The IOBC-WPRS Working Group “Pesticides and Beneficial Organisms” invites you to join the upcoming focused workshop under the theme:
“A NEW CHAPTER: Pesticides, Beneficials, and the Path Forward”
The aim of this focused workshop is to bring together experts to review the outcomes of the 2024 questionnaire, assess the current status of the Working Group, and engage in structured discussions to define future research directions and foster collaboration. Strong support for the revival of the Working Group—expressed by over 80% of respondents from 13 European countries—underscores the relevance of its mission. Particular emphasis will be placed on maintaining the pesticide side-effect database and updating test methods to address new biocontrol products and evolving regulatory challenges, as highlighted in the survey.
During the meeting, a new Convenor and Deputy Convenor will be elected.
Download: Second Announcement (pdf)
Workshop Website: https://wissen.julius-kuehn.de/JKI-PHP/beneficials
Registration: https://forms.gle/sUc5db9GQKc4W3vv8
Call for Candidates – Convenor of the IOBC-WPRS Working Group “Pesticides and Beneficial Organisms”
The election of the Convenor will take place during the upcoming Working Group meeting.
Members are invited to submit candidatures for the position of Convenor (5-year term). Candidates must be current IOBC-WPRS members at the time of election.
Please notify the current Convenor by 5 March 2026 and submit a CV together with a brief statement outlining your motivation and vision for the Working Group.
The list of candidates will be announced prior to the meeting. The election will be conducted by secret ballot during the WG session.
Scientific Committee
- Bruno Gobin, Ph.D. (Viaverda, Destelbergen, Belgium)
- Helena Viric Gasparic, Ph.D. (University of Zagreb Faculty of Agriculture, Croatia)
- Assoc. Prof. Darija Lemic, Ph.D. (University of Zagreb Faculty of Agriculture, Croatia)
- Assoc. Prof. Ivana Pajač Živković, Ph.D. (University of Zagreb Faculty of Agriculture, Croatia)
- Peggy Marx, Ph.D. (Julius Kühn Institute, Berlin, Germany)
- Marlen Heinz, Ph.D. (Julius Kühn Institute, Berlin, Germany)
- Torsten Meiners, Ph.D. (Julius Kühn Institute, Berlin, Germany)
Organisation Committee
- Peggy Marx, Ph.D. (Julius Kühn Institute, Berlin, Germany)
- Helena Viric Gasparic, Ph.D. (University of Zagreb Faculty of Agriculture, Croatia)
- Bruno Gobin, Ph.D. (Viaverda, Destelbergen, Belgium)