Dr Manjunath is a versatile agricultural entomologist with over five decades of research and executive experience in biological control, biopesticides

Dr TM Manjunath, often referred to as the ’Father of Commercial Biocontrol and IPM in India’ has joined the Advisory Committee of the World BioProtection Forum (WBF) to help drive the organisation’s activities and advance the bio protection sector globally.

Dr Manjunath is a versatile agricultural entomologist with over five decades of research and executive experience in biological control, biopesticides, pheromones, IPM, insect-resistant transgenic Bt-cotton and other related areas of plant protection. Starting his career in 1961, he initiated work in these areas at a time when these were barely explored, relentlessly worked to popularise them, and made several pioneering contributions. He is hailed as one of the pioneers of biological control of crops pests, ’The Father of Commercial Biocontrol and IPM in India,’ and a passionate promoter of environmentally-friendly IPM throughout his long career.

Dr Manjunath is enthusiastic about adding his expertise and experience to the WBF’s advisory panel. “Biological control is the mother of all crop protection,” he said. “The commercial production of bioprotectants should be treated as a passionate scientific adventure, as they provide the answer to plant protection without pollution, and give us the ability to revolutionise agriculture in the 21st century.”

Dr Minshad Ansari, Founder and Chairman of WBF, said, “We welcome Dr Manjunath to the Advisory Committee. He will bring a wealth of academic and commercial expertise to WBF which will benefit to its member globally.”