Volker Koch-Achelpöhler

Volker Koch-Achelpöhler is Agriculture Relations Director Europe at Gowan Crop Protection Ltd., based in Brussels. He leads Gowan’s European public affairs and regulatory policy work, covering plant protection regulation, agricultural policy, sustainability, and trade-related issues. Among his areas of work are market access, maximum residue levels (MRLs), and the implications of EU regulatory frameworks for global agri-food supply chains. In addition, he serves as Chair of the CropLife Europe Trade Working Group, where he coordinates industry positions on trade irritants and regulatory alignment. He previously held senior leadership roles at Bayer AG and as Director General of the German Crop Protection and Fertilizer Association (IVA), and began his career at CropLife Europe. He holds a degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of Bonn.