International Biocontrol Manufacturers Association

What International Biocontrol Manufacturers Association does

IBMA (International Biocontrol Manufacturers Association) is a Brussels-headquartered non-profit trade association (Belgian AISBL, registered as BE 0549.830.147) representing the global biocontrol industry. Founded in the mid-1990s, the organization serves over 230 member companies worldwide, including manufacturers, developers, and contract research organizations, with over 80% classified as SMEs. IBMA defines the biocontrol industry across four technology categories — invertebrate biocontrol agents, microbial biopesticides, semiochemicals, and natural substances — which serve as nature-based alternatives to chemical pesticides for agriculture, forestry, public spaces, and gardens. The association maintains national groups in France (France Biocontrôle, designated 2024), Spain, Germany, and Kenya, plus professional groups and working parties that structure member engagement across each technology vertical.

IBMA's core products are not commercial goods but rather representational, advocacy, and convening services: regulatory advocacy to EU institutions (including submissions on the Biotech Act II and Sustainable Use Regulation), market intelligence via recurring surveys (the European biocontrol market was valued at €1.6 billion in 2024, representing ~10% of the crop protection market), the ABIM annual conference co-organized with FiBL, and the Bernard Blum Award for innovation. The business model is membership-dues-based and recurring; members gain access to policy representation, the member directory, working groups, events, and the CABI BioProtection Portal partnership. IBMA does not manufacture or sell products directly; its member companies distribute biocontrol solutions through agricultural retailers, cooperatives, and direct sales channels across Europe and globally.

The association operates with a small staff of 1-10 employees at its Square de Meeûs 35 headquarters in Brussels and is governed by a member-elected leadership including an Executive Director (Jennifer Lewis), President (Herman Van Mallaert), and Vice Presidents (Alessandra Moccia, Roma Gwynn). Strategic positioning is anchored on enabling the EU Green Deal and Farm to Fork objectives by advocating for accelerated biocontrol product authorization and proportionate regulation, frequently in coalition with Copa-Cogeca, IFOAM EU, IEEP, CABI, and IOBC.

Name

International Biocontrol Manufacturers Association

Legal name

International Biocontrol Manufacturers Association AISBL

Website

https://ibma-global.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

IBMA is a Brussels-based non-profit trade association representing over 230 biocontrol manufacturers and developers globally, advocating for proportionate EU regulation, hosting the ABIM conference, and serving four biocontrol technology categories: invertebrates, microbials, semiochemicals, and natural substances.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agricultural Industry Association / Biocontrol Trade Association

NAICS

Professional Organizations (81392)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Technical Committees, Working Groups & Expert Panels (BPADANAB)

Keywords

• Biocontrol manufacturing association
• Biological pest control
• Integrated pest management
• Crop protection alternatives
• Biocontrol industry advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Brussels

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: IBMA generates revenue through membership fees from over 200 member companies globally, including biocontrol manufacturers, developers, and supporting organizations such as contract research organisations.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

IBMA is a non-profit international trade association representing the biocontrol industry. It does not manufacture or sell biocontrol products itself; instead, it represents over 200 member companies globally, advocates for proportionate regulation of biocontrol at the EU level, organizes the annual ABIM industry meeting, publishes market intelligence, and runs the Bernard Blum Award recognizing innovation in biocontrol.

Product overview

The International Biocontrol Manufacturers Association (IBMA) is a trade association representing the biocontrol industry, not a product company. IBMA represents over 230 member companies globally across 4 biocontrol technology categories: invertebrate biocontrol agents, microbial biopesticides, semiochemicals, and natural substances. The association advocates for proportionate regulation, supports market development, and facilitates collaboration between industry stakeholders including farmers, policymakers, and researchers. IBMA does not manufacture or sell products directly but provides a platform for member companies and promotes the adoption of biocontrol solutions across Europe and globally.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Annual Biocontrol Industry Meeting (ABIM)
• Bernard Blum Award
• IBMA Membership Services

Quantifiable outcome

• European biocontrol market worth 1.6 billion Euro, representing ~10% of the 12 billion Euro crop protection market
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Copa-CogecacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 September 2025IBMA and Copa-Cogeca (European farmers' and agricultural cooperatives' organization) presented their 3rd Joint Roadmap on sustainable plant protection in September 2025. The collaboration aims to enhance integration of biocontrol solutions into Integrated Pest Management and support farmers' transition to sustainable agriculture.
• CABIcoreTechnology or Integration · 14 April 2021IBMA assists in the development of the CABI BioProtection Portal, a tool that supports EU countries to align with the EU Green Deal and Farm to Fork strategy by providing information about registered biocontrol solutions. The portal aids transition to agroecological farming practices using biological alternatives in IPM programmes.
• IFOAM EUcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 January 2019IBMA and IFOAM EU have a collaborative roadmap (2019-2024) and have extended their collaboration with a new Roadmap for Collaboration (2025-2030). Both organizations work together to promote biocontrol uptake and organic farming practices, including joint events at the European Parliament.
• FiBL (Research Institute of Organic Agriculture)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFiBL co-organises the Annual Biocontrol Industry Meeting (ABIM) with IBMA. ABIM is recognised as the premier global event for the biocontrol industry, bringing together industry leaders, innovators, and stakeholders from around the world.
• France BiocontrôlemajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFrance Biocontrôle is the official national association of IBMA Global in France, designated in April 2024. Represents French biocontrol manufacturers and promotes biocontrol adoption in France.
• IBMA KenyamajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIBMA Kenya was launched in September 2017 at Naivasha Hortifair. Represents the biocontrol industry in Kenya and promotes adoption of biocontrol solutions in East African agriculture.
• IOBC (International Organisation for Biological Control)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIBMA collaborates with IOBC on events including the IOBC and CABI Second International Congress of Biological Control and joint symposiums. IOBC-WPRS is a key scientific partner for the biocontrol industry.
• IEEP (Institute for European Environmental Policy)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIBMA and IEEP co-organized a joint event in June 2021 to launch the IEEP report 'Exploring the benefits of biocontrol for sustainable agriculture.' Both organizations work together on policy advocacy for biocontrol within the EU Green Deal framework.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• CropLife International: Global trade association representing the plant science industry (crop protection and seeds). Directly comparable as an industry trade association advocating for crop technology companies with policymakers, though its members focus on conventional chemical crop protection rather than biocontrol.
• CropLife Europe: European regional association representing crop protection manufacturers in EU policy debates. Closest geographic and functional peer to IBMA, operating from Brussels with a similar advocacy model but on the conventional crop protection side of the industry.
• Biological Products Industry Alliance (BPIA): US-based trade association representing biocontrol and biostimulant manufacturers. Directly comparable as a national-level trade body serving biocontrol manufacturers, with parallel advocacy, regulatory affairs, and member service functions.
• Association of Natural Biocontrol Producers (ANBP): US-based trade association specifically for producers of natural biocontrol products, particularly invertebrate biocontrol agents. Closest pure-play peer in scope (focused exclusively on biocontrol manufacturers) and operating model (membership trade association).

Broad incumbents

• Euroseeds: European trade association representing the seed industry. Comparable as a Brussels-based agricultural industry trade body engaged in EU regulatory advocacy, though focused on seeds rather than biocontrol products.
• IFOAM Organics International: Global umbrella organization for the organic agriculture movement. Comparable as a Brussels-anchored agricultural advocacy organization with overlapping policy goals (sustainable agriculture), though broader in scope than biocontrol.

Others

• CABI (Centre for Agriculture and Biosciences International): International not-for-profit organization in agricultural research and information. Co-developer with IBMA of the CABI BioProtection Portal supporting biocontrol adoption; comparable as an enabling/knowledge partner in the biocontrol ecosystem.
• Copa-Cogeca: The united voice of European farmers and agricultural cooperatives. Strategic partner of IBMA (joint roadmap on sustainable plant protection) and directly comparable as a Brussels-based agricultural interest group engaged in EU policy.
• FiBL (Research Institute of Organic Agriculture): Leading research institute for organic agriculture globally. Co-organizer with IBMA of the ABIM conference; comparable as an enabling organization in the biocontrol and organic farming ecosystem based in Switzerland.
• IOBC (International Organisation for Biological Control): International scientific organization promoting biological control of pests and weeds. Collaborator with IBMA on events and conferences; comparable as a biological control-focused organization but oriented toward scientific research rather than industry advocacy.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC7eI1B1B1B1B1B1B1B1B1B1
• Xx.com/IBMAgl
• Facebookfacebook.com/IBMABiocontrol
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ibma-international-biocontrol-manufacturers-association

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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