The Tropical Agriculture Association International (TAAI) successfully hosted its 2025 International Conference at the renowned Rothamsted Campus on 4–5 November. Focusing on the “Development and Use of Biological Agents and Extracts in Tropical Agricultural Systems”, the event brought together researchers, industry representatives, policymakers, farmers, and students to share insights and innovations in sustainable agriculture.
The conference centred on two key areas: soil and nutritive amendments and plant protection, emphasising practical lessons from real-world applications. Sessions covered:
- Best practices for identifying, developing, and deploying biological agents and extracts.
- Challenges in taking biological products from research to market.
- Opportunities and future directions for biologicals in Latin America, Africa, and Asia.
The programme opened with a welcome from Martin Broadley and Mike Birkett of Rothamsted Research, who highlighted the institute’s commitment to encouraging collaboration between researchers, industry, and policy stakeholders.
Conference Highlights
The programme featured keynote talks, panel discussions, and case studies from global experts:
- Rob Reeder (CABI) provided an overview of biologicals in agriculture.
- Jonathan Shoham (SP Global) explored the commercial realities of developing biological products.
- Success stories included Aflasafe (Alejandro Ortega-Beltran, IITA) and Metarhizium (Henry Wainwright, Real IPM).
- Regional deployment experiences were shared from Thailand, Brazil, Sri Lanka, and the UK.
Poster presentations were also a key feature, with the David Grzywacz Memorial Award (£200) for the best poster. All posters and papers will be published in TAAI’s open-access journal, Agriculture for Development.
Special thanks are extended to Dr. Andrew Gregory, Senior Scientific Manager at Rothamsted Research, for giving the group a tour of the Sample Archive and Broadbalk, the longest-running scientific experiment in the world, and to Dr. Lawrence Bramham, Head of Rothamsted Insect Survey, for his engaging talk and tour.
Key Takeaways
- Biologicals are increasingly viable: They offer sustainable solutions for soil fertility and plant protection.
- Collaboration drives success: Researchers, industry, regulators, and farmers must work together.
- Local context matters: Tailoring solutions to regional needs ensures effective adoption.
- Knowledge sharing fuels innovation: Conferences like TAAI 2025 help translate science into real-world impact.
Andrew Ward, Director of Stewardship at CropLife, reflected on the collaboration:
“On behalf of TAAI, we want to express our sincere appreciation for Rothamsted’s support in planning and delivering our conference. The team went above and beyond, offering guidance that made the event a real success. Rothamsted provided not just a beautiful venue, but a team that helped turn our ideas into an impactful conference. We look forward to future collaborations.”
Krista Friis, Strategic Innovation and Partnership Manager at Rothamsted Enterprises, said:
“What makes events like this so valuable is the mix of people and experiences they bring together. Rothamsted provides the space where scientists, entrepreneurs, and industry partners can meet face-to-face, share experiences, and build the connections that drive sustainable change. When the right people come together, agriculture moves forward.”
The TAA International Conference 2025 demonstrated the potential of biologicals in tropical agriculture and the value of bringing the right people together — supported by Rothamsted’s expertise — to drive sustainable change. Events like this highlight why TAAI exists: to connect the global tropical agriculture community, share knowledge, and inspire practical solutions.
To learn more and get involved, consider joining TAAI to stay connected with a network of researchers, industry leaders, and practitioners driving innovation in tropical agriculture.
Learn more about TAAI here: https://taa-international.org/
Learn more about Rothamsted Research here: https://www.rothamsted.ac.uk/
Learn more about Rothamsted Enterprises: https://www.rothamstedenterprises.com/
