ExecutiveRoundtable
on Biotechnology for Climate-Resilient Forests
Ibá is pleased to invite you to this high-level, invitation-only meeting, bringing together industry leaders from the tree plantation sector and renowned scientists to address one of the sector’s most pressing challenges: strengthening the climate resilience of tree plantations while meeting the growing global demand for wood-based products.
The Roundtable will foster an evidence-based dialogue on strategies to enhance forest resilience and adaptation, exploring the role of biotechnologies, conventional breeding, adaptive silvicultural practices, integrated pest management, and other approaches. A strategic gathering at the intersection of forest adaptation, innovation, science, and regulation.
Date
October 14–15, 2026
Wednesday & Thursday
Venue
The Westin Itaim Bibi
São Paulo, Brazil
Hours
October 14: 9:00 AM – 10:00 PM
October 15: 7:15 AM – 7:30 PM
Provisional program
The Agenda
October 14–15, 2026 • São Paulo, Brazil
Opening Remarks
Opening Remarks
Horacio Lafer Piva
Chairman of the Board of Directors, IBÁ
Event Agenda and Expected Outcomes
Event Agenda and Expected Outcomes
Prof. Marcos Jank
Moderator
Antitrust statement
Antitrust statement
Magalhães & Dias
Climate Change Panel
Climate Change and Business Impacts
Ambassador José Carlos da Fonseca Jr.
CEO, Empapel, and Director of International Affairs, Ibá
Impacts of Climate Change on the Productivity and Sustainability of Forest Plantations
Prof. Dr. José Luiz Stape
São Paulo State University
Impacts of Pests and Diseases Under a Changing Climate
Prof. Dr. Bernard Slippers
University of Pretoria
Guided Q&A and plenary discussion at the end of the panel.
Biotechnology Panel
Genetic Engineering Tools and Their Potential to Enhance Plant Resilience
Prof. Dr. Steve Jacobsen
University of California, Los Angeles
Private Sector Experience — Advances in Genetic Modification for Forestry
Dror Avisar
Senior Vice President of Research and Development, FuturaGene
Private Sector Experience — Advances in Genome Editing for Forestry
Rodolphe Barrangou
Founder and Chief Executive Officer, TreeCo
Guided Q&A and plenary discussion at the end of the panel.
Regulatory Affairs and Society
Regulatory Framework for GMOs and New Genetic Technologies in Forestry
Prof. Dr. Steve Strauss
Oregon State University
Certification Policies and Standards for the Use of Biotechnologies
Estevão do Prado Braga
Consultant
Science Can’t Solve It
Prof. Dr. Fred Gould
North Carolina State University
Guided Q&A and plenary discussion at the end of the panel.
Final Discussion and Wrap-up
Business Cocktail Followed by Dinner
Antitrust
Compliance Guidelines
Prior to participating in the Executive Roundtable on Biotechnology for Climate-Resilient Forests, including but not limited to conference calls or roundtable discussions (the "Event"), attendees (herein including the speakers) must acknowledge and comply with the following compliance guidelines.
1. Do not discuss, allude to, or exchange non-public, competitively sensitive information regarding:
- Pricing & Strategy: Current, future or planned pricing, pricing policies, credit terms, discounts, margins, or terms of sale.
- Costs: Production costs, operating costs, wage rates, or supplier costs.
- Customers & Markets: Allocation of customers or geographic territories, or specific marketing and sales strategies.
- Output & Capacity: Future production volumes, inventory levels, or capacity expansions/reductions.
- Joint Boycotts: Agreements or plans to collectively refuse to deal with a specific supplier, customer, or competitor.
- Bidding: Intentions to bid or not to bid on a contract, or specific bidding terms.
Under Brazilian Law, the mere exchange of competitively sensitive information may be deemed unlawful, even in the absence of any agreement between the parties involved.
2. The Event is not intended to be used, and must not be used, by its attendees to discuss or coordinate future market behavior resulting in a restriction of competition. More broadly, attendees must not use the Event as a forum for any activity prohibited under applicable competition law.
Registrations are closed
October 14–15, 2026 · São Paulo, Brazil. Thank you for your interest. The countdown to the event has already started.