On 26 and 27 March 2026, around 40 participants from research, industry and practice gathered at ATB for the 28th Annual Meeting of the Working Group Biological Control of the German Society for Phytomedicine (DPG) to discuss the latest developments, challenges and opportunities.
The two-day meeting offered a varied and interesting programme of specialist lectures, poster presentations and in-depth discussion sessions. The aim of the event was to promote the exchange of current, practice-relevant research and to strengthen networking between the various stakeholders. The wide range of topics reflected the dynamism of the field: from the search for potent antagonists and bio-based active substances, through the elucidation of their mechanisms of action, to the improvement of formulations and application techniques.
Key focuses also included the control of soil-borne pathogens and pests, the importance of plant microbiomes for plant health, and the growing field of bio stimulants. Participants took the opportunity to present new methods and jointly discuss potential solutions to current challenges in agricultural practice.
"Direct and open dialogue between research and industry is crucial to advancing biological plant protection. We are delighted that we were able to come together here at ATB for these important discussions and, above all, that so many experts from the industry took the opportunity to participate actively," says Prof. Dr Gabriele Berg, Head of the Department of Microbiome Biotechnology at ATB.
The meeting has once again demonstrated how important close cooperation and open dialogue among all stakeholders are for developing innovative and sustainable solutions for the plant protection of tomorrow. We look forward to actively continuing our collaboration within the working group.
Organisation at ATB
Head of the Microbiome Management Working Group
Telephone: +49 331 5699-123
Email: AAbdelfattah@atb-potsdam.de
Prof. Dr. Gabriele Berg
Head of the Microbiome Biotechnology Department
Email: GBerg@atb-potsdam.de
Further information