As the Food and Feed Safety Omnibus negotiations continue, CropLife Europe calls for measures that help innovation reach farmers faster
Brussels 12th November – Europe’s crop protection sector has invested €2.9 billion in biopesticide innovation, reaching 73% of its €4 billion investment commitment for 2030.
But CropLife Europe warns that investment alone will not be enough unless the EU addresses the lengthy and unpredictable regulatory procedures that delay biological crop protection products reaching European farmers.
The figures demonstrate the industry’s commitment to developing new solutions. The priority now is to ensure that European farmers can benefit from this innovation without unnecessary delays. It currently takes an estimated 7 to 10 years to bring a biological pesticide to the European market, considerably longer than in other major agricultural markets. In the US and parts of Asia, approval timelines can be around three to four years, while in Brazil they can be considerably shorter.
As a result, European farmers can face significantly longer waits than their international competitors to access innovative crop protection solutions.
The figures come as the European Commission’s “Food and Feed Safety Simplification Package” is being negotiated in European Parliament. CropLife Europe welcomes the steps already proposed to facilitate access to biocontrol solutions, namely with the inclusion of a future-proof definition and calls for further improvements to ensure that the final legislation delivers meaningful change.
This includes a clear and future-proof definition of biocontrol, more efficient and predictable approval procedures, and sufficient resources for regulatory authorities to carry out timely, science-based assessments“. Our sector is delivering on its investment commitments. Now Europe needs to ensure that this innovation can reach farmers without unnecessary delays,” said Olivier de Matos, Director General at CropLife Europe. “The Food and Feed Safety Omnibus is an important opportunity to make the regulatory system faster and more predictable, while maintaining Europe’s high safety standards. We cannot ask farmers to adopt more sustainable practices without ensuring they have timely access to the tools that can help them do so.”
The European Commission has acknowledged that resource limitations contribute to regulatory delays. For the sector, addressing these bottlenecks is therefore not simply a regulatory issue, but a question of ensuring that European investment in agricultural innovation translates into practical tools for European farmers and competitiveness.
With the right regulatory framework and adequate implementation, Europe can accelerate access to innovative biocontrol solutions while maintaining its high standards for human health and environmental protection.
ENDS
Notes for editor:
The period of investment of €2.9billion in research and development of biopesticides is from 2015-2025.