Federal Biological Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry (BBA)

1. Structure, tasks and scientific activities of the Federal Biological Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry

2. Federal Biological Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry (BBA) independant higher federal authority and research institution subordinate to the Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection founded and established in Berlin more than one hundred years ago nowadays the BBA is established in Braunschweig and in Berlin and maintains institutes in five other locations overall about 600 staff members - 480 permanent staff members (including about 125 scientists) - 120 financed by external sources annual budget: about 34 million Euro (2005) 13 institutes, one department, a division for application techniques and a number of central services

3. Organization Braunschweig • President and Administration • Department for National and International Plant Health • Institute for Plant Protection in Field Crops and Grassland • Institute for Plant Protection in Horticulture • Institute for Plant Protection in Forests • Institute for Weed Research • Institute for Plant Virology, Microbiology and Biosafety • Division for Application Techniques • Information Centre Phytomedicine and Library • Data Processing Group

4. Organization Berlin • Institute for Ecotoxicology and Ecological Chemistry in Plant Protection • Institute for Stored Product Protection • Institute for Plant Virology, Microbiology and Biosafety, Working Group Microbiology • Information Centre Phytomedicine and Library

5. Organization Kleinmachnow • Institute for Integrated Plant Protection • Institute for Technology Assessment in Plant Protection • Branch of the Department for National and International Plant Health • Branches of institutes, Data processing group and library • Field experimental station in Dahnsdorf

6. Organization Institute for Nematology and Vertebrate Research Münster(with a branch in Elsdorf) Institute for Plant Protection in Viticulture Bernkastel-Kues Institute for Biological Control Darmstadt Institute for Plant Protection in Fruit Crops Dossenheimnear Heidelberg

7. Tasks of the BBA The tasks of the BBA are defined in the German Crop Protection Act and the Gene Technology Act.

8. Tasks of the BBA Main task of the BBA is to advise the German Federal Government and the Federal Ministry concerning questions of plant protection, plant health and biological safety.

9. Tasks of the BBA Regulatory activitiesof the BBA are for example: • In the framework of plant protection product authorisation, the BBA evaluates products with regard to their efficacy, phytotoxicity and actual benefit. Its agreement has to be obtained for product authorisation. • The BBA tests plant protection equipment and keeps an official list of tested plant protection equipment. • The BBA develops methods to test crop plant varieties for their potential of resistance towards diseases and helps in the general testing of plant varieties. • The BBA is also involved in the procedure of approval of release and marketing of genetically modified organisms. • Another important field of work consists in regulatory activities about plant inspection and plant quarantine within the European Union (EU).

10. Tasks of the BBA BBA’s research - examples • Research on all kinds of harmful effects on crop plants caused by pathogens or other factors • Studies on plant pests, pathogens and weeds • Diagnosing causes of damage in crop plants: development of methods for identification and characterisation • Development of integrated plant protection • Biosafety research: investigations on possible biological and ecological risks resulting from genetically modified plants • Protection of stored products: methods to deter insects and mites with no adverse effects on consumers or the environment

11. Elaboration of concepts and methods of IPM – scientific support and organisation of the national action plan to reduce risk and use of pesticides Investigation on plant protection problems in organic farming and in minor crops Elaboration of non-chemical methods of plant protection Investigations in the field of genetically modified organisms Modelling of the impact of chemical plant protection on environment, development of mathematical models for plant diseases and pest populations Development of methods of the probabilistic exposure assessment for pesticides in surface water and in terrestrial habitats (GIS-approach) Development of pesticide risk indicators Organisation of surveys on the practical use of pesticides by farmers, fruit growers and vine growers Research in Kleinmachnow’s Institutes for Integrated Plant Protection and for Technology Assessment in Plant Protection

12. Thank you very much for your attention!

13. Entwicklung der Kleinmachnower Außenstelle der Biologischen Bundesanstalt Institut für integrierten Pflanzenschutz

14. Tasks of the BBA TheBBA’s researchhas the aim to develop methods and techniques serving to protect plants and plant products and avert any dangers which might arise from plant protection measures to the health of man, animal and the natural balance.