Dr Lara Ramaekers to lead Biobest’s biopesticides team

Added on 13 March 2023

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Dr Lara Ramaekers to lead Biobest’s biopesticides team

Biobest is delighted to announce the appointment of Dr Lara Ramaekers to the new role of Business Development Director of Biopesticides.

Lara joins Biobest from UPL - the Mumbai-based global provider of sustainable agricultural technologies and services - where she was the Global Biocontrol Portfolio Lead. Prior to that she worked for Arysta LifeSciences – a global provider of crop protection and life science products - acquired by UPL in 2019.

Derived from plants, bacteria and other microbes, biopesticides are a major growth sector for sustainable horticulture and a key component of residue-free crop production. With considerable experience in early biopesticide product development and the management of strategic marketing alliances and distribution, Lara will set Biobest’s long term global biopesticides strategy.

“While continuing our programme of acquisitions we will be looking to build strategic partnerships with key companies in our industry as well as with pioneering R&D companies at the forefront of new biopesticide technologies and innovations,” she says.

“A well-established leader and innovator in the field of global IPM and crop pollination, Biobest Group has set its sights on becoming a market leader in biopesticides for the greenhouse sector. With highly skilled IPM technical teams already working closely with growers of protected vegetables, fruits, ornamental and medicinal cannabis crops worldwide, Biobest Group has the right set up to achieve this goal.”

“I was attracted to work for Biobest Group because of its closeness to growers. The team is genuinely passionate about contributing to sustainable agriculture and works directly with growers - fostering strong working relationships with end users. Biobest really understands the needs of its customers.”

For her PhD in microbial inoculants of beans, Lara studied N-fixing bacteria Rhizobium and Azospirillum at the university of Leuven (Belgium). Studies that took her to the International Centre of Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) in Colombia and the Kenyan Agricultural and Livestock Research Institute (KARI). For the past six years, she has been Chair of the Natural Substances Professional Group of the International Biocontrol Manufacturers’ Association (IBMA).

Want to know more? Contact Lise Verachtert (lise.verachtert@biobestgroup.com).

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