CAB INTERNATIONAL

Their core work

CABI (Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International) is an intergovernmental research organization specializing in agricultural pest management, biocontrol, and food system science. They provide applied research and knowledge services on invasive species, crop protection, and sustainable agriculture across developing and developed countries. In EU projects, CABI contributes deep expertise in biological control agents, forest pest and disease management, and microbiome research for food systems. They also serve as a coordination hub for international animal health research and science communication initiatives.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In the early H2020 period (2015-2018), CABI focused heavily on classical agricultural research: biocontrol breeding, population genomics of natural enemies, genetic markers, and life science research infrastructure. From 2018 onward, their work shifted toward systems-level coordination — managing invasive species at ecosystem scale, coordinating microbiome research across the food chain, and engaging in science communication and international bioeconomy networking. The trajectory shows a move from bench-level biological research toward strategic coordination and policy-adjacent roles.

CABI is moving from hands-on biological research toward international coordination, food system governance, and science-society engagement — expect future projects at the intersection of biosecurity policy and food chain resilience.

How they like to work

CABI has participated exclusively as a partner — never coordinating an H2020 project — which positions them as a trusted specialist contributor that consortia bring in for domain expertise rather than project management. With 126 unique partners across 30 countries, they operate in very large, diverse consortia (averaging 18 partners per project). This breadth suggests they are a well-connected, easy-to-integrate partner valued for their international reputation and specific technical contributions rather than for leading large-scale project execution.

CABI has built a remarkably wide network of 126 unique partners spanning 30 countries — an unusually high ratio for just 7 projects, reflecting their participation in large international consortia. Their reach extends well beyond Europe, consistent with their intergovernmental mandate covering agriculture and biosecurity globally.

What sets them apart

CABI occupies a rare position as an intergovernmental not-for-profit with deep roots in agricultural science and a genuinely global mandate — few European research centres can match their reach into developing-country agriculture and biosecurity. Their combination of hands-on biocontrol expertise with high-level international coordination (e.g., running the STAR-IDAZ secretariat through SIRCAH) makes them uniquely useful for projects that need both scientific substance and diplomatic convening power. For consortium builders, CABI brings instant credibility in food security, pest management, and One Health — plus connections to policy networks that purely academic partners cannot offer.

Highlights from their portfolio

• SIRCAH
  By far their largest H2020 project (EUR 1M+), running the secretariat for an international animal health research consortium — shows CABI's capacity for large-scale scientific coordination.
• BINGO
  A focused MSCA training network on breeding biocontrol organisms, combining population genomics with practical pest management — represents CABI's core scientific identity.
• HOMED
  Addressed the urgent challenge of invasive forest pests and diseases across Europe, directly relevant to biosecurity and climate adaptation agendas.