The Association of Natural Biocontrol Producers (ANBP)

The Association of Natural Biocontrol Producers (ANBP) is a professional association representing the biological pest management industry. Augmentative biological control utilizes beneficial insects, mites and nematodes to manage agricultural, horticultural and plant pests. ANBP membership includes producers, distributors, and in addition, users of natural enemies as well as allied industry supporters, university researchers, extension agents and regulatory representatives. 

ANBP's mission is to address key issues of the augmentative biological control industry through advocacy, education, and quality assurance.

Covid-19 Statement

ANBP Statement on the Essential Status and Need for Unrestricted Movement of Biological Control Organisms.  Download statement here.

March 23, 2020

The health of people in North America depends on access to fresh fruit and vegetables, grown in safe environments, and available in adequate quantities.  The outstanding record of providing a high-quality food supply has been dependent on the use of integrated pest management (IPM) for control of agricultural pests.  A key to growing crops sustainably with IPM is the use of beneficial arthropods (insects and mites) and beneficial nematodes that control pests.  In addition, pollinators are necessary to service many of these crops in the field and in greenhouses.  Without these commercially-provided essential agricultural inputs, the quality and quantity of our food supply will be negatively impacted.

Beneficial insects, mites and nematodes necessary for crop protection, and pollinators, are shipped around North America via roads and airlines, regulated and permitted at Federal and state levels, and  living.  As such, they must be delivered overnight to growers for immediate use.  Any delay in delivery can result in crop loss for the grower because the beneficials are biologically ready for immediate release into crops.  Substantial losses also would be incurred by the producers of these biological control organisms and pollinators if shipping is halted because, as with fresh produce, these products have been in production for many weeks.

Using beneficial insects, mites and nematodes for IPM contributes to the production of a safer food supply.  These biological control organisms suppress pests and do not contaminate harvested commodities.  They do not transmit human pathogens while controlling pests or pollinating crops.  These biological control organisms are transported in sealed boxes and there is zero evidence that they harbor or transmit coronaviruses.

During the current COVID-19 crisis, we cannot afford a reduction of our fresh food supply.  Companies in North America that produce and distribute biological control organisms for crop protection daily ship them live across our borders.  They ship in well-sealed containers that do not require opening because they already move under federally issued permits. We are now corresponding with state and Federal regulators to ensure our beneficials are being granted the same priority as other essential agriculture industry needs (i.e. fertilizers, crop enrichment chemicals).

The Association of Natural Biocontrol Producers (ANBP) and its members ask that beneficial insects, mites and nematodes for use in crop production be exempt from any proposed restrictions in cross border movement. It is essential to keep our biological control organisms and pollinators moving to protect North America’s most valuable resource, our high-quality food supply.  Delaying or restricting movement of these pest management products will negatively impact the yield and quality of our fresh foods.

For more information, contact the Executive Director at lebeckanbp@comcast.net

Upcoming Events

For more see our calendar of events. CLICK HERE

Looking to buy beneficial insects, mites, or nematodes for biological control (biocontrol)?  

See a list of our current members and get links to their websites. CLICK HERE

And, check out our Guidelines for Purchasing and Using Commercial Natural Enemies and Biopesticides in North America is here!  This Guide covers all of North America and includes all ANBP member companies.   We are currently revising this for 2020!  Stay tuned.

And, learn how to evaluate your beneficial order!

Growers and other end-users of commercial biocontrol products now have a website that explains how to simply evaluate the quality of their biocontrol shipment.  Produced by Vineland Research and Innovation Centre in Canada, this website was launched with the help of ANBP and University of Florida IPM.  It will be updated with new species and can be edited if shipping techniques change.  Check it out at this site.

ANBP is a member of BioProtection Global. BPG aims to represent the bioprotection industry for key topics on a global scale in order to promote bioprotection and harmonise proportionate regulations.