institute for Cancer Research. In 2002, I started to work in the field of toxicology at AGES (deputy head of department of toxicology) dealing with risk assessment for operator, bystander and worker; evaluation of plant protection products with respect to toxicology as well as classification and labeling. By 2005, I became head of the Department of Residue Behaviour at AGES. I am member at EU Commission WG “post approval issues” (chair since 2019) and national contact point for zonal evaluation (central zone Steering Committee).
Gemma Peidro Saperas
BASF
Gemma Peidro Saperas
Gemma Peidro is Senior Regulatory Affairs Manager for EMEA and CIS countries in BASF based in Barcelona, Spain. She graduated in the University of Barcelona as Technical Agronomist Engineer with a Research fellowship in Plant Genetic in 1999.
Her involvement with Crop Protection Regulatory Affairs started 26 years ago in the Global Regulatory Affairs Department of LAINCO and later as Iberia Regulatory Affairs Manager in Kenogard.
She had an active role in AEPLA (Spanish crop protection association) for 13 years, being the Chair of the Regulatory Strategies Group (GER) for 4 years.
In 2007 she joined BASF, initially as Regulatory Affairs Manager for Spain and later as Regulatory Affairs Manager for EMEA-CIS countries. Since 2020 she is an active member of the Product Authorization Expert Group (PAEG) of CLE, being the Chair of the group since January 1st 2026.
PANELISTS
Maarten Trybou
FPS Public Health Belgium
Maarten Trybou
FPS Public Health Belgium
Maarten Trybou is the head of the department for plant protection and fertilising products at the Federal Public Service for Public health, Food chain safety and Environment. After his training as agricultural engineer, he started at the former Ministry of Agriculture as officer for the national applications for plant protection products. Later on he became responsible for the team in charge of these applications, and eventually for the whole department. Last year, he passed on his function as president of the national authorisation committee in order to fully engage with the management of the department, that grew in the meantime to a staff of 66 experts dealing with the evaluation and policy for the placing on the market of plant protection and fertilising products in Belgium.
Rocio Vilches
Spanish Ministry of Agriculture
Rocio Vilches
Spanish Ministry of Agriculture
Rocío Vilches has been the Area Coordinator for the Plant Protection Products at the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food since July 2025. Licensed in Pharmacy, she passed the tests to become civil servant (National Corps of State Pharmacists) and her first position was as Inspector of Medicinal Products and Illicit Drug Trafficking Control. She then moved to the Ministry of Health, to the Plant Protection Products Unit, where she worked for six years as a toxicologist specialist in the evaluation of the effects on human health of the plant protection products. Following this, she led the team responsible of the non-dietary exposure assessment for eight years. In 2023, she was appointed Head of Unit of Plant Protection Products until 2025, when she promoted to her current position at the Ministry of Agriculture. Therefore, her experience working with plant protection products is already 17 years, working from the perspective of different approaches such as protecting human health and agricultural production, working with both product and active substance, acting as a risk assessor and as a risk manager. She currently attends different meetings related with the plant protection products, as SCoPAFF (phytopharmaceuticals-legislation section), PAI group, interzonal/southern zone Steering Committee, Biopesticides Working Group, etc.
Patents, Plants & Protection: the future of IP in the EU
PANELISTS
Lena Pauschenwein
DG GROW
Lena Pauschenwein
DG GROW
Lena Pauschenwein studied law at the University of Vienna (Magister iuris) and the University of Glasgow (LLM), specialising in intellectual property and technology law. She has been working in the Intellectual Property Unit of the Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs (DG GROW) of the European Commission since 2021. In the unit, she mainly works on patents (specifically supplementary protection certificates) and trade secrets.
Philippe de Jong
Altius
Philippe de Jong
Altius
Philippe de Jong (LL.M., University College London) is a partner at Altius law firm in Brussels, Belgium and a member of the Brussels bar since 2002. He specializes in contentious, advisory and transactional EU intellectual property law, with a particular focus on patents and plant variety rights. Philippe also has extensive experience in EU regulatory matters concerning the agri-food and broader life sciences industries. He has published several articles in various leading European legal journals on specific topics of intellectual property and EU regulated products. He worked as a consultant for the Community Plant Variety Office, is a regular speaker at international seminars and has represented a large number of innovating companies and industry associations before the Belgian and European civil and administrative courts. Philippe is also a UPC representative.
Filip de Corte
Syngenta
Filip de Corte
Syngenta
Head, IP Crop Protection, Syngenta
Filip De Corte currently serves as the Head of Intellectual Property at Syngenta Crop Protection, leading a team based in Switzerland, the United Kingdom, China, the United States, Brazil and the Netherlands.
Prior to joining Syngenta in 2013, Filip held the position of Chief IP Counsel Europe at Cargill, where his responsibilities spanned patents, trademarks, and IP contracts. Before his tenure at Cargill, he worked with the Johnson & Johnson patent department including roles in Beerse with Janssen Pharmaceutica (1991-2004), New Brunswick (2004-2007), and Brussels (2007-2008).
Filip has PhD in organic chemistry; he is a qualified European Patent Attorney and passed the US patent bar exam. He further holds the qualification of European Patent Litigation from the University of Strasbourg and earned an MBA from the Vlerick School of Management.
Beyond his professional commitments, Filip has contributed to academia by delivering lectures at the University of Leuven in the IPR management course. Currently, he serves as a lecturer in the CEIPI European Litigator Course, focusing on multi-national litigation.
Bettina Wanner
Bayer
Bettina Wanner
Bayer
Dr. Bettina Wanner, works as patent attorney at Bayer AG in Monheim Germany. She studied chemistry at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zuerich) in Switzerland. She holds a PHD in chemistry and Master of Laws (LL.M.). Further, she qualified as European and German patent attorney. Her specific interest is in supplementary protection certificates as well as in the new unitary patent system in Europe.
MODERATOR
Jacki Davis
Meade Davis Communications
Jacki Davis
Meade Davis Communications
Jacki Davis is a leading commentator and analyst on European Union affairs. She is an experienced journalist, speaker and moderator of high-level events; a regular broadcaster on television and radio news; and a Senior Adviser to the Brussels-based think tank, the European Policy Centre. She has been based in Brussels for nearly 30 years, and was previously the EPC’s Communications Director; editor-in-chief of E!Sharp, a magazine on EU affairs; launch editor of European Voice, a Brussels-based newspaper on EU affairs owned by The Economist Group, from 1995-2000 (now Politico); and Brussels correspondent of a British national newspaper.
Presentation: AgriGuide and EU labelling Regulation
PANELISTS
Monica Garcia Aguilar
DG SANTE
Monica Garcia Aguilar
DG SANTE
Monica Garcia Aguilar is a Policy Officer at DG SANTE. For the last three years she has led the decision-making process to update the Regulation on labelling of plant protection products, which was favourably voted on in December 2025.
She works on the implementation and harmonisation of risk mitigation measures for pesticides, and together with colleagues she drafted the Compendium of conditions of use to reduce exposure and risk from plant protection products – a European Guidance on conditions of use, including precision application, which can be used during the risk assessment/management of active substances and products.
She also manages the decision-making procedure for chemical and micro-organisms active substances as well as other horizontal activities related to the implementation of the Reg (EC) No 1107/2009, in particular on aspects on potential environmental risks of pesticides.
Prior to joining the Commission, she worked as a researcher in a Horizon 2020 project on the uptake of innovative spraying equipment in Europe. She also worked in the Stockholm Environmental Institute contributing to research projects on water and waste management governance in Colombia and Bolivia. She holds a Double Degree Masters Programme in Environmental Sciences in Europe from the University of Copenhagen and the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences.
Georgiana Hayes
CropLife Europe
Georgiana Hayes
CropLife Europe
Georgiana Hayes brings more than 25 years of experience in digital transformation. Before joining CropLife Europe, she was Adama’s Global Head of Precision Ag and Digital Services, working closely with Farm Management Systems and agri-tech start-ups. She now serves as a full-time consultant to CropLife Europe, where she is Chair of the AgriGuide project and actively contributes to its Technology pillar. Actively involved with her local winegrower’s association in the cultivation, harvesting and production of wines, she brings first-hand insight into growers’ needs and a strong conviction in the value of digitalisation for agriculture.
Max Schulman
Copa Cogeca
Max Schulman
Copa Cogeca
Max Schulman is a Finnish farmer and Chairman of the Cereals Working Party at Cope-Cogeca where he is in charge of the use of drones, digital auction and the digital agenda. He is also advisor for cereals, protein crops and oil seeds at the Central Union of Agriculture Producers and Forest Owners (MTK) since 2013. He is co-founder of GrainSense Ltd, the portable protein and quality analyze for grain. He is also part-owner of PolarOats, a grain trading company and Chairman of VYR the Finnish Grain Chain. Before that, Schulman worked in the agricultural machinery sector at Valtra Inc as Product Marketing Manager during five years He took over the full responsibility of Stor-Tötar Gård, his family farm in 1986. Schulman holds a degree in Agricultural Economics from the Högre Svenska Lantbruksläroverket in Sweden.
MODERATOR
Anne Alix
Corteva
Anne Alix
Corteva
Anne Alix worked in the area of plant protection products risk assessment for 22 years. After a PhD in Integrated Pest Management at the University of Rennes, Anne joined the French National Institute on Research in Agronomy (INRA) as an ecotoxicologist in the scientific unit for the risk assessment of crop protection products. Anne was nominated head of the Environment and Ecotoxicology risk assessment unit at the French Agency on the safety of Food (AFSSA, now ANSES), where she initiated scientific collaborations with the pesticide unit of EFSA. Anne then joined the French Ministry of Agriculture as the deputy head of the Section for Regulation of Plant Protection Products and fertilizers, in charge of the implementation of risk mitigation measures for pesticides and of post registration monitoring. Anne joined Dow AgroSciences, now Corteva Agriscience, in 2011, and is Regulatory Affairs and Risk Management Leader for Europe, Middle East and Africa.
- 15:15
Coffee and Networking
- 15:45
5-year perspective – Active Substance evaluations and approvals
INTRODUCTION
Emma Jenkins
Corteva
Emma Jenkins
Corteva
Emma grew up on 300 hectare arable farm in the south of England. Starting her career in crop protection working in field trials for a contract research organisation during school and university vacations (counted a lot of aphids!), accepting a full time field trials role in 1996. Emma moved into Regulatory Affairs, when joining the UK Regulatory Authority PSD (now CRD) in 1998. Emma joined the EMEA Regulatory Team in Corteva Agriscience in 2012, becoming an R&D Laureate and moving into a dedicated policy implementation role in 2021.
PANELISTS
Jens Erik Jensen
SEGES Innovation
Jens Erik Jensen
SEGES Innovation
Jens Erik Jensen is a senior specialist. He has a Ph.D degree in weed science and a M.Sc. in agronomy. He specializes in weed management, is an IPM generalist and has been working for SEGES Innovation since 2000. He is responsible for the Danish pesticide database Middeldatabasen.dk and participates in various Danish IPM projects as well as EU projects. SEGES Innovation carries out research and knowledge dissemination and works closely with local agricultural advisory centres in Denmark. We develop software solutions for farmers and advisers. More generally we offer solutions for the agriculture and food sector of tomorrow. We develop business opportunities in close partnerships with our customers, research institutions and companies worldwide.
Giovanni Missanelli
Areflh
Giovanni Missanelli
Areflh
Giovanni Missanelli is General Manager of Assomela, the Italian Association of apple producers. Assomela represents more then 75% of the Italian apple’s production, through an extensive cooperative system and thousands of farmers. Before the current role, Giovanni has worked in Brussels for two years as policy officer in the Agri sector, working closely with the European institution. He is currently board member of AREFLH, The Assembly of European Horticultural Regions.
Manuela Tiramani
EFSA
Manuela Tiramani
EFSA
Manuela graduated from the university of Milan (IT) as medical doctor.
She continued her education with 4 years of specialised course in occupational health, industrial hygiene and toxicology, and a PhD in occupational health (with a focus on risk from non dietary exposure to pesticides).
In 2000 she joined as regulatory toxicologist the International Centre for Pesticides and Health Risk Prevention in Milan, one of the EU national competent authorities dealing with the risk assessment of plant protection products at national and EU level.
In 2005 Manuela was hired by EFSA as scientific officer for mammalian toxicology in the Pesticide Unit, where a couple of years later she took the position of team leader responsible for mammalian toxicology risk assessment and non dietary exposure assessment.
In 2014 she was offered the position of Head of the EFSA FEED Unit, where she worked from 2015 to 2018 for a total of 4 years.
In January 2019 Manuela went back to the pesticide area, being appointed as Head of the Pesticide Peer Review Unit (PREV) of the European Food Safety Authority.
MODERATOR
Maria-Grazia Camisa
BASF
Maria-Grazia Camisa
BASF
Maria Grazia Camisa is graduated in Food Science and Technology at the Catholic University of Piacenza; she joined BASF Italia S.p.A as Country Regulatory Manager in 2010, after more than 10 years of experience in Regulatory Affairs at national level in multinational companies. After leading the Regulatory, Sustainability, Public and Governmental Affairs and External Communications team for Southern European Countries, Africa and Middle East., Maria Grazia currently covers the position as Head of Regulatory Affairs Crop Protection EMEA-CIS at BASF.
Setting the Limit, Shaping the Market: MRLs and Global Trade Flows
- 17:00
Celebration in the Market Space
- 17:30
Walking Dinner
Day 2
4 March 2026
- 09:00
Developments & Challenges in NTTO Environment Risk Assessment Relating to Proposed New EFSA Guidance
PANELISTS
Jurgen Tack
European Landowners Organization
Jurgen Tack
European Landowners Organization
Jurgen Tack has been the Secretary General – CEO of the European Landowners’ Organization since June 2023. He previously held the role of Scientific Director at ELO and served as CEO of Landelijk Vlaanderen and CEO of the Aanspreekpunt Privaat Beheer Natuur en Bos in 2016. Additionally, he was President of the International Riverine Commission River Maas/Meuse, a member of the European Commission’s Expert Group on Nature Based Solutions and chaired the board of directors of the Botanical Garden Meise. He earned his PhD in Sciences after studying biology (marine ecology) at Brussels Free University.
Human Health: KeyAgronomic and Safety Characteristics
PANELISTS
Manuela Tiramani
EFSA
Manuela Tiramani
EFSA
Manuela graduated from the university of Milan (IT) as medical doctor.
She continued her education with 4 years of specialised course in occupational health, industrial hygiene and toxicology, and a PhD in occupational health (with a focus on risk from non dietary exposure to pesticides).
In 2000 she joined as regulatory toxicologist the International Centre for Pesticides and Health Risk Prevention in Milan, one of the EU national competent authorities dealing with the risk assessment of plant protection products at national and EU level.
In 2005 Manuela was hired by EFSA as scientific officer for mammalian toxicology in the Pesticide Unit, where a couple of years later she took the position of team leader responsible for mammalian toxicology risk assessment and non dietary exposure assessment.
In 2014 she was offered the position of Head of the EFSA FEED Unit, where she worked from 2015 to 2018 for a total of 4 years.
In January 2019 Manuela went back to the pesticide area, being appointed as Head of the Pesticide Peer Review Unit (PREV) of the European Food Safety Authority.
Presentation: AgriGuide and EU labelling Regulation
PANELISTS
Monica Garcia Aguilar
DG SANTE
Monica Garcia Aguilar
DG SANTE
Monica Garcia Aguilar is a Policy Officer at DG SANTE. For the last three years she has led the decision-making process to update the Regulation on labelling of plant protection products, which was favourably voted on in December 2025.
She works on the implementation and harmonisation of risk mitigation measures for pesticides, and together with colleagues she drafted the Compendium of conditions of use to reduce exposure and risk from plant protection products – a European Guidance on conditions of use, including precision application, which can be used during the risk assessment/management of active substances and products.
She also manages the decision-making procedure for chemical and micro-organisms active substances as well as other horizontal activities related to the implementation of the Reg (EC) No 1107/2009, in particular on aspects on potential environmental risks of pesticides.
Prior to joining the Commission, she worked as a researcher in a Horizon 2020 project on the uptake of innovative spraying equipment in Europe. She also worked in the Stockholm Environmental Institute contributing to research projects on water and waste management governance in Colombia and Bolivia. She holds a Double Degree Masters Programme in Environmental Sciences in Europe from the University of Copenhagen and the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences.
Georgiana Hayes
CropLife Europe
Georgiana Hayes
CropLife Europe
Georgiana Hayes brings more than 25 years of experience in digital transformation. Before joining CropLife Europe, she was Adama’s Global Head of Precision Ag and Digital Services, working closely with Farm Management Systems and agri-tech start-ups. She now serves as a full-time consultant to CropLife Europe, where she is Chair of the AgriGuide project and actively contributes to its Technology pillar. Actively involved with her local winegrower’s association in the cultivation, harvesting and production of wines, she brings first-hand insight into growers’ needs and a strong conviction in the value of digitalisation for agriculture.
Max Schulman
Copa Cogeca
Max Schulman
Copa Cogeca
Max Schulman is a Finnish farmer and Chairman of the Cereals Working Party at Cope-Cogeca where he is in charge of the use of drones, digital auction and the digital agenda. He is also advisor for cereals, protein crops and oil seeds at the Central Union of Agriculture Producers and Forest Owners (MTK) since 2013. He is co-founder of GrainSense Ltd, the portable protein and quality analyze for grain. He is also part-owner of PolarOats, a grain trading company and Chairman of VYR the Finnish Grain Chain. Before that, Schulman worked in the agricultural machinery sector at Valtra Inc as Product Marketing Manager during five years He took over the full responsibility of Stor-Tötar Gård, his family farm in 1986. Schulman holds a degree in Agricultural Economics from the Högre Svenska Lantbruksläroverket in Sweden.
MODERATOR
Anne Alix
Corteva
Anne Alix
Corteva
Anne Alix worked in the area of plant protection products risk assessment for 22 years. After a PhD in Integrated Pest Management at the University of Rennes, Anne joined the French National Institute on Research in Agronomy (INRA) as an ecotoxicologist in the scientific unit for the risk assessment of crop protection products. Anne was nominated head of the Environment and Ecotoxicology risk assessment unit at the French Agency on the safety of Food (AFSSA, now ANSES), where she initiated scientific collaborations with the pesticide unit of EFSA. Anne then joined the French Ministry of Agriculture as the deputy head of the Section for Regulation of Plant Protection Products and fertilizers, in charge of the implementation of risk mitigation measures for pesticides and of post registration monitoring. Anne joined Dow AgroSciences, now Corteva Agriscience, in 2011, and is Regulatory Affairs and Risk Management Leader for Europe, Middle East and Africa.
- 10:00
Coffee and Networking
- 10:25
Co-Formulants in Focus: Understanding the Evolving Framework
PANELISTS
Mathilde Colas
EFSA
Mathilde Colas
EFSA
Graduated in pharmacy and specialised in toxicology, Mathilde Colas joined the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) in 2019 as a trainee in the Mammalian Toxicology team. From 2021 to 2025, she served as Scientific Coordinator in the Pesticide Peer Review Unit (PREV), and since 2025, she has been working in its Mammalian Toxicity team.
Pasquale Falcigno
BASF
Pasquale Falcigno
BASF
Pasquale Falcigno is a Principal Manager at BASF, where he is a leading expert in international regulatory affairs related to crop protection and international conventions. He specializes in navigating global, regional, and national compliance frameworks, coordinating closely with government authorities and international partners to secure and maintain the license to operate for agricultural products. His regulatory leadership is reinforced by a strong scientific background in chemical research and agro science, including patented work in polymer synthesis and lithography. This technical foundation enables him to translate complex molecular and formulation science into robust regulatory strategies that meet stringent legal and safety requirements. He helps to guide regulatory policy development, risk assessment, and compliance essential to pesticide formulations, ensuring alignment with evolving regulatory landscapes worldwide.
Zsuzsanna Koenig
DG SANTE
Zsuzsanna Koenig
DG SANTE
Zsuzsa Kőnig is a Policy Officer in the Pesticides and Biocides Unit of the Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety of the European Commission. She is working on topics related to the approval of active substances and on horizontal topics such as the assessment of the plant protection products including co-formulants; grants to the Member States to decrease delays in the approval and authorisation procedures. She joined the European Commission as seconded national expert in 2002 at DG Research, and she has a permanent position since 2004. She has a master as molecular biologist and journalist from the University of Szeged (Hungary) and post-graduation in economics from the University of Budapest (Hungary).
MODERATOR
Doerthe Grebel-Koehler
Bayer
Doerthe Grebel-Koehler
Bayer
Dörthe works as a Global Regulatory Manager with Bayer AG Crop Science Division. An organic chemist by training, she joined the crop protection industry in 2004 after graduating from the Max-Plank-Institute for Polymer Research/Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz, directly focusing on regulatory topics. Her current focus is on the registration of active ingredients in the EU and the Chemical Strategy for Sustainability, specifically on the legislative changes and the regulatory interplay. Dörthe is a member of several CropLife Europe teams including ChemEG, CLEG and the CSS Subteam.
Regulatory Simplification in Practice: Improving GMO Risk Assessment
PANELISTS
Irene Sacristan Sanchez
DG SANTE
Irene Sacristan Sanchez
DG SANTE
Irene Sacristán Sánchez is head of unit for Biotechnology in the Directorate General Health and Food Safety of the European Commission. She joined the Commission in 2003, spending several years working on the development and negotiation of pharmaceutical legislation. Most recently, Irene was head of the policy development and legislative unit in the European Anti-Fraud Office. Before joining the Commission, she worked as a lawyer in Madrid
Reinhilde Schoonjans
EFSA
Reinhilde Schoonjans
EFSA
Dr. Reinhilde Schoonjans is Team Leader GMO Food Feed Safety, Comparative and Environmental Risk Assessment. Her Team is part of the European Food Safety Authority’s (EFSA) Unit for Nutrition and Food Innovation (NIF), Parma, Italy. Protein Safety (incl. Allergenicity, Toxicity), Nutrition, Human and Animal Dietary Exposure, ERA and Post Market Environmental Monitoring are among the disciplines covered in the evaluations of GM Plants. Reinhilde and her Team also work on future approaches to protein safety and on guidance evaluations for GM-NGT animals and GM-NGT microorganisms. Previously, she coordinated a mandate on Synthetic Biology (in microorganisms, plants and animals). Other topics of expertise include biodiversity-related protection goals for environmental risk assessment, epigenetics and the cloning of farmed animals, as well as risk assessment of nanomaterial/small particles used in the food and feed chain. Reinhilde Schoonjans is a Biotechnologist holding a PhD from Ghent University, where she performed research on bispecific antibodies for cancer immunotherapy. In 2005 she qualified as European Patent Attorney for the European Patent Office (Munich), before joining EFSA.
Teresa Babuscio
Corteva
Teresa Babuscio
Head of Government and Industry Affairs - EMEA
Teresa works as EMEA Head of Government and Industry Affairs for Corteva Agriscience, She drives purpose, connecting with a different range of stakeholders.
In the immediate past 17 years before joining Corteva in 2022, she has worked at BayerCropScience and in the agricultural commodities trading sector, both at EU and global level, as Managing Director of the related EU industry group (COCERAL) and Vice President of the International Grain Trade Coalition (IGTC). Before working in in the European landscape, Teresa was a university lecturer in Rome and in the USA on food law. She also served the European Commission, DG SANTE (Legal Unit) as blue book trainee.
Teresa is Italian and holds a Ph.D. in Food, Agriculture and Environmental Law together with an Executive Education from the Melbourne Business School.
She speaks English, French and Spanish. Passive in German. Teresa is a salsa dancer and enjoys travelling, cooking and reading.
MODERATOR
Jacki Davis
Meade Davis Communications
Jacki Davis
Meade Davis Communications
Jacki Davis is a leading commentator and analyst on European Union affairs. She is an experienced journalist, speaker and moderator of high-level events; a regular broadcaster on television and radio news; and a Senior Adviser to the Brussels-based think tank, the European Policy Centre. She has been based in Brussels for nearly 30 years, and was previously the EPC’s Communications Director; editor-in-chief of E!Sharp, a magazine on EU affairs; launch editor of European Voice, a Brussels-based newspaper on EU affairs owned by The Economist Group, from 1995-2000 (now Politico); and Brussels correspondent of a British national newspaper.
- 11:25
Coffee and Networking
- 11:35
Biopesticide Innovation: FastTracking Access to the EU Market
Alexander Bernhuber
MEP
Alexander Bernhuber
MEP
Alexander Bernhuber (M.Sc., University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna) is a Member of the European Parliament and an Austrian agricultural expert. He has represented Austria in the European Parliament since 2019, where he focuses on environmental, agricultural, and rural development policy. Within the Parliament, he serves on the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI), the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development (AGRI), and the Committee on Petitions (PETI). He is also active in several international delegations, including the Delegation to the Cariforum‑EU Parliamentary Committee, the Delegation to the OACPS‑EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly, and the Delegation to the Caribbean‑EU Parliamentary Assembly.
Eric Liégeois
DG SANTE
Eric Liégeois
DG SANTE
Eric Liégeois is born in 1967, in Tournai (Belgium). In 1990, he was graduated Chemical Engineer for Agricultural Industries, from the University of Gembloux (Belgium).
He joined for the European Commission as seconded national expert in 2002 at DG Environment where he was in charge of the Thematic Strategy on the Sustainable Use of Pesticides.
In 2005 he took the position of Director (Risk Management Unit) at the Belgian Ministry of Public Health and the Environment, where his team of 45 persons was in charge of implementing REACH, CLP and Biocides.
In June 2007 he decided to join again the European Commission as a permanent administrator official in the Chemicals Unit at DG ENTR (now DG GROW).
At DG GROW these recent years he was in charge of revised Fertilisers Regulation proposal and manage for the Commission’s recently adopted Plastics Strategy. He was leading a team in charge of Fertilisers, Detergents, Plant Protection Products, Biocides, Waste recycling and Plastics.
Since April 2018 he joined DG SANTE in the team in charge of the authorisation of plant protection products where he is among others chairing the biopesticides working group and is focusing on low-risk products and risk reduction activities.
Eric is married and has no children.
Closing the Loopholes: Tackling Non-Compliant Parallel Imports of PPPs
PANELISTS
Jose Antonio Gutierrez Llorente
Spanish Ministry of Agriculture
Jose Antonio Gutierrez Llorente
Spanish Ministry of Agriculture
Technical adviserat the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Spain)
With over a decade of experience in the agricultural sector, I joined the Ministry of Agriculture in 2016. I spent my first four years serving as a Plant Health Border Inspector, gaining extensive on-the-ground experience in international trade and phytosanitary safety.
Currently, I serve as Head of Area within the Sub-directorate General for Plant and Forest Health and Hygiene. In this role, I oversee the marketing and use of phytosanitary products, as well as hygiene standards for primary agricultural production. My work is central to the implementation of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) regulations and the sustainable use of plant protection products.
Additionally, I am the direct manager for the Registry of Phytosanitary Transactions and the Registry of Specific Phytosanitary Defense Means, ensuring compliance and transparency across the industry to protect both agricultural productivity and environmental health.
Nils Kurlemann
BVL
Nils Kurlemann
BVL
Nils Kurlemann is a scientific advisor at the German Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVL) He is as specialist in the fight against the illegal trade of plant protection products and acts as a contact point for international and national authorities. He participates in various working groups and is ONIP’s chair (OECD Network on Illegal Pesticides)
Zita Varanavičienė
CropLife Lithuania
Zita Varanavičienė
CropLife Lithuania
Zita Varanavičienė is the director of CropLife Lithuania. This Association’s primary objective is the dissemination of good plant protection practices, the promotion of initiatives for the safe use of plant protection products, the implementation of circular economy principles in the management of plant protection product packaging and the promotion of anticounterfeit activity in Lithuania.
Zita graduated as a biologist, holds a Master’s degree in Ecology and Environmental Management, studied Chemical Risk Assessment at Uppsala University, and has more than 10 years of practical experience as a regulatory ecotoxicologist and fate expert. She has substantial experience regarding the chemicals management legislation which was gained by working in the ministerial team. The previous five years were full of new challenges as
as director of CLL.
Growing tomatoes and flowers, walking with the dogs and travelling to historic sites by motorbike takes up her leisure time.
Philippe Baudoin
BASF
Philippe Baudoin
BASF
I’m agronomist by education with a specialty in soil science (Master degree at Faculty of Gembloux, Belgium)
I started my career within Rhone Poulenc Agro in 1987 and had there several commercial and technical positions in Belgium and Luxembourg.
I joined TIMAC (Groupe Roullier) in 1997 as Marketing Manager Benelux & Switzerland for fertilizing products and feed additives
Then I made a come-back in 1999 in the Plant Protection business hired by BASF to fill the function of Technical Manager for Belgium and Luxembourg in charge of R&D and registration.
Since 2013 I moved to the position of Regulatory Manager – Agricultural Solutions EMEA & CIS countries and also in charge of anti-counterfeiting coordination on these countries
I’m chairing the CropLife Europe Regulatory Foresight Committee, am also full member there of the Policy Team, Chemical Strategy for Sustainability sub-team and Anti-Counterfeiting Expert Group.
Main hobbies: sport (table tennis), gardening
MODERATOR
Jacki Davis
Meade Davis Communications
Jacki Davis
Meade Davis Communications
Jacki Davis is a leading commentator and analyst on European Union affairs. She is an experienced journalist, speaker and moderator of high-level events; a regular broadcaster on television and radio news; and a Senior Adviser to the Brussels-based think tank, the European Policy Centre. She has been based in Brussels for nearly 30 years, and was previously the EPC’s Communications Director; editor-in-chief of E!Sharp, a magazine on EU affairs; launch editor of European Voice, a Brussels-based newspaper on EU affairs owned by The Economist Group, from 1995-2000 (now Politico); and Brussels correspondent of a British national newspaper.
- 12:35
Lunch
- 13:55
How might Digital and Precision Agriculture evolve in the EU over the next 5 years?
PANELISTS
Jonas Schartner
BVL
Jonas Schartner
BVL
Jonas Schartner is working since 2017 at the at the German Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVL) in the department for Plant Protection Products (PPP). Since 2021 he is leading the subgroup for the environment managing fungicides and insecticides in the PPP authorisation.
After studying Chemistry and Biology at the Ruhr-University Bochum he went in 2011 to the Pennsylvania State University USA for his Master thesis in Plant Biochemistry. In 2015 he received his PhD in Biophysics at the Ruhr-University Bochum.
Peter Hloben
CEMA
Peter Hloben
CEMA
Born in 1978 in Prague, Czech Republic (former Czechoslovakia).
My background is mechanical engineering and business with machinery studies.
In 2007, I obtained a doctorate degree in agricultural engineering at university of Bonn.
(PhD thesis topic: Direct Injection of Plant Protection Products in Combination with Automatic Weed Detection Systems)
I have been working for Deere & Co since 2006 as a Product Engineer for sprayer solution systems.
Since 2012 I am responsible for Product Safety & Compliance for the JD Crop Care platform products (Sprayers, Tillage and seeding Equipment) in Europe & CIS.
While living in Germany I work for a Dutch/US company and occasionally travelled to Brussels. I would describe myself as an Euro-optimist, which tries to combine the best from both European and North America cultures.
Chairman of project team (PT24) “Application Technology” at CEMA (European Association of Ag. Equipment Manufacturers) dealing with EU Regulations (e.g. Machinery Directive, Sustainable Use of Pesticides Directive)
Member of Standardization Groups:
NEN and DIN/NLA standardisation committees for agriculture technologies: ISO TC23 SC6 and CEN TC 144 SC2 and 3.
– Machine safety standards
– Rodway circulation of vehicles
– Environmental requirements
Alina Cretu
Romanian Professional Farmers and Processors Forum
Alina Cretu
Romanian Professional Farmers and Processors Forum
Alina Crețu is an agronomist engineer and holds the position of Executive Director of the FORUM OF PROFESSIONAL FARMERS AND PROCESSORS from ROMANIA: APPR FORUM.
APPR FORUM is a national Romanian organization of farmers and is part of the ALLIANCE FOR AGRICULTURE AND COOPERATION (a member of Copa-Cogeca) and member of CEPM. The APPR Forum is one of the most consolidated farmers’ organizations at the national level and one of the first associations with a very active presence at the European and international level.
Alina Cretu is responsible for the general management and administrative activities of this non-governmental professional structure (administrative, human resources, financial, legal). The construction of the first independent national network of applied research in the field – RITAC (owned and financed by farmers) represents for her a model of confirmed transparency, ethical practices recognized by local industry and political decision-makers. During her professional activities (for the last 18 years) she has been involved in various independent research projects. Her main field of scientific activities has been dedicated to providing technical and economic studies to various stakeholders to ensure balanced communication along the food chain, from production to consumer. In his previous professional positions she was president and legal representative of the Alliance for the Romanian Seed Industry. Also, Alina Crețu coordinated the marketing and development activities for a multinational company in the field of agribusiness at the national level for 10 years.
MODERATOR
Jacki Davis
Meade Davis Communications
Jacki Davis
Meade Davis Communications
Jacki Davis is a leading commentator and analyst on European Union affairs. She is an experienced journalist, speaker and moderator of high-level events; a regular broadcaster on television and radio news; and a Senior Adviser to the Brussels-based think tank, the European Policy Centre. She has been based in Brussels for nearly 30 years, and was previously the EPC’s Communications Director; editor-in-chief of E!Sharp, a magazine on EU affairs; launch editor of European Voice, a Brussels-based newspaper on EU affairs owned by The Economist Group, from 1995-2000 (now Politico); and Brussels correspondent of a British national newspaper.
- 14:55
Keynote - TBC
- 15:40
Closing remarks
- 16:00
End
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