Council of Producers & Distributors of Agrotechnology
The Business Council for Agrotechnology | | |
From Emmitt Smith on performing under pressure to senior executives discussing the investment, manufacturing and supply decisions shaping the future of agricultural co-formulants, the 2026 CPDA Annual Meeting will focus on the issues impacting our members’ businesses.
Members will also hear timely discussions on Washington policy, ESA, PRIA 6, biopesticides and the agricultural economy.
Co-located with CropLife America and The Fertilizer Institute, the meeting will bring more than 900 agriculture leaders together in Dallas, creating plenty of opportunity to connect with customers, suppliers and industry partners.
| | Emmitt Smith to Keynote 2026 CPDA Annual Meeting | | |
CPDA is excited to welcome Emmitt Smith as the keynote speaker for the 2026 CPDA Annual Meeting, Protecting America’s Acre, taking place September 28-30 in Dallas, Texas.
Smith, the NFL’s all-time leading rusher, will deliver a keynote on “Performing Under Pressure” during the Joint General Session on Tuesday, September 29th. His message will help set the tone for a program focused on leadership, resilience, execution, and the opportunities ahead for CPDA members and the crop protection value chain.
The Annual Meeting will bring members together for timely discussions on regulatory certainty, agricultural policy, ESA implementation, biopesticides, adjuvants, co-formulants, sourcing strategies, and the broader business environment facing CPDA members.
| | CPDA to Highlight Year of Impact and Path Forward | |
The CPDA General Session will open with a focus on the association’s year of impact and path forward.
Outgoing CPDA Chairman Patrick Ewan of Helena will reflect on CPDA’s work to protect the acre, strengthen member engagement, and advance practical policy solutions for the crop protection value chain. Incoming Chairman Greg Lindner of Croda will then look ahead, sharing his vision and priorities for CPDA in the coming year.
The session will also include a treasury report from CPDA Treasurer Casey McDaniel of Nutrien and CPDA service awards recognizing members who have made meaningful contributions to the Council and the broader industry.
| CPDA Executive Committee: Greg Lindner, Croda; Patrick Ewan, Helena Agri-Enterprises; David Bower, Brandt; Jonathan Selby, Innospec; Terry Kippley, CPDA; Terry Abbott, AU Solutions; Arthur Bass, Chemorse; Casey McDaniel, Nutrien (not pictured: Brad Swillen, Ethox Chemical) | | USDA Chief Economist to Provide Agricultural Outlook | |
CPDA’s Annual Meeting will feature a USDA Economic Outlook session with Justin Benavidez, Chief Economist at USDA.
The session will provide members with timely perspective on the agricultural economy, market conditions, and the broader forces shaping farmer decision-making and input demand heading into 2027.
As CPDA members continue navigating regulatory, supply-chain, and market uncertainty, the USDA outlook will help frame the business environment facing the crop protection value chain.
| | Farm Bill, PRIA 6, and the Hill Outlook | |
CPDA members will hear from Josie Montoney, Professional Staff with the U.S. House Committee on Agriculture, during a session focused on protecting the acre through the midterms and beyond.
The discussion will cover key policy issues affecting CPDA members, including the Farm Bill, PRIA 6, and opportunities to strengthen the role of crop production, protection, and resilience in federal agricultural policy.
The session will also include discussion of the proposed Center of Excellence and the importance of ensuring adjuvants and related technologies are recognized as part of the tools farmers need to protect the acre.
| | Protecting the Acre in 2027: What’s Next for ESA | |
Endangered Species Act implementation remains a major priority for CPDA members, and this year’s Annual Meeting will include a dedicated session on what comes next in 2027.
Moderated by Eric Spandl, CPDA Director of Technical Business Development, the panel will focus on the continued role of drift reduction adjuvants, recent work related to EPA’s Fungicide Strategy, ASTM standards, and future ESA mitigation projects.
The discussion will also examine how ESA requirements are affecting CPDA members, retailers, applicators, and growers, as well as how the industry can improve communication and stewardship around practical mitigation options.
| | Beyond the Backlog: Building towards PRIA 6 | |
Timely and predictable pesticide registration decisions are critical to bringing new tools to market and protecting America’s acre.
Laurie Ann Flanagan, Executive Vice President of DCLRS, and Alexis Bromley, Regulatory Manager at Nutrien, will look beyond today’s registration backlog to discuss lessons learned, industry priorities for PRIA 6, and opportunities to build a more efficient, transparent and accountable registration process.
| | Biopesticides: The Next Growth Frontier | |
Biopesticides are becoming a larger part of the crop protection conversation and one of the next major growth frontiers in agriculture. According to Stratovation Group’s latest grower research, biopesticide use increased by nearly 70 percent overall, or 9 percentage points, from the 2024 study, the largest increase recorded since Stratovation Group began tracking adoption.
CPDA’s Annual Meeting will include expanded programming on this growing market opportunity. Mace Thornton, COO and Partner at Stratovation Group, will present findings from the 2026 Row Crop Biological Study, including new insights into grower adoption, market trends, and the opportunities shaping the future of biological products in row crop agriculture.
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The program will also feature a session on Biopesticides: Expanding the Toolbox to Protect the Acre, with Josh Bohannan, Vice President of Branded Products and Biological Solutions at Wilbur-Ellis, and Greg Lindner, Technical Business Development Director, Global Crop Care at Croda.
Together, these sessions will help members better understand the growth of the biopesticide market, the practical challenges affecting adoption, and how biological tools can fit into broader integrated crop protection programs.
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Biopesticide Working Group Lunch Scheduled for September 29th | |
CPDA members interested in biopesticides are encouraged to join the Biopesticide Working Group lunch on Tuesday, September 29th, from 12:00 to 1:30 p.m. during the Annual Meeting.
The lunch will provide an opportunity for members to continue discussing CPDA’s biopesticide priorities, including regulatory pathway clarity, formulation and inert ingredient issues, compatibility, product performance, grower education, and market adoption.
Members interested in getting involved in the Working Group or one of its workstreams are encouraged to attend. Space is limited.
| | Senior Executive Panel to Examine Co-Formulant Opportunity and Uncertainty | |
CPDA’s Annual Meeting will feature a senior executive leadership panel focused on co-formulants and the future of the chemical industry.
Moderated by Patrick Ewan of Helena Products Group, the panel will examine how industry leaders are responding to geopolitical uncertainty, economic pressures, shifting global capacity, and the changing competitive landscape.
Confirmed speakers include Greg Lindner, Technical Business Development Director, Global Crop Care at Croda; Marco Hopf, NA Commercial Director at Indorama Ventures; and Dave Allen, Vice President of Crop Productivity at Stepan.
The discussion will also explore the factors shaping R&D investment, agricultural innovation, and global opportunities for the chemical and crop protection industries in the decade ahead.
| | Sourcing Strategies for Crop Protection Co-Formulants | |
Supply reliability, sourcing certainty, and global market shifts continue to be top-of-mind issues for CPDA members.
This year’s Annual Meeting will feature Dave Allen, Vice President of Crop Productivity at Stepan, and Benny Martin of Syngenta for a timely discussion on sourcing strategies for crop protection co-formulants.
Together, they will examine how regulatory requirements, supply disruptions, partner selection, redundancy planning, and biological product development are shaping sourcing decisions across the crop protection value chain.
| | Member Networking, Receptions,
and Annual Meeting Events | |
In addition to the General Session program, CPDA’s Annual Meeting will provide several opportunities for members to connect with colleagues, industry partners, and association leaders.
The meeting begins Monday, September 28th, with registration, CPDA Board activities, the CPDA/TFI/CLA Welcome Reception, and evening networking events.
On Tuesday, members can participate in the Joint Breakfast, Emmitt Smith keynote, CPDA Member Networking, the full CPDA General Session, and the CPDA/CLA Closing Reception.
These events are an important part of the Annual Meeting experience and provide members with time to strengthen relationships, exchange ideas, and discuss the issues shaping the year ahead.
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