Ellie Vinnicombe to Chair Innovation Session at BCPC Congress 2026
On Wednesday 4 November, Ellie Vinnicombe, AIC's Head of Crop Protection and Agronomy Sector, will chair the afternoon “Innovation” session at the British Crop Production Council (BCPC) Congress 2026.
The session will focus on emerging technologies, regulatory developments and digital innovation shaping the future of crop protection and agronomy. Delegates will hear from industry and regulatory experts on topics including drone application technology, the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in active substance assessments, precision application developments across Europe, and the evolution of digital labelling systems.
Presentations will include:
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Drone technology – the new regulatory process/framework, presented by Dr Tony Wilson, Senior Policy Officer at Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE) Chemicals Regulation Division (CRD)
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Rules as Code: Using AI to streamline active substance assessments, presented by Janet Williams, Senior Regulatory Science Manager at Bayer
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Work of the European Precision Application Task Force (EUPAF), presented by Grant Stark, Policy Advisor at HSE CRD
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AgriGuide and the digital label journey, presented by Graham Mullier, Lead Architect Data Collaborations at Syngenta
The session will conclude with a panel Q&A, giving delegates the opportunity to discuss the opportunities and challenges associated with technological innovation, regulation and digitalisation in crop protection.
The BCPC Congress brings together researchers, regulators, industry representatives and agricultural professionals to explore the latest developments in crop production, plant protection and agricultural technology. The session will provide insights into how emerging tools and regulatory approaches could support more efficient, precise and sustainable agricultural practices.
View the full congress programme and registration details on the BCPC website.
Author
Wendy Ford
Wendy Ford is Communications Manager at AIC, creating and overseeing the content published on AIC's website, emails, Member briefings, print publications, and social media.
