On May 29, the Auditorium of the Cajamar Financial Center (PITA) in Almería hosted the second edition of the Agrobío Forum under the theme “At the Forefront of Biological Control.” The event brought together more than 400 professionals from the sector and served as a meeting point to share experiences, transfer knowledge, and showcase the latest innovations in biological pest control. The day coincided with Agrobío’s 30th anniversary. A benchmark company in the production of beneficial insects and natural pollination, it celebrated its journey by reaffirming its commitment to R&D and collaborative work with technicians and researchers.
During the opening session, Isabel Santorromán emphasized the strong connection between both entities and highlighted Agrobío’s role as ‘a global leader that has revolutionized Almeria’s agriculture.’ José Antonio Santorromán, Agrobío’s general manager, recalled that ‘biological control has provided safety for crops, workers, and consumers, positioning Almería as a reliable model internationally.’ For his part, Antonio Mena, the regional delegate for Agriculture, stressed that ‘biological control is not only effective but essential’ and announced that technical recommendations will be reinforced through the RAIF.
Agrobío: 30 years of progress
In her speech, Isabel Santorromán, Business Director of Agrobío, reviewed the company’s 30-year journey, which now spans operations in over 45 countries, producing 20% of the world’s bumblebee hives, and reinvesting 2.5% of its turnover in R&D—above the European average of 2.22%.
Milestones include the introduction of bumblebees in greenhouse crops and the development of solutions like Orius Cold and Orius Plus—two lines adapted to extreme conditions to control thrips even in summer or winter.
Looking to the future, she noted that ‘concepts such as water or carbon footprint must now be joined by biodiversity credits, which will contribute to the global economy. More and more organisations are aligning with these global trends.’
New Orius strains and pesticide resistance
One of the most anticipated presentations came from Pablo Bielza, Professor of Agricultural Entomology at the Polytechnic University of Cartagena (UPCT). Bielza presented advances in new Orius strains that are more efficient and resistant to pesticides—developed by Agrobío. With over 10 years of research, strains have been created that can survive treatments with pyrethroids, Spinosad, and other key active ingredients. ‘We already have multi-resistant strains that survive even doses ten times higher than those used in the field,’ he noted.
This innovation makes it possible to combine the release of beneficials with targeted chemical treatments, without compromising the effectiveness of biological control or the sustainability of the production model. ‘It’s not about promoting indiscriminate pesticide use, but about ensuring that when treatments are necessary, biological control remains intact,’ he emphasized.
He also highlighted the Orius Cold strain, selected by Agrobío, which is especially effective in both low and high temperatures.
Supplementary feeding and strategic targeting of beneficials
Enric Vila, Agrobío’s R&D Director, focused on how to improve the establishment of beneficial insects through new feeding diets. He stressed that ‘thanks to strategic feeding, we can direct predators to vulnerable areas of the crop, such as the leaves in the case of Parvispinus thrips, achieving more effective and preventive control.’ According to his trials, optimized diets can triple the populations of Amblyseius swirskii, Montdorensis, or Limonicus and improve the establishment of Orius even in challenging crops like winter cucumber.
Population dynamics of Parvispinus thrips
Estefanía Rodríguez, a researcher at IFAPA, presented the results of a comprehensive study conducted in 17 pepper greenhouses in Almería. Her work confirmed that Parvispinus thrips peak in October and, unlike Frankliniella, prefer leaves and fruits over flowers.
Rodríguez stressed the importance of establishing biological control preventively—before September—and highlighted the role of spontaneous natural enemies such as phytoseiid mites, lacewings, and the so-called ‘predatory thrips.’
Key: prevent, diversify, and act early
In her talk, Ana B. Arévalo, Technical Development Director at Agrobío, emphasized that ‘biological control must be applied in time’ and explained that some issues arise from technical protocols that delay the release of beneficials. She warned about new threats such as Scirtothrips dorsalis, which has already caused significant damage in third countries, and advocated for a preventive and continuous approach. ‘It’s a myth that biological control doesn’t work in spring. If we don’t act in all crop cycles, pests will find their opportunity.’
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She also emphasized the importance of ecological infrastructures such as hedges and biodiversity islands to reinforce the activity of natural enemies inside and outside the greenhouse. ‘Our goal is not just to sell insects, but to ensure that biological control works and stops pests in time.’
Practical cases and new solutions
The forum also featured María del Mar Rodríguez Fuentes, a specialist in Agrobío’s Technical Department, who presented PHYTOplus, a new and more effective tool against red spider mites. David del Pino, Managing Director of Freshtrategy, offered an inspiring vision on the value of biological control as a competitive attribute in international markets.
With this second edition, Agrobío consolidates the forum as a technical benchmark event and reaffirms its commitment to a more environmentally friendly agricultural model aligned with the demands of international markets.
