14 July 2025, Penang -The FAOPMA Pest Summit is back in Penang after a 10-year absence with a new emphasis on proactive and sustainable pest management throughout the Asia Pacific.
Hosted from July 14 to 16, the summit—which is organized by the Malaysia Pest Management Association (MPMA)—draws more than 1,200 delegates from 20 countries, making it the largest and most significant aggregation of pest management experts in the region.
Themed “From Reactive to Proactive: The Evolution of Pest Management,” the conference is indicative of a regional shift towards wiser, proactive methods in the battle against pest-related issues in the domestic, commercial, industrial, and agriculture sectors.
Keynote speaker Stephen Liu of Ridpest Sdn Bhd set the stage by noting the growing wave of backing for Integrated Pest Management (IPM) solutions. “Environmental sustainability and public health are no longer nice to have—they’re at the centre of our industry’s future,” he said, noting that emerging technologies such as remote monitoring systems and data analytics are redefining pest services delivery and client engagement with them.
The summit’s agenda is broad, with 48 professionals from across the globe delivering presentations. Topics range from termite control and bed bug pandemics to rodents in urban areas and pest invasion of crops—each one pointing to the diverse and high-worry context of pest control in the contemporary world.
For Penang, whose culinary and tourism are central pillars of identity, the summit is particularly pertinent. State Executive Councillor for Tourism and Creative Economy (PETACE), YB Wong Hon Wai, emphasized the importance of hygiene standards in maintaining Penang’s reputation on the international scene. “Our commitment to cleanliness can be observed in our strict enforcement tactics. Companies that fail to maintain health standards have been temporarily closed down. We do not do it for publicity, but for the health of our residents and visitors alike,” he added.
He welcomed the return of the summit to Penang and noted that such events serve to reaffirm the state’s position as a hub of meetings and conventions while aligning with Penang’s steadfast pursuit of promoting public health, intelligent governance, and greening.
Along with top-level meetings, delegates have the opportunity to attend technical workshops and tour 48 exhibition booths showing the latest in pest prevention technology and solutions—ranging from green technology to smart technology applications. The exhibition hall is abuzz with innovative products like AI-based traps and non-toxic repellents for pests, a glimpse of things to come.
Behind the scenes of the summit is the success due to strong sponsorship by the Malaysian Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB) and Penang Convention & Exhibition Bureau (PCEB), and industry sponsors of high significance including Platinum Sponsors Corteva Agriscience and Envu, and Gold Sponsors Pestline, PestWest, and BentzJaz Singapore.
As the world places more and more emphasis on public health, food safety, and sustainable development, the FAOPMA Pest Summit 2025 makes one thing clear: pest management is no longer an afterthought—it is a front-line concern defining how cities, companies, and communities thrive in a changing world.
