Global Coalition Convenes at PestWorld 2025: Advancing Collaboration and Sustainability
The Global Pest Management Coalition (GPMC) held its semi-annual meeting in conjunction with PestWorld 2025 at the Marriott Orlando World Center, bringing together representatives from more than 50 countries to advance the Coalition's mission of creating a unified global voice for the pest management industry.
A Global Gathering
Chair Manuela Cordeiro welcomed attendees alongside Coalition Secretary/Treasurer Dominique Stumpf, with special recognition extended to Raju Parulkar and Viren Merchant on their new roles on the Board of Directors. The meeting featured representatives from 14 associations and 10 corporate members, spanning countries across Europe, the Americas, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, including France, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Honduras, Guatemala, Philippines, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Morocco, United Kingdom, Brazil, Grand Caymans, India, Pakistan, Chile, Spain and the USA.
The Coalition was pleased to welcome four new members to the global community: FEPRAG RS, AGRECOPIA, Air 9 Conseil, and Leads-eh, bringing the total membership to 24 organizations committed to advancing professionalism and collaboration in pest management worldwide.
Key Themes from Member Updates
Representatives from each member country shared brief updates, with several common themes emerging:
- Training & Professionalism: Critical to advancing the industry and remains a top priority for Coalition members globally
- Regulatory Protection: Strong emphasis on the need for industry regulation while protecting access to essential products and tools
- Climate Change Impact: Evolving global pest pressures driven by climate change require adaptive strategies
- Strategic Communication: Paramount importance of sharing the essential work of pest management with governments, health agencies, and the public through unified messaging
Strategic Initiatives Moving Forward
WHO Partnership Development
Board member Viren Merchant provided an update on ongoing discussions to establish a formal partnership with the World Health Organization, a strategic initiative that would elevate the Coalition's role in global public health protection.
Global Standards Adoption
In a significant development, the Federation of Asian and Oceania Pest Managers Associations (FAOPMA) requested and received Board approval to adopt the Global Standards for Pest Management. The Coalition welcomed this expansion of the Standards' reach, with the understanding that any translated versions will be shared and made available on the GPMC website for broader accessibility.
Sustainability Workgroup Advances Industry Framework
Chairman Chris Gorecki presented progress updates from the GPMC Sustainability Workgroup, highlighting the completion of a comprehensive international survey that was translated and distributed to companies in member countries worldwide.
The Global Pest Management Coalition (GPMC) Sustainability Workgroup has completed the analysis of the international survey that was translated and shared with companies in member countries. Based on the feedback, Chairman Chris Gorecki developed high-level categories that can be used to craft a template for sustainable initiatives and corresponding metrics. These categories were shared with the group during PestWorld 2025, and the workgroup has received initial feedback. Our intention is to reconvene the workgroup in early 2026 to review the input and begin finalizing the deliverable for GPMC members.
The survey insights reveal that sustainability has become central to strategic decision-making across the global pest management industry, with 91% of participating companies considering sustainability essential to their operations. Key findings demonstrate that environmental protection, operational efficiency, and regulatory compliance are the primary drivers motivating sustainable practices worldwide.
Looking Ahead
The Coalition will continue its collaborative work through quarterly virtual meetings scheduled throughout 2026, with the next in-person gathering planned in conjunction with the Global Public Health & Food Safety Summit in Hong Kong, June 3-5, 2026.
As the Coalition continues to expand its global reach and deepen its impact, member organizations remain committed to the shared mission of promoting the value of professional pest management in protecting health, homes, food, and businesses around the world.
