by Peter Wren-Hilton | Apr 6, 2026 | Wharf42
I’m excited today to share the news that the 2026 Asia Biological Summit will take place in Singapore on Tuesday 10 November 2026. The Summit will once again coincide with Singapore International Agrifood Week.
Last November, Wharf42, together with our Singapore-based partners, AgriFood Futures, co-hosted the inaugural Asia Biological Symposium. It attracted key stakeholders from across the ASEAN region. On 10 November this year, we intend to build on the foundations and networks created then, to deliver significant announcements around the framework being developed for the ASEAN Biological Platform.
So why is this Summit so important for Wharf42’s strategic partners in the US, New Zealand & Australia?
Collaborative cross-border partnerships will accelerate support for our farmers and growers
A foundation Wharf42 belief is that no single country or company can solve the complex challenges facing global food producers today. Nowhere is this more evident than in the global transition from chemical pesticides to biologicals.
In 2018, Wharf42 established Agritech New Zealand. In 2019, we co-founded the Australia New Zealand Agritech Council. In June, we’ll be convening the 4th Salinas Biological Summit. They all have one thing in common.
Building communities of growers, researchers, agritech companies, investors & policy-makers to accelerate impactful initiatives to support food producers. November’s Asia Biological Summit provides a valuable platform for our partners in the US, New Zealand & Australia to meet and engage with this most dynamic geographic region. Home to approximately 100 million smallholder farms, ASEAN’s agriculture sector contributes significantly to the region’s food production sector. So can you.
In her address last November,
CDFA Secretary Ross highlighted the importance of cross-border collaboration; specifically, the opportunity for increased California/ASEAN regional collaboration. It was a message strongly supported by key New Zealand & Australian speakers on the day. Areas identified for increased collaboration included:
- Accelerated cross-border research collaboration
- Increased investment into emerging biological companies
- The opportunity to harmonize regulatory regimes across the region to accelerate the registration of new biological products
In November, we’ll once again be bringing together key stakeholders from across the ASEAN region & beyond. We’ll be digging deeper into these highlighted areas and invite parties interested in engaging with these discussions to participate.
by Peter Wren-Hilton | Feb 9, 2026 | 2026 Salinas Biological Summit
Wharf42 is absolutely thrilled to announce that the 2026 Salinas Biological Summit Early-Bird tickets went on sale today.
This year’s Summit promises to be the largest and most consequential to-date. We’ll be publishing the draft program shortly but expect it to deliver the same high-quality content for which every Salinas Summit is known for.
We’re also delighted to announce, that with the support of the Summit’s key sponsors, we are freezing this year’s Early-Bird ticket prices to match those of 2025. You will be able to access every session, meet & engage with hundreds of fellow delegates and of course get to share the great hospitality you would expect from California’s Central Coast.
This year’s event will be hosted for the first time at the Salinas Sports Complex. Home to the world-famous California Rodeo Salinas, the venue provides a unique setting for this year’s Summit.
The Summit will once again feature national and international biological experts providing valuable insights into the future of the sector. In June, we’ll be joined for the first time by several commentators from Brazil who will explain how the country’s farmers, growers & regulators have embraced biological inputs to become the world’s gold standard.
The Summit will also hear from leading retail and CPG experts on the evolving consumer landscape for pesticide use. We’ll once again be hosting 2 pitch events featuring emerging biological startups looking to transform the ag input sector in both the biopesticide and biostimulant space.
Over the coming week’s we’ll be providing more details about the main Summit program and the side events that will co-locate with this year’s Summit. If you are planning to join us and want to save $$$s, please take advantage of the Early Bird ticket prices whilst they last.
by Peter Wren-Hilton | Nov 27, 2025 | Wharf42
I’m absolutely delighted to share the news that the inaugural New Zealand Biological Symposium with take place at the Tauranga Club in Tauranga on Thursday 12 February 2026.
Following this year’s successful inaugural Brisbane & ASEAN Biological Symposiums, February’s event will celebrate the opening of the Platform10 global office in the Bay of Plenty. And I’m stoked to advise that a number of key local and international partners will be joining us for the celebration.
I can already confirm some of the key Symposium presentations that will take place on the 12th.
- New Zealand’s newly constituted Bioeconomy Science Institute will present their biological-focused pipeline and some examples across that, and how it supports Platform10.
- Bay of Plenty based Zespri will provide details of their biological research work and how it supports kiwifruit growers transition away from chemical pesticides.
- ‘A Lighter Touch’, a major HortNZ & Government initiative, will talk about how their program supports growers shift from a reliance on agri-chemistry to more sustainable crop protection practices.
- Animal & Plant Health New Zealand (APHNZ) will share their vision & roadmap to achieve a balanced and science-based regulatory environment that gives members freedom to operate and grow in New Zealand.
- The University of Waikato’s Coastal Marine Field Station will demonstrate how groundbreaking research on marine ecosystems & interdisciplinary collaboration is driving sustainability in New Zealand’s blue economy.
This session will include an introduction to Agrisea’s seaweed research and commercial applications that last month saw Agrisea receive the 2025 New Zealand International Business Award for ‘Excellence in Sustainability’.
- Fireside Chat: Karen Booth, Director, ACVM, at the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) will talk about the process her team follows to support the regulation of all agricultural and horticultural inputs into New Zealand’s primary sector.
- Wharf42 is partnering with AgritechNZ to identify 5 early-stage New Zealand-based biological businesses to each deliver a 5-minute pitch to the Symposium delegates. If you are New Zealand-based and are interested in being part of this program, please email your interest and details to platform10@salinas-summit.com
The inaugural New Zealand Biological Symposium is designed to bring together growers, researchers, innovators, policymakers & agribusinesses keen to build a connected ag biological community in New Zealand.
With Platform10’s global network of partners, Wharf42’s hope is that this community will be able to more effectively engage with the rapidly growing international biological movement.
You can learn more about the draft Symposium program in the ‘Registration Link’ below. Symposium tickets include access to all sessions, coffee/tea on arrival, a morning break, a light lunch & networking. Tickets are available today for $65, plus GST.
You can purchase your ticket here: https://events.humanitix.com/the-new-zealand-biological-symposium
by Peter Wren-Hilton | Nov 17, 2025 | Platform10
The Tauranga-based office will complement the work being undertaken at the Western Growers Center for Innovation & Technology (WGCIT) in Salinas, California. Whilst WGCIT will continue to focus on Platform10’s field trials program in the US, the New Zealand office will focus on supporting Platform10’s key activity across ‘The Rest of the World’. It’s no small task, but the additional resources that will be recruited in Q1 & Q2, 2026, will enable us to meet the increased demand we are experiencing from across the globe.
Last Wednesday, Wharf42 & Priority One hosted a networking breakfast with some key stakeholders from across the Tauranga / Bay of Plenty region. Over the coming weeks, we’ll be socializing the opportunity with a wider network of grower, industry and research organizations across New Zealand as we prepare for the next chapter of Platform10’s global expansion.
It takes a village to raise a child, and we therefore look forward to working with colleagues and partners across both New Zealand & Australia as we build the network. Our southern hemisphere location supports grower-led field trials in the northern hemisphere by offering counter-seasonal opportunities to accelerate both research activity and the commercial development / deployment of new biocontrols to support growers everywhere.
As we build out our program of activity and identify strategic global objectives, I look forward to providing further updates about Platform10’s new global office and its remit over the coming weeks.
Learn more about Platform10 at www.platform10.ag
by Peter Wren-Hilton | Aug 6, 2025 | AgriFood Tech Singapore
I’m absolutely thrilled to be able to share the news that Wharf42 and partners, AgriFood Futures, will be jointly hosting the inaugural 2025 Asia Biological Symposium on Monday 3 November, timed to coincide with this year’s Singapore International Agri-Food Week.
The Symposium will bring together key regional and international speakers to provide insights into some of the major opportunities that ag biologicals offer growers and major food producers in this most dynamic of geographic regions.
A major highlight of the Symposium will be the launch of Platform10 in ASEAN.
Platform10 is a multi-year, regionally coordinated platform will connect scientists, startups, growers, regulators and investors to accelerate the development, validation and adoption of biological agri-inputs across Asia. By mobilizing capability, credibility and capital in a new way, the initiative promises tangible outcomes: stronger ecosystems, lower toxicity, and more resilient farming systems for healthy people, a healthy planet, and productive farms.
What Platform10 Will Deliver
Clean Tech on Farms: Prove and deploy biologicals that cut toxicity, regenerate soil and support healthier ecosystems and communities.
Innovation with Impact: Match researchers and startups to priority crop and pest challenges across Asia, driving focused R&D and tech adaptation.
Farmer-First Adoption: Support growers to trial, trust and adopt new solutions through practical, on-the-ground engagement and networks.
Confidence for Capital: De-risk investment through robust data, field insight and regulatory engagement—empowering investors to back solutions with confidence.
Finance with Nature in Mind: Design and deliver blended finance models that combine climate capital, innovation funding and regional implementation capacity.
The Platform10 initiative will officially launch at the Asia Biological Symposium on 3 November 2025. The half-day event will spotlight the science, strategy and startup opportunity underpinning the platform, followed by a deep-dive session hosted by Enterprise Singapore during the Asia-Pacific Agri-Food Innovation Summit to explore collaboration pathways.
The Enterprise Singapore deep-dive session will take place on Wednesday 5 November at the Sands Expo & Convention Centre, Singapore. More details to follow.
