2025 EBIC Summit

Ronan Kempf, an accomplished agronomist engineer with 15+ years of experience, developed his passion for agriculture on his family’s French dairy farm.

Having practiced across 60+ countries on five continents, he has gained comprehensive understanding of global agricultural systems and economic conditions driving agricultural development.

Currently leading global sales, marketing and product development at Agrauxine by Lesaffre, delivers high-quality microbial technologies to growers around the globe.

His marketing knowledge, international perspective, and practical farming background uniquely position him to bridge agricultural science with real-world application.

His entrepreneur and strategic mindset leverage his expertise to advance sustainable agricultural to be come real.

Paul is currently a Director at Broadoak Ventures Ltd, a business development and advisory business engaged in both the commercial and not for profit sectors.

He is a business graduate with over forty years’ experience in finance, operations, sales and business development roles in a variety of companies including food, electronics and biostimulants.

Paul co-founded and grew Brandon Bioscience from 1998 to 2021 overseeing the company’s development and growth. Managed FP7 and Horizon 2020 projects, developing the company’s technology and product range opening markets in over thirty countries.

He was on the board of EBIC for six years, including four as Vice President.

Luis Vivas Alegre is currently Head of Sector in the Research and Innovation Unit of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of the European Commission, DG AGRI. Luis’ responsibilities include coordinating the programming of Horizon Europe in areas related to agriculture, forestry and rural development, and leveraging impact of results for end-users, from farmers to policymakers. A veterinarian by training, before joining the European Commission Luis worked for the European Food Safety Authority and prior to this for the Food Standards Agency of the United Kingdom

Paula de Vera is Senior Policy Advisor in Copa and Cogeca, representing the interest of EU farmer organisations and agri-cooperatives from the headquarters of the organisation in Brussels, Belgium. With a veterinary background and for almost 7 years, she has been advocating and working on all topics related to plant health, plant protection, animal health and animal welfare affecting EU agriculture.

Samuele Ambrosetti has been the Programming and Innovation Manager at the Bio-Based Industry Consortium (BIC) since 2022. He has an MD in Nuclear Physics from the University of Genoa (Italy) and 20 years of experience in technology road mapping and innovation management. He is a former member of the ISO working group that wrote the standard family ISO 56000 on innovation management. His current role at the BIC includes managing BIC’s role as the private partner of the Circular Bio-based Europe JU and running the BIC open innovation competition.

Ian Goldin is Professor of Globalisation and Development at the University of Oxford, Professorial Fellow at Balliol College, Oxford University, and from 2006 to 2016 was the founding Director of Oxford University’s interdisciplinary Oxford Martin School.

Ian Goldin currently leads the Oxford Martin research programmes on Technological and Economic Change, Future of Work and Future of Development. From 2001 to 2006 Ian was Vice President of the World Bank and the Group’s Director of Policy and Special Representative at the United Nations. From 1996 to 2001, he was economic advisor to President Mandela and the Chief Executive of the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA), transforming it to become the largest investor in infrastructure and over 500 municipalities in the 14 countries of Southern Africa.

Previously, Ian served as Principal Economist at the EBRD and the Director of Programmes at the OECD Development Centre. He has an MSc from the London School of Economics, and an MA and Doctorate from the University of Oxford.

Ian has been knighted by the French Government and received numerous awards. He has published over 60 journal articles and 25 books. His most recent are Age of the City: Why our Future Will be Won or Lost Together, and The Shortest History of Migration. His previous books include Rescue: From Global Crisis to a Better World, Terra Incognita: 100 Maps to Survive the Next 100 Years; Age of Discovery: Navigating the Storms of Our Second Renaissance, Development: A Very Short Introduction; Is the Planet Full? and The Butterfly Defect: Why Globalization Creates Systemic Risks and What to Do, in which he predicted that a global pandemic. He has authored and presented three BBC Documentary Series After The Crash; Will AI Kill Development? and The Pandemic that Changed the World and the BBC Analysis ‘The Death of Globalisation?’. His recent article on the causes of the productivity slowdown is featured in the Spring 2024 issue of the top rated Journal of Economic Literature.

Ian has provided advisory services to the IMF, UN, EU, OECD and over 100 Fortune 500 Companies and has served as a non-executive Director on six globally listed companies, including as the Senior Independent Director and Chairing a wide range of Board Committees. Ian is an acclaimed speaker at TED, Google Zeitgeist, WEF and other meetings and is a founding trustee of the Center for Future Generations and the Chair of the core-econ.org initiative to transform economics.

Dr Nikolakopoulou, is a Policy Officer at the Directorate General Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs (DG GROW) in the European Commission. Dr Nikolakopoulou studied Biology in the University of Athens in Greece and has a PhD in Biological Sciences. Dr Nikolakopoulou worked as a researcher for 15 years and was involved in several projects studying the occurrence and transfer of antibiotic resistance in different environments. She joined DG GROW in 2018 and since then has been responsible for the implementation and development of the Fertilising Products Regulation, incuding standardisation, and recently the Detergents Regulation. She also follows the development of other legislative acts relevant to the fertilising product files, such as the Animal By-Products Regulation, organic farming, waste legislations and REACH restrictions.

Miriam has a Bachelor’s in environmental sciences and Master’s in Ecosystem Restoration. She is developing her professional career in the agro-environmental field at Fundación Global Nature, working on projects that promote more sustainable farming practices, assess the impact of climate change on agriculture, and enhance biodiversity in agricultural landscapes — all aimed at fostering more sustainable and environmentally responsible production models.

Nicolas Willaume, Global Advocacy Manager at ICL Group, and Vice President of the European Consortium of the Organic-Based Fertiliser Industry (ECOFI)

Nicolas Willaume is the Global Advocacy Manager at ICL Group – Growing Solutions since 2021. Currently serving as Vice President of ECOFI, he was elected as a board member in December 2023. He previously served as a board member of different EU and national associations, including as a member of EBIC’s board, where he remains an active company representative. He holds a master’s degree in Biosciences and Agronomy from the French Ecole Nationale Supérieure Agronomique de Toulouse.

Aaron Powers is a repeat entrepreneur specialising in new category creation and the founding of pioneering companies within them. He has addressed a diverse spectrum of mature industries with a technology-led approach, including mobile IP telephony, agricultural technology, and currently, legal technology. In the agricultural sector, he co-founded Agrinos, an early innovator in producing complex consortia-based microbial inoculants, and served as the founding Vice President of the European Biostimulants Industry Council (EBIC). His track record includes two successful public listings, a strategic acquisition, 17 mergers and acquisition transactions, and approximately $200 million raised in equity capital.

Mateusz Ciasnocha is a farmer from Poland with the mission of building a farmer-centric bridge between agricultural and climate policy. He lives his call to action through two businesses: the European Carbon Farmers, particularly through the MIDAS Project, and the Farm of Francesco, as well as through service in various Supervisory and Advisory Boards: Foundation of the Economy of Francesco, as well as Laudato Si Action Platform at the Holy See and the EU Soil Mission Board at the European Commission.

Educated at Hult International Business School, ESCP Europe Business School, the University of Oxford, the University of Edinburgh, and Columbia University. The U.S. Department of State recognized Mateusz for his leadership in the areas of farmer representation and climate action as the YTILI – the Young Transatlantic Innovation Leaders Initiative – Fellow. Mateusz was the only Polish participant in the first cohort of the Fratelli Tutti Political School – the Political School of Pope Francis. For his leadership in the food systems arena, Mateusz has been invited to join the Champions Network of the UN Food Systems Summit.

Dr. Fotini Giannakopoulou, since 2015, she has held the position of General Manager at the Hellenic Fertilizers’ Association (SPEL), where she coordinates strategic, regulatory, and technical initiatives on behalf of the fertilizer sector in Greece.

She holds a MSc in Nanotechnology and a PhD in Soil Science from the Agricultural University of Athens. Her academic and research background focuses on soil fertility, sustainable plan nutrition practices, nanotechnology applications in agriculture, and agricultural policy.

At SPEL, she leads the Association’s technical and communication activities, manages stakeholder engagement, and provides strategic input on regulation, data analysis, and market trends. She actively contributes to European and national dialogue on agriculture and industry affairs, advocating for science-based policymaking and sustainable development.

She has published over 25 scientific papers and 50 articles in sectoral media. Prior to joining SPEL, she served as a Lecturer at the Agricultural University of Athens and Lecturer Assistant in Technological Educational Institute of Kalamata, participating in over 20 research projects. In the private sector, she has held roles as R&D Manager in product development with nano-materials and carbon nanotubes and Manager in Scientific/Tender Manager.

Her holistic understanding of the fertilizer value chain allows her to support informed decision-making and drive positive change in the agrifood sector.

Ferran Soldevila is the Managing Director and Co-founder of Sun Chemicals Services S.L., a company at the forefront of regulatory consulting in the agricultural sector. He holds a degree in Economics from the University of Barcelona and pursued additional studies at Erasmus University Rotterdam.
With over 15 years of experience at Industrias Químicas del Vallés (IQV), Spain’s largest pesticide producer, he held several leadership roles, including General Manager. During this time, he gained invaluable expertise in regulatory frameworks, strategic management, and operational efficiency. To complement his professional experience, Ferran completed an MBA (PDD) at the prestigious IESE Business School.

His primary areas of expertise include regulatory compliance for fertilizers, biopesticides, and biostimulants in multiple regions worldwide. He is widely recognized for his deep understanding of international regulatory frameworks and his ability to navigate complex approval processes.

Ferran has actively contributed to shaping the industry through his participation in numerous conferences and seminars, where he has shared his insights on regulatory challenges and market trends. His written contributions have also been featured in leading agricultural publications, including NewAg International and local media, where he writes about fertilizers, biostimulants, and sustainable agricultural practices.

He is a founding member of the Fertiliser Consultants’ Network (FertCon.net) and has played a significant role in the new FPR law 2019/1009 being a member of the CTN-UNE 142 Gt 3: Bioestimulantes para plantas y microorganismos agrícolas (Biostimulants for agricultural plants and micro-organisms) a Spanish mirror of the group CEN/TC 455 – Plant Biostimulants reporting to DG GROW.

Rosanna Pecere brings over 25 years of experience in European Public Affairs, advocacy, and networking activitiesin food policies. Since assuming the role of Executive Director at the International Probiotics Association – Europe (IPA Europe) in 2017, she has offered strategic guidance for the European probiotic industry, developed advocacy plans, and applied her expertise to navigate Brussels’ complexities. Rosanna plays an active role in several key bodies, including serving on the Advisory Group of the European Commission’s DG SANTE. She also engages IPA Europe in EFSA’s consultation process, participates in IPA ‘Biotics’ activities monitoring the regulatory landscape globally, and to the Codex Alimentarius.

Before joining IPA Europe, Rosanna worked from 1999 to 2016 in the Dairy sector as the Head of the Brussels Office for Assolatte, representing the Italian dairy industry. During her tenure, she successfully led several expert groups, implementing EU food policies and addressing regulatory and trade issues. She held roles as a delegate member to the European Commission’s expert groups and platforms, including the ‘Civil Dialogue Group’ on quality policies and promotion (DG AGRI), the Advisory Group on Claim and Labelling (DG SANTE), and the ‘High Level Forum’ for a better functioning supply chain (DG GROW).

Francisco has a background in agricultural engineering and sustainability science, policy and society. After a short experience in DG AGRI – European Commission in which he worked on the Common Agricultural Policy, he has been working for the last 2.5 years in EuropaBio – the European Association for Bioindustries. His role focuses on addressing challenges concerning biotechnology and biomanufacturing across sectors like agri-food, chemical and health, such as regulatory hurdles, industrial scaling-up and funding and market access.

Laurent David Charbit joined Tikehau Capital in 2022 and is co-leading the Regenerative Agriculture fund launched in partnership with Unilever, Axa and Tikehau Capital.

Before joining Tikehau Capital, Laurent-David spent 12 years at Unilever where he was leading the Implementation of the Sustainability agenda for the company as well as the overall Climate agenda strategy for Unilever. At Unilever, he also held various roles in Switzerland, Singapore and the Netherlands, in Procurement as VP Sustainable sourcing for Commodities & Ingredients, VP Procurement Indirect.

He started his career in supply chain at Michelin in Hong Kong before joining McKinsey as a consultant working in retail and distribution. He also led supply chain and procurement at Albea a leading supplier of packaging to the Beauty sector.

Aline Granjard is Policy Officer at the European Compost Network, the European umbrella organisation representing the bio-waste recycling sector. Based in Brussels, she is responsible for the advocacy work on EU policies related to waste, resources and agriculture. She is also involved in ECN projects regarding policy aspects.

Dr Mark Palmer gained his PhD in plant physiology at Bangor University before starting his career as an agronomist. He moved into a technical role with a major agronomy business, with an emphasis on analysis and interpretation of trials information. This led to a role developing a portfolio of adjuvants, foliar nutrition and bioscience products and an international business development remit. Mark joined IntraCrop in 2018 and has been instrumental in developing our science-led approach to biostimulants and adjuvants, working with universities and distribution partners to create a range of high quality, innovative products. Mark has sat in some capacity on EBIC Project Teams to support our ongoing work for over ten years. He is currently the Co Chair of the MTS Steering Group.

Jacques Pidoux has been the Chairman and a shareholder of BCF Life Sciences, an EBIC member, since 2009. With a background in business and law, he brings over 30 years of senior leadership experience in the agri-input, pet food and domestic appliance sectors. In addition to his role at BCF Life Sciences, Mr Pidoux serves on the Board of France Chimie, the French professional syndicate for the French chemical industry and as a spokesperson for small and medium-sized chemical companies in France. Mr Pidoux is a recognised leader in the business world with a wealth of knowledge on how to best promote business growth and innovation within the EU agricultural sector.

An entrepreneur with a passion for technological innovation and sustainability, Giuseppe Natale dedicates his career to making agriculture more productive and more sustainable to the environment. He was co-founder and CEO of Valagro Spa, from its foundation in 1980 until April 2024. Valagro is a leading multinational company in the production and marketing of biostimulants and nutritional specialties, with 13 sales subsidiaries and 7 production sites on 3 continents, covering more than 80 countries around the world; It employs 1500 people. Since 2020, Valagro is part of the Syngenta Group, and the production site in Atessa hosts a research centre of excellence for the entire group.

He was president of the EBIC (European Biostimulants Industry Council) from 2011 to 2018, followed by his appointment as an honorary member of the Board. He has held important roles in national and international trade associations, including Board Member of IFA (International Fertilizer Association), Vice President of Assofertilizzanti, member of the Board and Executive Board of Federchimica.

He is now Chairman of the board of eNovia. e-Novia, a leader in robotics and sustainable mobility technologies, has been listed on the Euronext Growth Milan professional market since December 2022.

He is co-founder of Vedalia srl, a Family Office dedicated to the professional management of UHNWI’s assets, focusing on a professional and experienced management in wealth management and investment banking. He is also a founding partner and member of the Board of Directors of the Hubruzzo Foundation, whose mission is to enhance the entrepreneurial system in Abruzzo, share best practices and attract talent.

Since 2015 he has been a “Cavaliere del Lavoro” by the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella. This honour is reserved for Italian citizens, “who have made themselves individually meritorious”, distinguishing themselves in agriculture, industry, commerce, crafts, credit, and insurance activities.

Bianca is a business developer with 18+ years of experience working with global corporates, Small and Medium-size Enterprises, and start-ups in the agri-tech and clean-tech sectors. Over that time, she has helped to raise £30M+ in non-dilutive grants and private investment for open innovation projects and new ventures and set up and managed strategic alliances between academic scientists and global agrochemical companies. Bianca has a first degree in biosciences, an MSc in environmental management for business, and an MBA in agribusiness. At SugaROx, she leverages her interest in mapping end-users’ and customers’ needs, and her ability to design, negotiate, build and manage partnerships, to create collaborations with go-to-market channels.

Arnaud Bouxin is agronomist by education and graduated from the Institut National Agronomique Paris-Grignon. He started his carrier as policy advisor in the French Association of feed manufacturers, SNIA, in 1990 and joined FEFAC in 1998 where he holds the position of Director for Feed Safety and Regulatory Affairs. He is busy primarily with feed legislation and the drafting of tools to support its implementation, such as the FEFAC Guide to Good Hygiene Practice for compound feed and premixture manufacturing (EFMC) and the Code of practice for compound feed labeling drafted in cooperation with Copa-Cogeca. He is also coordinating the EU Feed Chain Task Force gathering 43 EU organisations of the feed chain. He is 58 years old, married and has got two children