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 | 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 | May 21, 2025 | Wharf42
The 2025 Salinas Biological Summit will see the launch of the Global AgriBio Start-up Network; a network that will provide both in-person and virtual support to the rapidly emerging early-stage biological community.
Whilst the Western Growers Center for Innovation & Technology in Salinas will provide a physical base, webinars and virtual meetups will ensure that start-ups everywhere can connect and engage with the Network program. The Network will partner with other ag biological-based organizations, innovators and investors, and longer-term will become a potentially significant feeder channel for Platform10.
Supporting the build of the Global AgriBio Start-up Network will be Wharf42’s Palo Alto-based Director, Growth Strategies, Claire Lee.
Claire spent eight years at Silicon Valley Bank – six of those as Head of SVB’s Startup Banking Division and later as Global Brand Ambassador at SVB’s investment arm, SVB Capital.
Claire joined SVB in 2014 from Microsoft, where she spent a decade working on emerging technologies, including cloud and emerging businesses (startups) in emerging markets. During her time at Microsoft, Claire led the Local Software Economy initiative engaging Government, Academia and the private sector, before moving to California in 2011 to join Microsoft’s Emerging Business Group. Claire was part of the leadership team that brought Microsoft BizSpark and Microsoft Ventures to market.
In short, Claire has been here before. Building global start-up ecosystems have been a core KPI for the best part of 15 years. As the Mixing Bowl’s 2023 Biologicals Landscape Map & 2024 Biocontrol Landscape Map demonstrate, there are hundreds of start-ups around the world engaged in ag biological research, development & commercialization. The Global AgriBio Start-up Network is being designed to provide the support and advise necessary to assist these companies scale to assist growers address some of the key input challenges that they face.
At the 2023 Summit, we announced the launch of Platform10. I cannot be more excited that at next month’s 2025 Summit, we’ll be announcing the launch of another major global initiative designed to build a better-connected & strategically important start-up community..
by Peter Wren-Hilton | Jan 22, 2025 | Wharf42
Welcome to 2025 and the Chinese Year of the Snake.
The Snake represents wisdom, knowledge, intelligence, intuition, and creativity. Snakes are also revered for their ability to shed their skin and renew themselves, symbolizing transformation and rebirth. Wharf42 and our key partners and clients can relate. These are important traits that drive our behavior, now and in the future.
Reflecting on lessons learnt in 2024, we have identified ways we can further adapt to the ever-changing environment of AgriFoodTech products and services. This includes re-imagining investment into this vital sector. Our success requires not just a deep understanding of the market we represent, but a more holistic appreciation of how important ‘megatrends’ more broadly, align with our industry.
It’s with this context that I am delighted to share the news that Claire Lee is joining the team as Wharf42’s inaugural Director, Growth Strategies. Based in Palo Alto, California, Claire — aka Mother Funder — set up her own consulting firm in February 2022 after spending eight years at Silicon Valley Bank – six of those as Head of SVB’s Startup Banking Division and later as Global Brand Ambassador at SVB’s investment arm, SVB Capital.
Claire joined SVB in 2014 from Microsoft, where she spent a decade working on emerging technologies, including cloud and emerging businesses (startups) in emerging markets. During her time at Microsoft, Claire led the Local Software Economy initiative engaging Government, Academia and the private sector, before moving to California in 2011 to join Microsoft’s Emerging Business Group. Claire was part of the leadership team that brought Microsoft BizSpark and Microsoft Ventures to market.
Claire is a long tenured advisor to the U.S. Department of State, where she executed the first DEMO Africa event under Secretary Clinton’s leadership. Claire travelled to Nairobi, Kenya, in July 2015 with President Obama and a small delegation of U.S. investors and went on to partner with the Obama administration on the Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES) in 2016 at Stanford University. Claire has served as Board Advisor on two boards at RAND Corporation since 2018, including the Center for Middle East Public Policy (CMEPP) and Global and Emerging Risks (GER).
Today, Claire brings a unique global perspective, significant investor networks and a particular passion for GenAI’s ability to transform the AgriFoodTech sector, to Wharf42. Claire will support clients develop Transformative Growth Strategies to accelerate market entry and opportunities in both the US and other key global markets.
We are absolutely thrilled to have Claire join the Wharf42 team. It reflects our own transformation as we build our global-focused footprint to address the world’s rapidly changing AgriFoodTech landscape.
by Peter Wren-Hilton | Aug 7, 2024 | Wharf42
Last Thursday, I had the opportunity to address the Animal & Plant Health New Zealand conference in Wellington to share insights into the development of the Platform10 Global Partner Network.
Earlier, I had joined the Leaders breakfast, on behalf of Wharf42, to hear NZ Minister for Regulation, David Seymour, release the Terms of Reference for the regulatory review into the approval path for agricultural and horticultural products. To quote Seymour, ‘“Right now, there are too many delays, and the process is too complex. It stops farmers and growers from getting access to products that have been approved by other OECD countries”. In short, New Zealand has woken up and realized it needs to accelerate the registration of emerging soft chemicals and biologicals to remain competitive.
Wharf42 will actively support this process. Currently it can take five to nine years to bring a new product to market. That is totally unacceptable. Our mission is to ensure that the review enables New Zealand to establish best practice and become a global leader in terms of its regulatory process. The good news is that Minister Seymour is looking to take recommendations to Cabinet within 6 months and potentially the new regulatory framework within 12.
A game-changer for New Zealand farmers and growers and an opportunity to build a global template for others to follow.
by Peter Wren-Hilton | Jun 12, 2023 | Wharf42
Wharf42 strongly supports calls to end the effective ban on GE and GM in New Zealand.
On Sunday, the National Party published a paper called ‘Harnessing Biotech’. Its plan consisted of 3 core elements;
- End the effective ban on GE and GM in New Zealand.
- Create a dedicated regulator to ensure safe and ethical use of biotechnology.
- Streamline approvals for trials and use of non-GE/GM biotech
We have been calling for this policy change for years. As the founders of Agritech New Zealand and a global partner to some key international players, we have witnessed at first hand the negative impact current policy has had on New Zealand agricultural research and commercialisation opportunities. Gene editing and CRISPR in particular, has been proven scientifically to support the reduction of agricultural greenhouse gas emissions and improvement of on-farm productivity. These should be key priorities for the New Zealand government and removing current GE restrictions will go a long way to accelerate our success in achieving these goals.
Last month, the NZ Government released an updated version of its Agritech Industry Transformation Plan (ITP). It aimed to increase agritech exports to $8B by 2030. This number is challenging enough. With our research and industry entities operating with one hand behind their backs however, it is almost unrealistic given the widespread adoption of GE in many peer countries.
The timing of this announcement coincides with next week’s 2023 Salinas Biological Summit, which we are proudly hosting. Reducing the use of chemical pesticides on soil and plants with more biological alternatives can be accelerated with the application of GE technologies. At the moment, such work is evidenced at major US research institutions such as UC Davis. Why not AgResearch & Plant & Food Research in New Zealand who currently have to work with global partners to trial some of their incredible research offshore?
The ‘Harnessing Biotech’ policy proposal from the National Party does not suggest a biotech ‘free-for-all’. Instead, there will be a dedicated regulator to ensure the safe and ethical use of biotechology. In the past, I’ve been told by Government Ministers that when it comes to GE, it’s time for a ‘robust discussion’. Then nothing.
Wharf42 very much hopes that National’s ‘Harnessing Biotech’ plan accelerates that discussion and the country’s agritech community has the opportunity to compete globally on a level playing field. It’s that message that we will be taking to California this week.
