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Farmer-led bio-inputs: international workshop and field visit

14–15 October 2026

International workshop & field visit

Farmers' organisation-led bio-inputs systems

CSA, FWA-UAW and AgriCord invite you to two days in Belgium exploring how farmers' organisations can help build credible, accessible and sustainable bio-input systems, from the laboratory and the field to business models and policy.

Dates14–15 October 2026
WhereGembloux & Brussels, Belgium
LanguagesEnglish & French
Register now See the programme

Places are limited to keep the sessions interactive, so secure yours early.

Wed 14 OctField visits in Wallonia (Walhain & Gembloux), 9:30–14:45
Thu 15 OctInternational workshop in Brussels, 8:30–17:30
WhoFarmers' organisations, researchers, industry, public authorities, investors, development partners
RegistrationRequired, limited places
t.ly/lo-RG

Bio-inputs: a lever for the agroecological transition

Bio-inputs are a key lever for accelerating the transition towards more agroecological, regenerative and resilient agricultural systems. By helping restore soil fertility, improve crop health, reduce dependence on synthetic inputs and strengthen farmers' autonomy, they offer new ways to combine productivity, sustainability and resilience in the face of climate and economic pressures.

Synthetic inputs are becoming more expensive and are increasingly questioned for their potential impact on the environment and human health. Bio-inputs (biofungicides, bioinsecticides, bioherbicides, biostimulants and compost) naturally emerge as an avenue worth exploring.

Farmers' organisations (FOs) have a central role to play in this transition: through experimentation, production, services to farmers, the dissemination of innovations, and dialogue with public and private stakeholders. But building effective, accessible and credible bio-input systems means tackling several challenges:

  • Ensuring product quality, establishing appropriate regulatory frameworks and developing viable business models
  • Strengthening research and innovation while supporting producers with high-quality advisory services
  • Fostering partnerships among farmers' organisations, researchers, businesses, public authorities and development partners

Two days of exchange, evidence and co-creation

In line with the ambitions of the EU's Global Gateway, the workshop is an opportunity for farmers to share experiences, discuss the conditions required for sustainable investment and cross-regional partnerships, explore market and business opportunities, and identify recommendations and concrete actions.

  • Share practical experiences and evidence from FO-led bio-input initiatives
  • Examine quality assurance schemes and enabling regulatory frameworks
  • Explore viable and bankable business models
  • Identify advisory services that enable farmer adoption
  • Discuss potential areas for collaboration and partnerships
  • Develop recommendations to feed FOs' roadmaps
Key topic 1

Building credible systems

Research, innovation and evidence; quality assurance and control; an enabling policy and regulatory environment.

Key topic 2

Accelerating adoption

Bankable business models; advisory services and training; public–private partnerships.

Outcome

Peer learning across regions

Farmers' organisations from Africa, Europe and the Pacific learning from one another, and identifying areas of collaboration with research, the private sector and public authorities to scale FO-led initiatives.

Programme overview

14–15 October 2026

The field-visit programme for Wednesday 14 October and the tentative workshop agenda for Thursday 15 October are available below.

Wednesday 14 October Walhain & Gembloux · 9:30–14:45

Bio-inputs: a solution gaining momentum?

09:30

Visit to La Biofabrique

A cooperative of Walloon farmers producing bio-inputs locally, facilitating access to alternatives to synthetic inputs adapted to farming conditions to strengthen crop resilience and its members’ autonomy.

Address: La Biofabrique, Rue Fond des Saussalles 101 5, 1457 WALHAIN

10:45

Meeting at the FWA-UAW offices

Address: 47 Chaussée de Namur, 5030 Gembloux

  • Agricells: natural solutions based on microorganisms and innovative biological products.
  • Regenacterre: a network of farmers and agronomists promoting regenerative agriculture.
  • CRA-W: the Walloon Agricultural Research Centre in Gembloux.
  • Bioferm’Tech: a French company supporting on-farm bio-input production. The On-Farm™ model produces bio-inputs for on-farm use and sale.
12:15–13:00

Lunch break

13:15

Tour of TERRA with its Director, Professor Philippe Jacques

The interdisciplinary teaching and research centre studies and develops bioengineering in agrifood, agriculture, biotechnology, the environment and forestry.

14:15

Introduction to the AgriBioTech Park concept

Currently under construction, this scientific business park in Gembloux is designed to support innovative companies from the start-up stage to the market launch of bio-inputs.

14:45

End of activities

Thursday 15 October Brussels · 8:30–17:30 · English & French

International workshop on bio-inputs

Venue: COPA-COGECA, Rue de Trèves 61, 1040 Bruxelles

Tentative agenda

08:30

Registration and welcome coffee

09:00

Meeting starts: agenda and housekeeping

09:10

Opening address: Why an international workshop on bio-inputs?

  • Marek Poznanski, CSA
  • Daniel Coulonval, FWA-UAW
09:20

Experience from the field: farmers’ organisations driving bio-inputs adoption · challenges and keys to success

  • Annick Sezibera, CAPAD (Burundi)
  • Innocent NSENGIMANA K, APDIK (DRC)
  • David Verstraete, Greenotec/Biofabrique (Belgium)
  • Peter Fröhlich, farmer, AgriPurpose, AgriCircle and European Alliance for Regenerative Agriculture (Switzerland)
10:45

Coffee break

11:00

State of the art, opportunities and challenges

Dr. Frédéric Goulet, sociologist and senior researcher, Environment & Society Department, CIRAD

11:20

Panel 1: Building an enabling environment for the development of bio-input systems

What rules, standards, advisory systems and market conditions are needed?

  • Olivier Guelton, Head of Unit “Authorisations of Plant Protection Products”, Federal Public Service Health, Food Chain Safety and Environment (Belgium)
  • Public Health and Safety Authorities of Burundi
  • Pieter Jan Debauw, COLEAD
  • Dr. Toralf Richter, FiBL
12:10

Panel 2: Institutional perspectives on scaling bio-inputs systems

  • Christophe Larose, Head of Sector, Sustainable Agriculture, DG INTPA (EC)
  • Representative from DG AGRI (EC)
  • Ivan Cucco, Senior Agricultural & Food Systems Economist and Technical Expert, GP-SAEP, IFAD
  • Dr. Jean Jacques M. Muhinda, Director General East Africa, AGRA
13:00

Lunch

14:00

Meeting resumes

14:05

Icebreaker: Fact or Fiction?

Debunking myths and misconceptions surrounding bio-inputs.

14:30

World Café · discussion

Moderated small-group discussions to develop recommendations for farmers’ organisations’ roadmaps for FO-led bio-input systems. Each group will consider: What are the main barriers? What solutions should be prioritised? Who needs to act?

  1. Building trust: research, proof-points and innovation, Laurent Dietsch (Gerdal)
  2. Building an enabling environment: quality, regulation and control, Pieter-Jan Debauw (COLEAD) & Toralf Richter (FiBL)
  3. Developing sustainable business models, Jean-Marie Ndashimiye (CAPAD) & David Verstraete (Greenotec/Biofabrique)
  4. Successful adoption: advisory, training and extension services, Martin Agboton (AgriCord)
15:45

Coffee break

16:15

World Café · consolidation

Representatives from each table share key takeaways in a panel format: a priority challenge, one or two recommendations for FOs and one key partnership to build. Moderator:

Stephen Muchiri, EAFF

17:00

Wrap-up: recommendations for FOs’ roadmaps

Key takeaways from the day, emerging partnerships and priority actions.

Katja Vuori, CEO of AgriCord

17:20

Closing remarks

Marek Poznanski, CSA & Mamadou Cissokho, CNCR

17:30

Meeting ends and networking drink

A room built for cross-sector dialogue

This one-day international workshop brings together farmers' organisations from Africa and Europe, alongside researchers, bio-input industry actors, public authorities, investors, financial institutions and development partners.

  • Farmers' organisations & cooperatives
  • Researchers & research institutions
  • Bio-input industry and value-chain actors
  • Public authorities & regulators
  • Investors & financial institutions
  • Development partners & agri-agencies
  • Advisory and extension services
Event flyer in English: Farmers' organisation-led bio-inputs systems, international workshop and field visit, 14 and 15 October 2026, Brussels and Gembloux, Belgium.

Registration

Join us in Brussels and Gembloux

Places are limited to ensure an engaging and interactive session, so secure your place by registering now.

Register for 14–15 October 2026

Registration link: https://t.ly/lo-RG
Questions? Contact amale.zeggoud@agricord.org