Biological products trade association changes name, expands membership

WASHINGTON – The Biological Products Industry Alliance (BPIA), formerly the BioPesticide Industry Alliance, is the new name of the rapidly growing U.S.-based trade association representing the biological products industry. BPIA membership includes biological products manufacturers and marketers, distributors, food processors, growers and service providers supporting agriculture, public health, forestry and specialty markets such as home and garden, turf and ornamentals and structural pest control.

The organization unveiled its new name at its semi-annual all-member meeting, held last week in conjunction with the 2017 International Biocontrol Symposium and Biocontrols USA West Conference & Expo in Reno, Nevada.

“BPIA’s goal is to be the single voice for the entire biological products industry,” said Rick Melnick, chair of the BPIA Board of Directors and global brand manager for Valent BioSciences Corporation. “Changing our name was an important next step toward being more inclusive of a broader range of science-based biological products that create value in North America and around the world."

In October of last year, the BPIA Board voted to expand its membership categories to include the biostimulants industry as well as growers and food processors. The burgeoning organization now represents more than 120 member companies and reports a 25 percent increase in membership in the last year.

BPIA’s next semi-annual meeting will be in Orlando, Fla., during the week of October 9 and will be held in conjunction with the first-ever Biocontrols USA East Conference & Expo geared towards growers in the East.