by Peter Wren-Hilton | May 7, 2026 | 2026 Salinas Biological Summit
One of the key takeaways from the first three Salinas Biological Summits has been delegates’ requests for deeper conversations. With our packed Summit programs looking at a wide range of biological opportunities and challenges, finding time to ‘deep-dive’ into certain key topics within the Summit program has been a challenge.
We’ve listened to the feedback however, and I’m delighted to confirm that on the eve of this year’s Summit, we’ll be hosting 3 x 2.5-hour workshops on the afternoon of Monday June 22. These are designed to provide registered Summit delegates with the opportunity to meet and engage with others on biological topics with a very specific focus.
To support these workshops, I’m thrilled that we’ve been supported by three key organizations to help facilitate their content. The specific focus areas for each workshop are:
A key outcome of the 3 workshops is to identify opportunities for longer-term collaboration & partnerships. These are key themes for the Summit. By bringing together targeted domestic and international stakeholders, we believe that each workshop will provide a new platform for stakeholder outreach.
The 3 workshops are complimentary and open to registered Summit delegates only. You can learn more about each workshop and register your interest online today by visiting the Summit Workshops web page
by Peter Wren-Hilton | Apr 28, 2026 | 2026 Salinas Biological Summit
On June 23-24, Salinas will once again be hosting the annual Salinas Biological Summit. The Summit brings together key stakeholders including growers, PCAs, researchers, policymakers/regulators, agribusinesses, agritech companies & investors looking to accelerate the research, commercialization and adoption of biological products.
As regulators remove traditional chemical pesticides from the grower’s toolbox, the need to find alternative inputs becomes ever more important. Managing pests and disease can be a major casualty of reduced access to traditional chemistries. Identifying and scaling biopesticide solutions which have proven efficacy and provide economic benefit to the grower, is a major outcome of the annual Summit.
In June, we’ll once again be joined by leading domestic and international experts in the field. For this 2026 edition of the Summit, we’ve invited a number of significant sector leaders from Brazil to share their insights and experiences as to why Brazil has become the Gold Standard for designing accelerated regulatory pathways and securing significant grower adoption of biological products. What can California and the rest of the world learn from these lessons?
Biological startups are invited once again to apply to join the two Summit Start-up Pitch events. One is focused on Biopesticides. The other on Biostimulants. Interested startups should email their EOI to platform10@salinas-summit.com
This annual event will once again provide delegates with two days of high-value content and numerous networking opportunities. A large delegation of international visitors will provide additional insights into best global practice.
To find out more about this year’s Salinas Biological Summit Program, please visit the Summit website at www.salinas-summit.com
by Peter Wren-Hilton | Apr 20, 2026 | 2026 Salinas Biological Summit
Across regulation, application and adoption, Brazil has emerged as the Gold Standard for many significant biological input metrics. Last year, a delegation of key Californian agricultural stakeholders, led by CDFA Secretary Karen Ross, visited Brazil. In their words, they were ‘blown away’ by much of what they saw. Dennis Donohue and I captured much of that dynamic in a ‘The Grower Talks’ podcast with the California delegation. You can view and listen to the podcast here.
One outcome of the visit was a stated interest in increasing collaboration between California and Brazil researchers, growers, regulators and agritech companies across a number of biological-related fields. I’m therefore delighted to share that at June’s Salinas Biological Summit, a number of key Brazilian stakeholders will be sharing their expertise and insights to enable delegates to learn more about opportunities for accelerated regulatory pathways, increased grower adoption and the leveraging of its biological industry ecosystem.
Some of the speakers include:
- Ronaldo Dalio. Formerly a professor in the Genetics department at IB-Unesp-SP and a researcher at the Biotechnology Laboratory of the Citrus Center (IAC), Ronaldo is now the founder and CEO of IdeeLab Biotecnologia SA. The company focuses on developing agricultural innovations based on microorganisms, proteins, peptides and organic molecules.
- Jose Roberto Pereira. Jose is a former President of the BRA Biological Producers Association (equivalent of BPIA). Jose understands the industry’s history and will share some of the major milestones in growers’ adoption.
- Julia Emanuela de Souza. Julia is International Director, ANPii Bio, the only association that exclusively represents the bio-inputs industry in Brazil.
- Emanuele Diniz. Emanuele has worked in various regulatory bodies, including MAPA, ANVISA, and IBAMA and will provide an overview of the Registration of Biopesticides in Brazil.
- Allan Marciano: Allan is Regulatory Affairs Manager – LATAM for Lallemand Plant Care. Allan has been working extensively on the new bioinputs legislation, aiming to strengthen the biologicals industry and bring more technologies to growers.
Additionally, Brazil will have a ‘Brazil Biologicals’ booth at the Summit and they invite all delegates to meet, engage, ask questions and potentially collaborate.
I’m stoked that we have secured such a valuable partnership this year. It will provide a significant added dynamic to what is already shaping up to be another content-rich program.
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.
