We remain committed to discovering new solutions that empower farmers.
By investing in cutting-edge innovations, we are helping farmers navigate the many challenges they face—from extreme weather and destructive pests to shifting consumer demands, population growth, and changing regulations. Our goal is to equip them with the tools they need to secure a resilient and sustainable future for European agriculture.
Our efforts align with the transition to a more sustainable food system. Through continued investment in innovation, we are contributing to a secure food supply while protecting and benefiting our environment.
By 2030, our members have committed to:
Invest €10 billion into innovation in
precision and digital technologies
Invest €4 billion into innovation
in biopesticides
In the past 8 years our sector has achieved the following results
Invested €3.8 billion into innovation in digital and precision agriculture, achieving 38% of our target.
Invested €2.4 billion into innovation in biopesticides, achieving 60% of our target.
CropLife Europe members report on investments made between 2015 and 2023.
Farmers do not have an easy job! They are on the front line in the fight against climate change, must contend with increasing numbers of pests and diseases, and face other challenges such as soil erosion and increasing loss of biodiversity, all while simultaneously meeting consumer demands.
We already can see how precision and digital technologies are having a positive impact on agriculture’s ecological footprint.
To further the European Commission’s ambitions of a digital and green recovery, we support the deployment of digital tools to assist in a sustainable recovery.
We are already seeing how precision and digital technologies are decreasing agriculture’s ecological footprint. Average application rates in the 1950s were 1,200, 1,700, and 2,400 grams of active ingredient used per hectare for fungicides, insecticides, and herbicides respectively. By the 2000s the average use rates of newly introduced products were reduced to 100, 40, and 75 g/ha respectively – about 95% lower on average.1 That’s significant. That means that farmers today apply 95% less herbicides per hectare. How is this possible? Advancements and innovation in crop protection technologies.
Did you know?
In the 1950s, average application rates of pesticides were 1,200, 1,700, and 2,400 grams of active ingredient used per hectare for fungicides, insecticides, and herbicides respectively. By the 2000s, the average use rates of newly introduced products have dropped to 100, 40, and 75 grams per hectare respectively.1
That’s a 95% reduction!
How is this possible? Advancements and innovation in crop protection technologies.
CropLife Europe and its members are also investing to unlock the potential of biopesticides.
Biopesticides are not a direct replacement for conventional pesticides. However, when used as part of Integrated Pest Management, they can provide additional choice to farmers in the fight against pests and diseases.
However, our investment alone will not fully unlock the potential of biopesticides, as well as investing in innovation, we call on the EU institutions to ensure the regulatory framework facilitates the placing of novel biopesticides on the market.
Supporting Documents
Press Release: Europe is at a crossroads for crop protection innovation
Resource: Unlocking the potential of biopesticides
1 – (SOURCE: Evolution of the Crop Protection Industry Since 1960; Phillips McDougall/Agribusiness Intelligence; April 2019, p 6.)