Dear Colleagues,
We are preparing for the
Third International Congress of Biological Control (ICBC3) in San José, Costa Rica, from Monday 24th June to Thursday 27th of June 2024. The 2024 congress is co-organized by the
Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), CAB International (CABI), and the
International Organisation for Biological Control (IOBC).
We have received over 30 submissions for scientific session subjects and panel discussion topics with the associated volunteers to organize sessions and panels and to recruit speakers/panellists. All the accepted session proposal topics are now online, and you can view them
here. Many thanks for all the enthusiasm around the globe to make ICBC3 a success.
ICBC3 will provide the ideal platform for multi and inter-disciplinary biological control research and application. Therefore, this congress is unique in serving as a meeting point for scientists and practitioners from universities, research institutes, governmental, non-governmental and private-sector organizations who are working on a wide breadth of biological control targets including insect pests, plant and animal diseases, weeds and invasive vertebrates whether they use importation, augmentation or conservation as approaches and whether they are interested in basic science related to biological control or in improving its application.
Session subjects and panel discussion topics will include the various approaches to biological control. The subjects will also encompass various cross-cutting issues: pre-release studies, post-release evaluation, socio-economic studies, the Nagoya Protocol and biological control, the role of gene editing in biological control, community engagement prior release, long-term impact / cost savings of biocontrol, regulatory issues hindering market accessibility, uptake of biological control, the role of digital tools to promote the uptake of knowledge.
ICBC3 is aiming for gender-balanced scientific sessions and panels. The scientific outputs from postgraduate students and postdocs are particularly welcome!
Early registration and
on-line submission of abstracts for oral presentations and posters will start on the 14th of December 2023. This is an
open call, therefore it is extremely important that you submit your abstracts for oral and poster presentations (in English) and register within the
deadlines. Please submit them soon, but latest until the 31st of January 2024). Many thanks for your support!
Please note: all potential speakers as well as session chairs for the scientific sessions will have to register and pay the registration fee. Please also note that participants will have to register first to submit an abstract for an oral presentation and poster online.
As always, IOBC will provide young researchers an opportunity to apply for a travel award. Please find the conditions and submission details under the icon
IOBC Travel Award. In addition, we shall note that researchers from national research organizations from Latin America and the Caribbean can contact the registration office to check for a lower fee. This will be done on a “first come - first serve” basis as ICBC3 has only limited funds available, but we are very committed to support participants from the LATAM region (details available under the icon Fees and Payment).
We are looking forward to arranging a stimulating ICBC3 with your strong support and active participation!
With best wishes,
Ulli Kuhlmann
CABI
Switzerland
u.kuhlmann@cabi.org
Martin Hill
IOBC Global
Rhodes University
South Africa
m.hill@ru.ac.za
George E. Heimpel
IOBC Global
University of Minnesota
USA
heimp001@umn.edu
