As an associate of CABI, TFNet would like to announce the following on their behalf:
The 7th International Symposium on Biological Control of Arthropods (ISBCA) will take place in Nairobi, Kenya, October 26-30, 2026. CAB International (CABI) and the Kenya Agricultural
and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) will co-host the ISBCA event at the KALRO conference facility, located at their headquarters at Loresho, Kaptagat Road, Nairobi.
Please reserve the dates in your diary!
History and Mission of this Symposium
This conference continues the series of international symposia on biological control of arthropods held almost every four years. Dr Roy Van Driesche was the founder of the symposia and held the first meeting in Hawaii in January 2002. The second meeting took place in Davos, Switzerland, in September 2005, the third in Christchurch, New Zealand, in February 2009, the fourth in Pucón, Chile, in March 2013, the fifth in Langkawi, Malaysia, in September 2017, and the latest one was held virtually due to COVID-19, in British Columbia, Canada in March 2022. The upcoming 7th symposium will follow the proven in-person format and framework of previous symposia as they have all been very successful and highly appreciated by the participants.
The goal of these symposia is to create a forum where biological control researchers and practitioners can meet to exchange information and discuss up-to-date issues relating to biological control. This includes the various approaches to biological control, e.g. conservation, augmentation, and importation of natural enemy species for the control of arthropod targets. It also encompasses various transversal issues, including the uptake of biological control and socio-economic impacts. There will also be one or two sessions designed to enhance inter-disciplinary collaboration.
The aim of the meeting is also to stimulate ideas by presenting new information. Therefore, the scientific outputs from post graduate students and post docs are particularly welcome.
Proposals for scientific sessions, themes and session organizers will be invited soonest. Therefore, it would be highly appreciated if you would start thinking about good topics for scientific sessions. The selection of presentations will be the responsibility of the session organizers. Submissions not accepted as oral presentations due to time restrictions will still be considered as poster presentations.
International Participation
An important goal of these meetings is to be truly international, with good participation from all parts of the world. After previously being held in North and South America, Europe, Australasia, and Asia it is now a great opportunity to be able to host for the first time the symposium in continental Africa and to be able to link in several colleagues from this region who have previously not had the opportunity to participate. As such, it is an excellent opportunity to create and expand networks.
Meeting Format
The meeting will span over one week (arrival Saturday/Sunday, meeting Monday through Friday), with four days devoted to talks and one (Wednesday) for a field trip. The field trip is optional and will require booking during or after the registration process. There will be no concurrent sessions, to provide the greatest opportunity to interact, and posters will be displayed for the entire duration of the conference.
Meeting Location – Nairobi, Kenya
Nairobi is Kenya’s vibrant capital, a major East African hub known as the “Green City in the Sun” for its unique location next to Nairobi National Park, the world’s only wildlife park within a city. Named from the Maasai “Enkare Nairobi” (cool waters), it blends modern skyscrapers with rich culture, thriving markets, local and international cuisines, and diverse attractions. Nairobi is the major financial and economic hub of East Africa, hosting thousands of Kenyan businesses and international companies and organizations, including the headquarters of the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP). The country’s major airport, Jomo Kenyatta Internation Airport, is served by more than 35 international airlines with daily direct flights to major cities in Europe, Middle East, USA and China. Nairobi, located at 1,795 meters (5,889 ft) above sea level has a subtropical highland climate. In late October, Nairobi’s climate is transitioning from dry to the start of the short rainy season, offering mild days (around 20-26°C / 68-79°F) and cooler nights (dropping to 11-15°C / 52-59°F), with increasing chances of showers.
Costs
The costs for participants, including hotel accommodation vary between USD 50 to 150 per night for comfortable 3-to-4-star hotels, but we will make hotel recommendations in early 2026. Registration fee is ~ USD 500, is comparable to previous symposia. Students and potential participants from national research organizations from low and lower-middle income countries can contact the registration office to apply for an award to lower the registration fees by up to 70%. This will be done on a “first come – first serve” basis as ISBCA has only limited funds available, but the organizers are very committed to support participants from the above defined regions who are presenting their research findings.
More Information to Follow Soon
This brief note intends to provide you with the date and location of the meeting for your forward planning purposes. More detailed information (relating to the submission of talks and posters,
registration, webpage, booking hotels, etc.) will follow in the first weeks of the new year. We are looking forward to arranging a stimulating conference and hope that you will be able to
participate. In case you have questions please don’t hesitate to contact the ISBCA Symposium Secretary (isbca2026@kcs-convention.com).