Awards issued prior to january 20, 2025, were funded under previous administrations and may not reflect the priorities and policies of the current administration.** the overlapping functions of…

Awards issued prior to january 20, 2025, were funded under previous administrations and may not reflect the priorities and policies of the current administration.** the overlapping functions of biologicals, i.e. biostimulants, biopesticides, biofertilizers and biocontrols, create challenges for regulations developed for the synthetic chemical market. The strict classification system used for synthetic chemicals can lead to accessibility issues, increased costs, and disruptions in the use of traditional biological inputs. For example, seaweed extracts can used as a fertilizer, a biostimulant, and/or a plant growth regulator depending on the extraction process leading to complications in classifying this biological product. These challenges can hinder the adoption and competitiveness of products beneficial to sustainable and regenerative agriculture. This conference will unite researchers, product developers, growers, and regulators to generate insights on biologicals, address potential regulatory impacts, and prepare for future developments. Over the course of a day, speakers and discussion panels from key stakeholder groups will examine the current status of this space. They will identify unintended impacts, definitional challenges, and discuss the need for future regulatory design aligned with the potential of biologicals. Insights gained from this conference will result in a report of practical recommendations for future actions by researchers, developers, and regulators resulting in a transparent, scientifically sound, and effective regulatory environment for the use of biologicals in the emerging BIO-economy.