11TH PLANT GENOMICS &GENE EDITING CONGRESS: USA
8TH PARTNERSHIPS IN BIOCONTROL,
BIOSTIMULANTS & MICROBIOMECONGRESS: USA
RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA, USA

October 21-22 2024

#PlantGenomicsGE
www.global-engage.com

WARM WELCOME

Global Engage is pleased to announce the 11th Plant Genomics and Gene Editing Congress,
co-located with the 8th Partnership in Biocontrol, Biostimulants & Microbiome Congress
which is confirmed to be held on 21-22 October 2024 in Raleigh, USA.
Plant Genomics and Gene Editing
This year’s Congress will focus on innovative strategies and advancements in plant genomics and gene editing.
Academic and industry experts will share genome editing case studies in key crops including wheat, maize,
rice and soybean, highlighting the latest applications for enhancing traits such as disease resistance and stress
tolerance. Utilising computational approaches through plant phenotyping is a rapidly developing area of the field
as well as the integration of bioinformatics, and the potential of artificial intelligence in this field. Moreover, an
expert panel discussion will explore the most recent updates in genome editing policy and regulation.

Biocontrol, Biostimulants & Microbiome
The co-located 8th Partnerships in Biocontrol, Biostimulants, and Microbiome Congress will examine case studies,
focusing on new research into identifying and developing agricultural biopesticides and biostimulants on day 1. Novel
platforms for developing biological products will be discussed as well as updates in biocontrol and biostimulant
policies and regulation during an interactive panel discussion. Day 2 of this congress will focus on the plantmicrobiome where the symbiotic relationships between microbes and plants will be reviewed through case studies inplant and soil microbiomes as well as bacterial-fungal interactions. Academic and industry leaders will present new
findings on the rhizosphere, phyllosphere, and endosphere and the application of plant and soil microbiome research
in improving stress resistance, nutrient acquisition, crop yield, and tolerance to abiotic and biotic stress.

11th Plant Genomics &Gene Editing Congress

8th Partnership in Biocontrol, Biostimulants & Microbiome
Congress

Day 1

Plant genomics & gene editing

Plant biostimulants & biocontrol

Day 2

Plant bioinformatics, computational tools, & data analysis

Plant microbiome

11TH PLANT GENOMICS, GENE EDITING / 8TH PARTNERSHIPS IN BIOCONTROL, BIOSTIMULANTS & MICROBIOME CONGRESS USA 24

CONFERENCE SYNOPSIS

PLANT GENOMICS & GENE EDITING
•
•
•
•
•
•

Genome editing case studies in wheat, rice, maize, barley and soybean
Development and application of gene editing technologies, including CRISPR/Cas9
Plant phenotyping
Using genome editing to improve disease resistance and stress tolerance
Crop trait development
Current plant gene editing regulatory guidance

PLANT BIOINFORMATICS, COMPUTATIONAL TOOLS, & DATA ANALYSIS••••

Application, analysis, and challenges of bioinformatics
Computational tools for data modelling and visualisation
Machine Learning and AI
Fine Phenotyping

PLANT BIOSTIMULANTS & BIOCONTROL••••

Fulvic and humic acids
Plant and fungal extracts
Developing sustainable biostimulants and biopesticides
Regulatory updates and business considerations

PLANT MICROBIOME
•
•
•
•
•

Host-pathogen interactions
Rhizosphere, phyllosphere and endosphere biology
Identifying microbes to enhance crop productivity & disease resistanceMicrobiome research technologies
Plant and soil microbiome case studies

PANEL DISCUSSION TOPICS••

Plant genomics and gene editing regulatory and policy updates
Biostimulants and biocontrol regulatory and policy updates

PROPOSED ROUNDTABLE TOPICS••••

Refining gene editing methods and applications
Plant genomics challenges beyond technology
The future of agriculture: Challenges and how to overcome these.
Biostimulants and biocontrol regulatory and policy updates

11TH PLANT GENOMICS, GENE EDITING / 8TH PARTNERSHIPS IN BIOCONTROL, BIOSTIMULANTS & MICROBIOME CONGRESS USA 24

OPEN LETTER˝

The technologies involved
are shockingly powerful androbust, so the only serious
constraint to our productivity
is a shortage of creativity

˝

I am excited to speak at the upcoming Plant Genomics & Gene Editing Congress, held concurrent
and colocal with the Partnerships in Biocontrol, Biostimulants and Microbiome Congress. Meetings
such as these provide unique opportunities to share the latest advances in our understanding ofplant genetics and the development of innovative agricultural solutions.
As a scientist deeply involved in studying genome components, especially their interactions, I am continually inspired by
the power of modern genomic technologies. The technologies involved are shockingly powerful and robust, so the only
serious constraint to our productivity is a shortage of creativity. My lab focuses on plant genome structure and evolution,and the intricate relationships between genome components and interactive gene function.
Our research encompasses a wide range of specific projects, including genetic diversity in under-utilized crops,
the rapid evolution of complex disease resistance loci in plants, genome rearrangement, biomass improvement forbioenergy, and the coevolution of plant/microbe interactions. All topics we can explore together at these meetings.
During my presentation, I will share discoveries from a novel strategy we call Microbial Partner (MiPner) analysis, whichuses cultured microbes as bait to identify and sequence microbial binding partners from natural environments. Our pilot
experiments on soil bacteria indicate that each bait microbe selects a unique subset of soil microbes, some of which
require co-growth with the bait microbe for proliferation on plates.
These meetings provide invaluable opportunities to share knowledge, foster collaborations, and explore newtechnologies that will drive the future of agriculture. I encourage everyone attending the meetings to ask challenging
questions and be a part of all discussions.

Sincerely,
Jeff Bennetzen
Giles Professor, Department of Genetics, University of Georgia

11TH PLANT GENOMICS, GENE EDITING / 8TH PARTNERSHIPS IN BIOCONTROL, BIOSTIMULANTS & MICROBIOME CONGRESS USA 24

2024 EVENT SPONSORS
Silver Sponsors

Exhibitor & Content Sponsors

Media Partner

SPONSORSHIP & EXHIBITION OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE
For more details contact Gavin Hambrook: gavin@globalengage.co.uk

VENUE INFORMATIONTHE STATEVIEW HOTEL
2451 Alumni Drive | Raleigh, NC 27606
www.stateviewhotel.com

Located on the Centennial Campus of North
Carolina State University, the StateView Hoteloffers a serene setting, modern design, and upscaleservice. Perfectly situated on the picturesque Lake
Raleigh there are also plenty of things to do. The
meeting rooms and accommodations have beenthoughtfully curated with a modern design toliberate creativity and collaboration.

11TH PLANT GENOMICS, GENE EDITING / 8TH PARTNERSHIPS IN BIOCONTROL, BIOSTIMULANTS & MICROBIOME CONGRESS USA 24

CONFIRMED SPEAKERSWOLFGANG BUSCH

Professor and Executive Director,
Harnessing Plants Initiative, Salk
Institute for Biological Sciences

ALEXANDER BUCKSCHAssociate Professor, School of Plant
Sciences, University of Arizona

ANDREW BENT

Professor, Department of Plant
Pathology, University of WisconsinMadison

CHRISTINE SHYU

Regulatory Science Genome Editing
Enablement Lead, Bayer Crop Science

DEEPIKA CHAUHAN

Associate Director, Transformation,
PairwiseHENRY SQUIREPhD Candidate in Chemical &Biomolecular Engineering, University ofCalifornia, Berkeley

IAN JEPSON

Global Technology Lead, Seeds Research& RTP Site Business Head, Syngenta

KEITH MATTHEWS

Principal, Matthews Law LLC

JAMIE SAXONSUBRAY HEGDEKIRAN MYSORE

TRUPTI JOSHILISA ZANNONI

WUSHENG LIUMARC LIBAULTAKIRA ENDO

Head of Sustainability, Inari Agriculture

Distinguished Professor, Oklahoma State
University

Senior Regulatory Advisor, Norfolk
Healthy Produce

Professor, Division of Plant Scienceand Technology, Interdisciplinary Plant
Group, University of Missouri-Columbia

MARY GRANTHAM

Director, Biotechnology Risk Analysis
Programs, APHIS USDA

Associate Professor, University ofMissouri-Colombia

Associate Professor, Department of
Horticultural Science, North Carolina
State University
Senior Manager, Agri-Bio section, New
Business Development Unit, Kaneka
Americas Holding, Inc.

ADRIAN PERCY

Technical Applications Scientist, Azenta
Life Sciences

Executive Director, North Carolina Plant
Sciences Initiative, North Carolina State
University

NOEL SAUERSENIOR REPRESENTATIVEPETER SELBYSENIOR REPRESENTATIVE

Senior Vice President of Research, Cibus

BrAPI Project Coordinator, Cornell
University

Yokogawa Electric Corporation

Hudson River Biotechnology

RAO UPPALAPATIProgram Leader Disease Resistance
Traits, Corteva Agrisciences

CONFIRMED BIOCONTROL & MICROBIOME SPEAKERS
JEFF BENNETZENMICHAEL DILEGGE

AMANDA PIERCEMORGAN CARTERCHRIS WOOLEYPATRICK DOYLEHARSH BAISTAMARA MERAGELMAN

JANE FIFEWIEBKE STRIEGELJIARUI LI

XINNIAN DONG

Giles Professor, Department of
Genetics, University of Georgia

Senior Advisor, Emerging Technologies
Branch, Biopesticides Division,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Portfolio Manager- Specialty Actives,
Wilbur-Ellis Agribusiness

Professor of Plant and Soil Interface,
University of Delaware

Chief Technical Officer, 3BarBiologics

Chief Executive Officer, Innatrix Inc

Director of Microbiology, Impello
Biosciences

YURI MIZUNO

Chief Scientist, Manda Fermentation
Co. Ltd

Assistant Professor, Department of
Biological Sciences and CIPHER,
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Vice President of Product Development
and Regulatory, Plant Health Care Inc

Senior Director of Research, Sound
Agriculture

Senior Scientist, Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA)

HHMI investigator/Arts & Sciences
Professor of Biology, Duke University

11TH PLANT GENOMICS, GENE EDITING / 8TH PARTNERSHIPS IN BIOCONTROL, BIOSTIMULANTS & MICROBIOME CONGRESS USA 24

SITE TOUR

October 22nd 2024
7:30-9:00am, Shuttle Departs at 7:30am From The State View Hotel
The N.C. Plant Sciences Initiative (N.C. PSI) directly addresses the grand challenges of agriculture and provides
solutions for a growing world. The N.C. PSI supports wide-ranging, innovative research in the plant sciences by creating
an entrepreneurial and collaborative environment and culture that thrives through the convergence of cross university,interdisciplinary, team-based science. It's a catalyst to bring collaborators together from across NC State University tocreate solutions for complex agricultural issues in North Carolina and beyond.

The NC State Plant Sciences Building (PSB) is a unique investment in collaboration. By creating innovative
workspaces including embedded working environments for government, students, research faculty and industry
partners, we have developed diverse spaces for diverse expertise that can quickly scale solutions from the lab to thefield. This ensures rapid delivery of new technology and techniques to farmers and agribusinesses
Tour spots are available on a first come first served basis for registered delegates only.
For more details, visit Plant Genomics 2024 and N.C. Plant Sciences Initiative.

11TH PLANT GENOMICS, GENE EDITING / 8TH PARTNERSHIPS IN BIOCONTROL, BIOSTIMULANTS & MICROBIOME CONGRESS USA 24

CONGRESS SCHEDULE

DAY 1 MONDAY OCTOBER 21 2024

8:00-8:50

Registration & Morning Refreshments

8:50-9:00

Global Engage Welcome Address

KEYNOTE PRESENTATION:WOLFGANG BUSCH

9:00-9:35

Professor and Executive Director, Harnessing Plants Initiative, Salk Institute for Biological Sciences
Engineering Root Traits for Climate Change Mitigation
Climate change will soon profoundly affect human civilization. Technical solutions to address the high levels of CO2 in the atmosphere at scale are absent. However, plants are central agents in the earth’s carbon
cycle and plant derived carbon depositions have built up three times more carbon in the soil than is contained in the atmosphere. Specific root traits are important contributors to the accumulation and permanence of carbon
in the soil. These include root depth, root biomass and the levels of refractory carbon compounds in root tissues. I will present our efforts to identify genetic and molecular mechanisms that regulate these traits and to leverage
genetic engineering and gene editing for enabling agriculture to contribute to massive CO2 removal and climate change mitigation.
11TH PLANT GENOMICS & GENE EDITING CONGRESS

8TH PARTNERSHIPS IN BIOCONTROL & BIOSTIMULANTS & MICROBIOME CONGRESSPLANT GENOMICS & GENE EDITING

PLANT BIOCONTROL & BIOSTIMULANTS

KEYNOTE PRESENTATION:
PATRICK DOYLEKEYNOTE PRESENTATION:CHRISTINE SHYU

9:35-10:00

9:35-10:00

Regulatory Science Genome Editing Enablement, Lead, Bayer Crop Science
Towards a Future-Proof Global Regulatory Environment for Genome Edited Products• Genome editing as a tool to create variation• Current global regulatory environment and the importance of future-proof policies to enableedited product development• A proposed fit-for-purpose approach for risk assessment of edited products

Vice President of Product Development and Regulatory, Plant Health Care Inc
Gazing into the crystal ball: 10 trends that will shape Biostimulant / Biocontrol markets
The future of biostimulants and biocontrol products lies in their continued development,
understanding their mechanisms, and their integration into modern agricultural practices. These
eco-friendly solutions are essential for addressing global challenges and ensuring food security.
• Aligned definitions within the marketplace will drive greater adoption.
• Optimized cost of goods, clarity of mode of action, & fit with current agronomic practices will become
critcally important as products move from high value markets to row crops.
• Regulatory pressures & bottlenecks will (eventually) ease when agencies move from Policy based review
to Science based review.

10:00-10:30

SENIOR REPRESENTATIVE
Yokogawa Electric Corporation

10:30-11:20

Morning Refreshments / Poster Presentations / One-to-One Meetings
PLANT GENOMICS AND GENE EDITING

PLANT BIOCONTROL & BIOSTIMULANTS

ANDREW BENT

11:20-11:45

11:20-11:45

Professor, Department of Plant Pathology, University of Wisconsin-Madison
CRISPR and Cisgenic Strategies for Soybean Improvement Using Efficient WCIC
Meristem-Based Transformation
The UW-Madison Wisconsin Crop Innovation Center has developed an efficient, genotypeflexible meristem-based transformation system for soybean that generates a high percentage of quality
events using bulk-isolated/storable meristem-containing explants. CRISPR gene edits were not initiallyforthcoming with this transformation system. We have now obtained sgRNA-directed mutations at highfrequency using this system. Cisgenic strategies for improvement of soybean cyst nematode resistance arealso being tested and initial successes will be reported.

AMANDA PIERCE

Senior Advisor, Emerging Technologies Branch, Biopesticides Division, Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA)
EPA’s regulatory framework and policy considerations for biocontrol• Explaining the regulatory landscape for biocontrol products in the United States• Outlining the status of policy and regulatory initiatives for creating regulatory efficiencies in
the path to commercialization• Exploring EPA’s future goals and vision for the regulation of biocontrol

11TH PLANT GENOMICS, GENE EDITING / 8TH PARTNERSHIPS IN BIOCONTROL, BIOSTIMULANTS & MICROBIOME CONGRESS USA 24

CONGRESS SCHEDULE

DAY 1 MONDAY OCTOBER 21 2024

KIRAN MYSOREJIARUI LI

11:45-12:10

11:45-12:10

Distinguished Professor, Oklahoma State University
Improving Plant Transformation and Gene Editing Using an Engineered Agrobacterium
StrainAgrobacterium-mediated plant transformation (AMT) is the basis of modern-day plantbiotechnology. One major drawback of this technology is the recalcitrance of many plant species/varieties
to Agrobacterium infection. Two main reasons for recalcitrance to AMT are a strong plant defense response
against Agrobacterium and the inability of the plant tissue to regenerate. We developed a strategy toincrease AMT by engineering Agrobacterium to express a type III secretion system (T3SS) and deliver the P.
syringae effectors to suppress host defense responses. Efforts are under way to deliver plant morphogenic
regulators through the engineered Agrobacterium with T3SS to enhance plant regeneration. Efforts are also
under way to deliver CRISPR-Cas9 reagents through the T3SS of engineered Agrobacterium to overcome
some of the current drawbacks of plant genome engineering.

Chief Executive Officer, Innatrix Inc
Biopesticide Platform for Sustainable Crop Protection
The Innatrix team has built a proprietary and unique platform to rapidly develop eco-friendly
biological products to control critical crop pathogens and pests. This platform strategy
identifies molecular targets in pests and pathogens that are essential for the ability of the pest or pathogen
to harm crops, and then rationally designs ways of interfering with the function of those molecular targets
to protect crops. The target molecules may be genes that may be silenced using double-stranded RNA(dsRNA) or may be proteins that may be rendered inactive with the use of rationally designed peptides thatbind to them.

MARY GRANTHAM

12:10-12:25

DEEPIKA CHAUHAN

12:25-12:40

Associate Director, Transformation, Pairwise
Enabling novel trait phenotypes through robust gene editing platform in
Rubus
Pairwise is pioneering the application of CRISPR technology in food and agriculture witha focus on food nutrition and quality, environmental adaptability, and sustainability. We are developing
commercially viable products using novel technologies and our proprietary gene editing tools, like SHARC™
and REDRAW™. To drive innovation from proof of concept to product, we have developed robust rapid
assays platforms for testing of gene editing tools and scalable transformation pipelines to enable large scale
gene edited plant production in blackberry genotype of commercial interest. In this presentation, insights on
product development pipelines, our innovative gene editing platform- the FulcrumTM Platform and recent
advances in blackberry trait phenotypes will be shared.
12:40-1:40

12:10-12:25

Technical Applications Scientist, Azenta Life Sciences
Advancing plant genomics through next generation sequencing
Maximizing the amount of information gained from a single sample is key in understanding
plant systems and plays an important role in crop genetics. Advancements in next generation
sequencing technologies has increased accessibility of sequencing to researchers, with multiomics playing
a larger role in plant breeding. However, within and among multiomics approaches, each methodology andapplication has distinct advantages and disadvantages. These can include, but are not limited to, genomics,
epigenomics, and transcriptomics. Choosing the best analysis approach is dependent on overall project
goals, sample types, sample quantity, resources, and time. This presentation will review multiple-omics
approaches, with considerations for experimental design as standalone and integrated approaches.

30-Minute Solution Provider Presentation
For sponsorship opportunities contact Gavin Hambrookgavin@globalengage.co.uk

Lunch / Poster Presentations / One-to-One Meetings

11TH PLANT GENOMICS, GENE EDITING / 8TH PARTNERSHIPS IN BIOCONTROL, BIOSTIMULANTS & MICROBIOME CONGRESS USA 24

CONGRESS SCHEDULE

DAY 1 MONDAY OCTOBER 21 2024

PLANT GENOMICS AND GENE EDITING

PLANT BIOCONTROL & BIOSTIMULANTS

50-MINUTE PANEL DISCUSSION:

Plant genomics and gene editing regulatory and policy updates

KEITH MATTHEWS (Moderator)
Principal, Matthews Law LLC
AMANDA PIERCE

Senior Advisor, Emerging Technologies Branch, Biopesticides Division, Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA)

Senior Regulatory Advisor, Norfolk Healthy Produce

1:40-2:30

1:40-2:30

LISA ZANNONIPOSTER FLASH PRESENTATIONS SESSION 1:

Poster presenters and start-ups will be provided with theopportunity to give a flash 3-minute overview of their work.

CHRISTINE SHYU

Regulatory Science Genome Editing Enablement Lead, Bayer Crop Science

SUBRAY HEGDE

Director, Biotechnology Risk Analysis Programs, APHIS USDACHRIS WOOLEYMARC LIBAULT

Portfolio Manager- Specialty Actives, Wilbur-Ellis Agribusiness

2:30-2:55

2:30-2:55

Professor, Division of Plant Science and Technology, Interdisciplinary Plant Group,
University of Missouri-Columbia
Towards a system-level understanding of soybean-rhizobia symbiosis at the single cell level
Each plant cell is characterized by its specific function, developmental stage, and interaction
with its environment. In this presentation, focusing on the symbiotic interaction between soybean plants andBradyrhizobium diazoefficiens, nitrogen-fixing symbiotic bacteria we will present the use of single-cell omics
and high-resolution spatial transcriptomics to 1) characterize the cellular complexity of the infection zoneof the soybean nodule and reveal a similar cellular composition but different organization between different
type of nodules, and 2) depict the role of the sub-cellular compartmentalization of plant transcripts as aregulatory mechanism of protein translation.

SENIOR REPRESENTATIVE

Vice President of Product Development and Regulatory,
Plant Health Care Inc
Customer Input on Sustainable Biocontrol Product Needs• What Sustainability Means to US?
• What is needed for biocontrol products to be distributed to growers?
• What is the definition of a successful launch of a biocontrol product?

YURI MIZUNO

2:55-3:25

2:55-3:10

Hudson River Biotechnology

3:10-3:25

15-Minute Solution Provider Presentation
For sponsorship opportunities contact Gavin Hambrookgavin@globalengage.co.uk
3:25-4:35

PATRICK DOYLE

Chief Scientist, Manda Fermentation Co. Ltd
Effects of Manda Fermented Botanical Product (MFBP) on plant and soil
microbiome
In Japan, there is an increasing recognition of the potential of biostimulant materials to enhance
the intrinsic potential of crops, whilst also providing a means of mitigating the effects of environmental
stress. Manda Fermented Botanical Product (MFBP) is a fermented product made by fermenting andaging 41 plant species at ambient condition for more than 3 years. Although FBP is not expected to havea generalized fertilizing effect due to the limited levels of N-P-K compositions, improvements in crop yield
have been reported in foreign fields, which have been attributed to a biostimulant effects and category. This
presentation will update the latest research data on the unique effects and mode of actions of FBP on plants
and soil microorganisms.

Afternoon Refreshments / Poster Presentations / One-to-One Meetings

11TH PLANT GENOMICS, GENE EDITING / 8TH PARTNERSHIPS IN BIOCONTROL, BIOSTIMULANTS & MICROBIOME CONGRESS USA 24

CONGRESS SCHEDULE

DAY 1 MONDAY OCTOBER 21 2024

PLANT GENOMICS AND GENE EDITING

PLANT BIOCONTROL & BIOSTIMULANTS

IAN JEPSON

4:35-5:00

Chief Technical Officer, 3BarBiologics
Making an Old Microbe New Again The Story of AzoRoot• Azospirillum brasilense is a well-known plant
biostimulant that promotes root development of grasses and other plant species.
• Challenges with Azospirillum products on the market have been low viability, short shelf-life, and limits
on concentrations and application rates.
• A previous Azospirillum product used in turf during the 1990s called Recharge was shipped as a frozen
paste and had to be used upon arrival, presenting challenges in handling, logistics, and application.
• The same Azospirillum strain used in Recharge was reimagined in a new product AzoRoot using the
LiveMicrobe fermentation technology, a new packaging innovation where fresh microbes are grown onsite in the packaging.

5:15-5:30

4:35-5:00

Global Technology Lead, Seeds Research & RTP Site Business Head, Syngenta
Genome editing in crop plants
Genome editing is a powerful set of tools to discovery and optimize genes in crop plants. The
technology holds the potential to improve a range of traits including drought tolerance, disease
resistance, enhanced quality, improved breeding, and seed productions systems. In recent years the Cas12a
toolbox has been optimized both in terms and efficiency and flexibility which has allowed researchers to gaina better understanding of the molecular mechanism of important traits. In this presentation improvements
in Cas12a genome engineering tools will be shared in both dicot and monocots crops. Examples from ourresearch group of recent technical breakthroughs in corn and soybeans covering a range of traits and breeding
and seed productions technologies will be shared.

JANE FIFE

15-Minute Solution Provider Presentation
For sponsorship opportunities contact Gavin Hambrookgavin@globalengage.co.uk

ADRIAN PERCY
5:00-5:15

Executive Director, North Carolina Plant Sciences Initiative, North Carolina State University
North Carolina Plant Sciences Initiative announcement

AKIRA ENDO

5:15-5:30

Senior Manager, Agri-Bio section, New Business Development Unit,
Kaneka Americas Holding, Inc.
Effective Generation of Gene Edited Crops using in planta Particle
Bombardment Method
Crop breeding using gene editing technology becomes general means in nowadays. Most of gene edited
crops are produced through the conventional transformation process and it takes long time to recoverisogenic mutant lines for target genes. In addition, the degree of difficulty of transformation largely depends
on variety of each crop. To overcome these disadvantages, our company have developed new technologythat called in planta particle bombardment (iPB). iPB is the method delivering substances directly into
the shoot apical meristem (SAM) of crops. Direct delivery of gene editing tools into SAM can generate
heritable mutation in some crops without tissue culture process. In addition, iPB works with lower variety
dependence. We will show you that iPB is powerful technology to generate gene edited crop.

RAO UPPALAPATIPANEL DISCUSSION:

Biostimulants and biocontrol regulatory and policy updates

5:30-5:55

Program Leader Disease Resistance Traits, Corteva Agrisciences
Enabling Corteva’s Next Generation Technologies and CRISPR-Enabled Discrete Traits• Corteva’s CRISPR Technology and proprietary novel nucleases.
• Next generation Leaf Transformation technologies for genome editing.
• CRISPR-enabled disease super locus for managing multiple diseases.

KEITH MATTHEWS (Moderator)
Principal, Matthews Law LLC

NOEL SAUER

6:20

5:30-6:20

5:55-6:20

Senior Vice President of Research, Cibus
Rapid Trait Development System™ (RTDS®) advances plant breeding techniques throughan end-to-end semi-automated gene editing platform.
• RTDS® is a suite of technologies that enables multiplexed gene editing within single cells.
These edited cells are regenerated into shoots with new trait(s) such as higher yield, disease resistanceor generation of sustainable ingredients.
• RTDS® has been developed in a multitude of commercially relevant crops such as canola, rice, wheat,potato, among others.
• Since all crops can be reduced to single cells, a semi-automated end-to-end gene editing production
process has been deployed called the Trait Machine™. This allows for testing new trait phenotypes incustomer elite germplasm in field trials within 2-3 years from project ideation.
• RTDS® has been used to develop traits such as healthier oils and higher yields in canola.

JANE FIFE

Chief Technical Officer, 3BarBiologics

WIEBKE STRIEGEL

Senior Scientist, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

End of Day One / Networking Drinks Reception

11TH PLANT GENOMICS, GENE EDITING / 8TH PARTNERSHIPS IN BIOCONTROL, BIOSTIMULANTS & MICROBIOME CONGRESS USA 24

CONGRESS SCHEDULE

DAY 2 TUESDAY OCTOBER 22 2024

7:30-9:00

Site Tour - North Carolina Plant Sciences Initiative at North Carolina State University - Shuttle bus departs at 7:30am from the Stateview Hotel

8:30-9:25

Morning Refreshments

9:25-9:30

Global Engage Welcome Address

KEYNOTE PRESENTATION:
JEFF BENNETZEN

9:30-10:05

Giles Professor, Department of Genetics, University of Georgia
Microbial Partner (MiPner) Analysis
Little is known about the interactions between microbes in the soil. Microbial Partner (MiPner) analysis uses one cultured soil microbe as a bait to pull out other microbes from a natural environment that binds to
it. The bait-bound microbes are shotgun sequenced directly or after growth on a plate. Bait sequences are removed computationally, and the binding microbes are identified in the remainder of the sequences. Our pilot MiPner
experiments show that only a small subset of total soil microbes are selected through the process, and that this binding set is unique for each bait microbe utilized. In a few cases, co-growth with the bait microbe seems to berequired for plate proliferation of particular binding microbes.

KEYNOTE PRESENTATION:SUBRAY HEGDE

10:05-10:30

Director, Biotechnology Risk Analysis Programs, APHIS USDA
USDA’s Revised Biotechnology Regulations and Their Impacts on the Products Derived from Gene Editing Technologies• USDA responses to Regulatory Status Review requests have doubled in Fiscal Year 2024.
• USDA has proposed additional exemptions for certain modified plants.
• USDA has been working with EPA and FDA to address ambiguities, gaps, inefficiencies, and uncertainties in the Coordinated Framework as part of the Executive Order (EO 14081) on “Advancing Biomanufacturing
and Biotechnology Innovation for a Sustainable, Safe, and Secure Bieconomy”
10:30-11:20

Morning Refreshments / Poster Presentations / One-to-One Meetings
11TH PLANT GENOMICS & GENE EDITING CONGRESS

8TH PARTNERSHIPS IN BIOCONTROL & BIOSTIMULANTS & MICROBIOME CONGRESSPLANT BIOINFORMATICS, COMPUTATIONAL MODELLING, & DATA ANALYSIS

PLANT MICROBIOME

11:45-12:15

30-Minute Solution Provider Presentation
For sponsorship opportunities contact Gavin Hambrookgavin@globalengage.co.uk

Assistant Professor, Department of Biological Sciences and CIPHER, University of North
Carolina at Charlotte
Towards using endofungal bacteria to investigate and control plant pathogens
As we further catalog plant microbiomes, a greater understanding of the interactions present
within those spaces is critical. Microbiomes within microbes themselves introduce both a complication
and a valuable resource. Fungi can harbor endosymbiotic bacteria that alter their ability to reproduce,
their primary and secondary metabolism, and ultimately their interaction with a plant host. Thoughendofungal bacteria are likely a common phenomenon, little is known about how, when, where, and why
they occur. We are screening plant pathogenic fungi for endofungal bacteria and assessing their impact
on plant health. In parallel we are focusing on representative partnerships to interrogate the mechanisms
underlying these changes and selectivity. In sum, we aim to use endofungal bacteria to both investigate
and control important fungal pathogens.

11:45-12:15

11:20-11:45

Associate Professor, School of Plant Sciences, University of Arizona
Root phenotyping reveals new functional and genetic insights from the population to thecell level
A plant's history can often be inferred from its shape phenotype. This is especially evident
in roots, which demonstrate significant plastic responses to changing environmental conditions during
development. Computational techniques to organize the complex shape signals detected by sensors enable
the identification of simple and understandable rules governing the formation root phenotypes. Coming froma mathematical shape perspective we will delve into the function of natural variation in root architecturesand explore shape diversity and function of epidermal appendages in roots.

MORGAN CARTER

11:20-11:45

ALEXANDER BUCKSCH

30-Minute Solution Provider Presentation
For sponsorship opportunities contact Gavin Hambrookgavin@globalengage.co.uk

JAMIE SAXONCROSS-EVENT ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSIONS:Head of Sustainability, Inari Agriculture
Improving food system sustainability using SEEDesign
12:15-1:05

12:15-12:40

Table 1: Challenges for biopesticide product commercialization• How to collaborate to ensure a low cost of good process for biological products?
• How to work together for product registration with EPA and other countries• How do startups work with big biotech firms and distributors?

JIARUI LI

Chief Executive Officer, Innatrix Inc

11TH PLANT GENOMICS, GENE EDITING / 8TH PARTNERSHIPS IN BIOCONTROL, BIOSTIMULANTS & MICROBIOME CONGRESS USA 24

CONGRESS SCHEDULE

DAY 2 TUESDAY OCTOBER 22 2024

EARLY CAREER RESEARCHER PRESENTATION:HENRY SQUIRE

1:05-2:05

12:15-1:05

12:40-1:05

PhD Candidate in Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Berkeley
Plant derived cell-penetrating peptides deliver protein cargoes for plant bioengineering
Direct delivery of proteins could enable novel DNA-free approaches to plant bioengineering.
However, a protein delivery tool capable of delivering cargoes with high efficiency to a breadth of plant
species is missing from the plant biotechnology tool kit. Cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) are a class ofdelivery tool capable of delivering cargoes to mammalian cells for therapeutic applications. While CPPs
are well studied in animal systems, investigation of CPPs in plants are scant. Utilizing a recently reported
screening methodology termed delivered complementation in planta, we present a new class of CPPs
derived from plant homeodomain proteins with over 30% internalization efficiency to plant cells. We probe
the mechanism of internalization, computationally explore the homeodomain CPP design space, anddemonstrate delivery of recombinant transcription factors and recombinases.

Proposed roundtable topics:• Refining gene editing methods and applications• Plant genomics challenges beyond technology• The future of agriculture: Challenges and how to overcome these.
• Biostimulant and biocontrol regulation

Lunch / One-to-One Meetings
PLANT BIOINFORMATICS, COMPUTATIONAL MODELLING, & DATA ANALYSIS

PLANT MICROBIOME

TRUPTI JOSHITAMARA MERAGELMAN

2:05-2:30

2:05-2:30

Associate Professor, University of Missouri-Colombia
Translational Bioinformatics Resources and AI Solutions for Multiomics Research
Next generation sequencing and multiomics data (bulk and single-cell) capturing molecularchanges from genomics all the way to phenomics, have become an integral part of researchin all domains including biomedical sciences, plants sciences, and others. This rapid revolution in themultiomics has posed a growing need for translational tools that can handle large amounts of data, areeasily expandable, provide interpretable results and can be readily applied to any species. To address suchtranslational needs, we have developed Soybean Knowledge Base (SoyKB) and Knowledge Base Commons(KBCommons) web-based frameworks, both fully equipped to handle the entire multiomics landscape forall organisms. Our developed tools such as Allele Catalog, GenVarX, AccuTool, and MaDis, are specificallydesigned to provide the plant community with efficient data driven solutions for better breeding strategies.
Additionally, our G2PDeep, deep learning method, provides a comprehensive web-based resource forphenotype predictions using multiomics data for all organisms.

MICHAEL DILEGGEPETER SELBY

2:30-2:55

2:30-2:55

BrAPI Project Coordinator, Cornell University
Applications and impacts of the BrAPI project on breeding and genetic resources
Modern genomic breeding methods rely heavily on large, complex, phenotypic and genotypic
data sets, often stored on multiple systems, sometimes separated by organization and country.
As the common analyses methods increasingly require aggregation of datasets from diverse sources, dataexchange between disparate systems becomes a challenge. The Breeding API (BrAPI) Project began in2014 when a small group of breeding and technology experts came together to try to standardize their data.
Since then, BrAPI has become internationally accepted as one of the primary data exchange standards in thebreeding domain. This talk will give an overview of what BrAPI is, how it works, what it is capable of, and theimpact the project has had so far on the community.

WUSHENG LIU

Director of Microbiology, Impello Biosciences
Co-culturing fermentation: A ContinuμM of Microbial Ecology insights• Describe the historical movement toward monoculturing microbial species, examples of
microbial monocultures readily used/available in a few industries.
• Introduce the co-culture concept, microbe-microbe interaction importance, effects toward the plant / host.
• Synergy in bringing these products to the agricultural industry and future insights.

XINNIAN DONG

2:55-3:20

2:55-3:20

Associate Professor, Department of Horticultural Science, North Carolina State University
Identification of Plant Constitutive Promoter Motifs via De Novo Promoter Motif Discovery
Limited constitutive promoter motifs of plant origin are available for use in driving constitutive
transgene expression in plants. We recently identified a set of constitutive promoter motifs
from soybean, which were 19 ~ 60 bp in length and drove strong GUS reporter gene expression inagroinfiltrated tobacco leaves and strong constitutive GUS expression in stable transgenic Arabidopsis
seedlings. These promoter motifs are of plant origin, novel, short in length, and can drive constitutive gene
expression in dicot species.

Senior Director of Research, Sound AgricultureSound Agriculture: Sustainability Powered by Science
At Sound Agriculture, we established a biochemistry platform to design and develop molecules
capable of controlling complex systems of interconnected biological networks. One successful
example of the implementation of our platform is our flagship product, SOURCE. This product was designed
to enhance plant nutrient use efficiency through selective signaling with specific beneficial soil microbes,
including nitrogen fixers, phosphorus solubilizers, and AMF. The foliar application of this product in thefield provides a unique tool to growers, reducing up to 25 lbs/acre of synthetic fertilizers, mitigating theenvironmental impact while driving a resilient agriculture system.

HHMI investigator/Arts & Sciences Professor of Biology, Duke University
Engineering broad-spectrum disease resistance in plants
In plants, a local infection can trigger long-lasting systemic acquired resistance (SAR) against
a broad spectrum of pathogens. During my lecture, I will present our recent advancements inunderstanding the structure and function of NPR1, a key regulator of SAR, as well as our discoveries of highly
conserved translation regulatory modules for reprogramming the defense proteome. I will demonstrate how
this new knowledge may lead to new strategies for controlling crop diseases in agriculture.

11TH PLANT GENOMICS, GENE EDITING / 8TH PARTNERSHIPS IN BIOCONTROL, BIOSTIMULANTS & MICROBIOME CONGRESS USA 24

CONGRESS SCHEDULE

DAY 2 TUESDAY OCTOBER 22 2024

SENIOR REPRESENTATIVEHARSH BAIS

Invitation Out

3:20-3:45

3:20-3:45
3:45

Professor of Plant and Soil Interface, University of Delaware
Root associated microbiome a link to connect soil health to human health
Our knowledge of plant beneficial bacteria in the rhizosphere is rapidly expanding due to theintense interest in utilizing these types of microbes in agriculture. The lab to field component
associated with the understanding the functional role of root microbiome is slowly progressing. We know
more about the synthetic community of microbes that help plants to abate various stress responses. Our
understanding about how root microbiome and the network of microbes that exist in the microbiome imparts
beneficial traits in plants is still at it infancy. In addition, the microbe-derived products in the rhizospherealso have a fundamental significance in how plants associate with specific microbes and plants response
to various abiotic and biotic stressors. This oral presentation will discuss the role of few single isolates fromthe root-microbiome in plants response against pathogen (biotic), drought (abiotic), fungal association(networking) and impact on human pathogen intervention (foot safety). A greater depth of understandingof how these root-associated plant growth promoting rhizobacteria interact with plants will allow more
effective development of rhizobacterial applications in the field.

Closing Remarks / End of Conference

11TH PLANT GENOMICS, GENE EDITING / 8TH PARTNERSHIPS IN BIOCONTROL, BIOSTIMULANTS & MICROBIOME CONGRESS USA 24

POSTER PRESENTATIONSFREE POSTER PRESENTATIONS AND FLASH TALKS
Whether looking for funding, employment opportunities or simply wanting to share your work with a like-minded and focused group, these are an
excellent way to join the heart of this congress. In order to present a poster at the forum, you need to be registered as a delegate. Please note that there islimited space available and poster space is assigned on a first-come-first-served basis (subject to checks and successful registration).
Poster presentations are actively encouraged at this event and as such registered academic and industry delegates are invited to present
1 poster each for free.
• Posters are displayed for the full two days of the event.
• We have reserved 2 x 50 minute sessions for non-vendor authors to present a flash presentation of their poster in order to showcase their work.
• We also issue a poster eBook to all attendees containing your full abstract, and you can share your poster as a PDF after the meeting if you desire(optional).
MAKING A POSTER PRESENTATION
We will require the form Downloadable Here to be submitted by 4th October 2024.

SUSTAINABILITY GOALSSUSTAINABILITY
Venues with Sustainability Goals
We are committed to selecting venues with more sustainable practices. These will cover energy supply, food & waste, water use, recycling
and plastics.

Catering
You will have some great food choices while you are with us. We have worked with the caterer to increase the proportion of plant-based
items. We have also built a plan with the venue to avoid waste through how they serve meals and how any leftovers are processed. Our aim
is that you have some great meals, whilst with us, but with less environmental impact by the time you leave.

TravelAn international meeting does involve travel but where it is practical, please consider more sustainable alternatives to flying. The app will
also have a discussion space to arrange ride shares.