The five-year extension of his chair is co-funded by Biobest, a global leader in biocontrol and part of the BioFirst Group, and also receives support from Interpolis through the Innovatiefonds Hagelunie, an insurance and innovation fund for plant production.
“We believe it is essential to support biological crop protection from a scientific and educational perspective through a renowned institution such as WUR,” says Felix Wäckers, Global R&D Director at Biobest. “Our collaboration will generate new knowledge and promote pesticide-free solutions that benefit both growers and the environment.”
“Greenhouse horticulture is moving toward a zero-emission future based on biological ecosystems,” says Jaap Breugem, manager at Interpolis and director of the Innovatiefonds Hagelunie. “By replacing chemicals with natural enemies, we encourage sustainable and innovative production. Investing in knowledge benefits growers and the environment; we are proud to support this transition.”
Resilient cropping systems
Gerben Messelink is recognized as an academic authority in the field of biological control agents. Thanks to his work, several new control agents have been introduced to the market. His research on preventive use and long-term establishment of natural enemies has been fundamental to the development of resilient cropping systems.
International collaboration and impact
Messelink is actively involved in European research projects and in the development of biological control programs in Asia and Africa. He also serves as coordinator of the Greenhouse Working Group of the International Organisation for Biological and Integrated Control (IOBC).
Advancing preventive biological control through functional diversity and long-term tools
At WUR, Prof. Messelink will focus his research on developing preventive biocontrol strategies—the “permanent army” approach—with the aim of further strengthening resilient greenhouse cropping systems.
This includes studying the complexity of managing multiple invasive pests, the functional diversity of natural enemies (“teamwork”), and the development of tools that support long-term establishment of beneficials through food sources, service plants, refuges and diverse habitats. As a professor, his goal is to reinforce the link between fundamental ecological research and applied biological control.
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“With the growing challenges of pest resistance and the arrival of invasive species, our work is far from finished,” states Prof. Messelink. “I am grateful to WUR, Biobest and the Innovatiefonds Hagelunie/Interpolis for making the extension of this chair possible, and I look forward to bringing together students, academics and industry to combine the strengths of both augmentative and conservation biocontrol.”
