As we stand at a critical juncture for European agriculture, the need for innovative plant protection solutions has never been more pressing. The reduction in available synthetic pesticides (which exacerbates pest resistance), coupled with increasing environmental challenges, means that farmers need biocontrol products more than ever to make their farming practices ever more sustainable. Yet, despite their potential, these vital tools remain frustratingly out of reach for many EU farmers due to an inefficient regulatory framework.
Kristen Sukalac is the secretariat of the Biocontrol Coalition.
The Innovation Gap
Nearly two decades ago, the European Commission-funded REBECA project highlighted the low market presence of biocontrol products in Europe, despite their global uptake. Fast forward to today, and we find ourselves in an even more precarious position. The EU’s current authorization process for biocontrol products takes an astonishing 7-9 years, compared to just 2-3 years in other markets. This regulatory bottleneck has resulted in a net loss of 8 biocontrol substances in the past five years, while over 100 await approval. Overall, the farmer toolbox for plant protection is 22% smaller than in 2017.
Farmers’ Competitiveness at Stake
This lack of access to innovative technologies is severely impacting our farmers’ competitiveness. EU farmers are not just key suppliers to the food and drink industry; they provide essential raw materials for pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, biofuels, and textiles. The absence of a Single Market for biocontrol products means farmers across the EU are not operating on a level playing field. Furthermore, this fragments investment markets, risking the very cycle of innovation we desperately need.
A Path Forward
Recent reports, including those by Mario Draghi and Enrico Letta, emphasize the need to foster knowledge and innovation and close the innovation gap with the US and China. The Strategic Dialogue on the Future of EU Agriculture report specifically calls for “acceleration of the development, entry into market and application of biocontrol products.”
We have a unique opportunity to address this challenge. Recent developments, such as the handling of biostimulants and the proposed approach for New Genomic Techniques (NGTs), show there is a strong precedent to create a dedicated legislative framework for biocontrol products without triggering a broader debate on the entire plant protection regulation.
Benefits of Dedicated Legislation
A tailored regulatory approach for biocontrol would offer numerous advantages:
- Legal clarity for manufacturers and users
- Proportionate regulation that guarantees environmental and consumer safety
- Strengthening of the Internal Market
- Better alignment with EU sustainability goals
- International alignment with OECD and FAO recommendations
- Future-proofing to foster innovation
A Call to Action
The Biocontrol Coalition (www.biocontrolcoalition.eu) represents a diverse group of stakeholders including farmers, consumers, and industry players. This platform for dialogue gives us unique insights into the challenges preventing more biocontrol products from reaching the market. We call on Commissioner-Designate Varhelyi and Commissioner-Designate Hansen to champion this cause and reflect the need for new biocontrol legislation in the future EU Commission work programme.
The time for action is now. We must seize this opportunity to create a robust legislative framework for biocontrol products starting the conversation already in 2025 on alternatives that would better deliver biocontrol innovation to farmers while ensuring high levels of protection. If we fail to do so, EU farmers will have fewer tools they need to balance environmental performance with productivity, securing a sustainable and competitive future for European agriculture.
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