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Farmer-led bio-inputs: international workshop and field visit, 14–15 October 2026

Farmers' Organisation-led Bio-inputs Systems: International Workshop & Field Visit
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

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

Wed 14 OctField visits in Wallonia (Gembloux), transport from Brussels & lunch included
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

Why this matters

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

What you will do

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, Asia 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 detailed programme will be shared shortly with registered participants.

Wednesday 14 October Gembloux, Wallonia · transport from Brussels and lunch included · timing to be confirmed

Visit, meet and experiment ("Bio-inputs: a solution gaining momentum?")

The Collectif Stratégies Alimentaires and its partner farmers' organisations in Wallonia invite you to visit AgriBiotech Park in Gembloux, a brand-new science park bringing together organisations working on biosolutions, sharing equipment, expertise and infrastructure to support the development and commercialisation of biofungicides, bioinsecticides, bioherbicides and biostimulants.

Stakeholders you will meet include:

  • Agricells: a partner at AgriBiotech Park, developing natural solutions based on microorganisms and innovative biological products.
  • La Biofabrique: a cooperative of four farmers producing high-quality compost and biostimulants, building a production unit at the park.
  • CePiCOP: the Walloon pilot centre that publishes the annual Livre Blanc, runs the crop-warning system and advises cereal farmers.
  • Regenacterre: a network of farmers and agronomists promoting regenerative agriculture.
  • CRA-W: the Walloon Agricultural Research Centre in Gembloux.
  • Greenotec and the "Phytobiome" agroecology farmers' group: supporting farmers in reduced-tillage practices.
Thursday 15 October Brussels · 8:30–17:30 · English & French

International workshop on bio-inputs

Morning: understand and share
Scientific and strategic perspectives, followed by experience sharing from farmers' organisations and a look at the conditions needed for scaling up.
Afternoon: co-create
Working sessions on the main challenges, enabling conditions and opportunities for scaling up; developing recommendations for FOs' roadmaps.
Closing: act
Joint priorities, roadmap, new partnerships and next steps.

Who should attend

A room built for cross-sector dialogue

This one-day international workshop brings together farmers' organisations from Africa, Europe, Asia and the Pacific, alongside the actors who shape the bio-inputs ecosystem.

  • 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

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

Flyers

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Event flyer in English: Farmers' organisation-led bio-inputs systems, international workshop and field visit, 14–15 October 2026, Brussels and Gembloux, Belgium.

English

Affiche de l'événement en français : les systèmes de biointrants portés par les organisations de producteurs, atelier international et visite de terrain, 14–15 octobre 2026, Bruxelles et Gembloux.

Français