IAPPS Board Member – Roma Gwynn

KEY SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE
I have worked within agriculture and in the development of biological-based crop protection for over 35 years. As a biopesticide specialist my expertise is in facilitating the process of getting biopesticide products onto the market and into the hands of farmers by streamlining bio-discovery, product development, registration and marketing. I work across the world with research organisations, private companies and government and have lead many projects for the development and registration of new biopesticide technologies for use in sustainable agriculture. I have been involved in the development of biopesticide regulations on EU funded projects for regulation of biocontrol agents, the OECD Biopesticide Steering Group, the EU Commission, FAO/WHO and Kenyan regulators. I am an independent board member for the UK farmer organisation Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board, Vice-President of the International Biocontrol Manufacturers Association and I was editor of the BCPC Manual of Biocontrol agents.

EDUCATION

1990 to 1993 – Ph.D. Department of Agriculture, The University, Reading, Berkshire, UK.
Development of Cold-Active Nematodes for Insect Pest Control.

1987 to 1988 – MSc. Technology of Crop Protection. Department of Agriculture, The University, Reading, Berkshire, UK.

1981 to 1984 – BSc. (Honours) Life Sciences. University of Westminster (Polytechnic of Central London), Regents Street, London, UK.

EMPLOYMENT

April 2000 to now – Rationale – Biopesticide Strategists.
Work with commercial, academic and government organisations world-wide to promote biological control in agriculture and horticulture and to streamline their development, registration and use and provide quality advice on biological control issues.

• Project management (e.g. EU, USA, New Zealand, Kenya) for the development and registration of over 40 biopesticides.
• Policy advice for biopesticide technologies.
• Biopesticide business and investment advice.
• Biopesticide consultant for UK project evaluating biopesticides for use in IPM for horticulture growers.
• Biopesticide production using appropriate technology – facility start-up, product development and capacity building (e.g. EU, USA, New Zealand, Kenya).
• Specific biopesticide production and use advice and managed and developed QC programmes for biopesticide producers.
• Capacity building for biopesticide regulation – development of regulatory approved guidance documents, training regulators in biopesticides.
• Arab Organisation for Agriculture Development, UAE, Red Palm Weevil Project – evaluation of the commercial potential of the biopesticides developed.
• FAO biocontrol and IPM project advice.
• Farmer-Scientist Network, Yorkshire Agricultural Society, UK: Member and biopesticide advisor on European Innovation Project on cereals.

June 1998 to March 2000 – Product Development Manager, Biopesticides. MicroBio Limited, Cambridge, UK.
In Europe, USA and Canada; manage field trials program, provide technical support. Responsible for QC programme. Co-ordinate and oversee research projects.

1997 to 1998 – Entomology Study Director. Ecotox, Devon, UK.
Entomology ecotoxicology field trials. Worked to GLP

1996 to 1998 – Research Fellow. Department of Agriculture, University of Plymouth, Devon, UK.
Research Fellow: establishing a new molecular biology facility, budgetary control, progress reporting and training. Lecturing courses in Environmental Monitoring and Management Systems.

1996 – Field Trials Assistant. Agriculture and Development Advisory Service (ADAS), Devon, UK.
Provided support for plant pathology, entomology and agronomy field trials on a wide range of diseases, pests and crops.

1994 to 1996 – Research Scientist. Ecogen Europe S.r.l., Todi (PG), Italy.
Headed ‘Nematode Discovery’ Programme. Established a new research laboratory. Managed research programme. Liaised with teams to develop and optimise new products. Organised international symposia.

1989 to 1994 – Scientific Officer. Horticulture Research International, West Sussex, UK.
05/89 to 06/90 –Research on biological control in mushrooms. Provided regular reports. Managed and trained laboratory assistant.
06/90 to 01/94 –Researched development of cold-active nematodes for insect pest control (Ph.D. dissertation). Trained and supervised a technician, managed laboratory and project finances.

1988 to 1989 – MSc. Student and Assistant Scientific Officer. ADAS, Devon, UK.
Researched the biology and control of Merodon equestris (MSc. thesis). Surveyed and monitored insects and pathogens for forecasting. Ran field trials.

1987 and 1985 – Assistant Scientific Officer. ADAS, Aberystwyth, Dyfed, UK.
Conducted field and laboratory entomology trials. Monitored invertebrates. Provided advice. Managed and trained staff.

1986 to 1987 – Assistant Scientific Officer. Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research, Aberystwyth, Dyfed, UK.
Assisted with development and maintenance of the international gene bank for grasses, involving field and glasshouse studies and maintenance of computer data bank.

 RELEVANT PUBLICATIONS

Grant W and Gwynn RL (2020). Improving regulatory approval processes for biopesticides and other new biological technologies in agriculture. In book: Improving regulatory approval processes for biopesticides and other new biological technologies in agriculture.

 Kvakkestad V, Sundbye A, Gwynn R L and Klingen I (2020). Authorization of microbial plant protection products in the Scandinavian countries: A comparative analysis. Environmental Science & Policy, Volume 106, April 2020, Pages 115-124.

Glare T, McKinnon A, Gwynn R and Brownbridge M (2019). Advances in microbial control in in integrated pest management: entomopathogenic fungi. In book: Integrated management of insect pests: Current and future developments.

Gwynn R L (2014). The Manual of Biocontrol Agents. 5th Edition, BCPC, UK.

Gwynn R L and Dale, J. (2010). Microbial biopesticides in the European Union with specific reference to the UK. In: Kabaluk, J. Todd, Antonet M. Svircev, Mark. S. Goettel, and Stephanie G. Woo (ed.). 2010. The Use and Regulation of Microbial Pesticides in Representative Jurisdictions Worldwide. IOBC Global. 99pp. Available online through www.IOBC-Global.org.

Grzywacz D, Cherry A, Gwynn R L (2009). Biopesticides for Africa: a case study on how research can better benefit Africa’s poor? BCPC Crop Protection Conference, UK. November 2009.

Gwynn R L and Maniania JNK. (2010). Microbial biopesticides in Africa with specific reference to Kenya. In: Kabaluk, J. Todd, Antonet M. Svircev, Mark. S. Goettel, and

Stephanie G. Woo (ed.). 2010. The Use and Regulation of Microbial Pesticides in Representative Jurisdictions Worldwide. IOBC Global. 99pp. Available online through www.IOBC-Global.org.

Grzywacz D, Cherry A, Gwynn R L (2008). Biological Pesticides for Africa: why has so little research led to new products to help Africa’s poor? Outlooks on Pest Management, 20 (2). pp. 77-81. ISSN 1743-1026 (Print), 1743-1034 (Online).

Gwynn R L and Cherry A. (2008). Perspectives on the development of biological control agents in Africa. Biocontrol Science and Technology, 17, 665-676.