Accelerate biocontrol to ensure farmers’ livelihoods and Europe’s competitive edge

“They keep banning pesticides but where are the alternatives? I need something.” Reni Todorova, Arable Farmer & President of the Northwest Agrarian Union speaking at the EU Agri Food Days, December 2024, Brussels. The call for action is loud and clear. Farmers have to deal with pests and disease. Biocontrol offers effective, nature-based solutions to […]

AGRIFISH Council – AOB on harmonised terminology of Biological Control

The AOB on biocontrol took place on 10 December. Both the document related and the recording are available online, along with the different interventions from Member States.  In summary, this AOB calling for a harmonized definition, as per Germany and Denmark’s AOB proposal, was supported by the Netherlands, Bulgaria, Portugal, Ireland, Lithuania, Sweden, Belgium, Estonia, […]

IBMA and FAO sign Letter of Intent

We are happy to announce that the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the International Biocontrol Manufacturers Association (IBMA) signed a Letter of Intent in November 2024. This marks a significant step in our work to accelerate the uptake of biological control around the world and transition to sustainable agri-food systems […]

Politicians and growers discuss biocontrol and the agricultural transition

Award winning journalist Pierre Girard regularly reports on environmental and agricultural issues, and now wants to understand more about the politics that drive them. In his latest film, Brussels Sprouts, he visits Vincent a tomato grower using biocontrol in the Netherlands along with Anja Hazecamp and Carolin von der Plas, politicians who do not always […]

Spotlight on biocontrol at Commissioner-designate Hansen’s hearing

Christophe Hansen, Commissioner-designate for Agriculture and Food expressed support for biocontrol during his hearing. In his introductory statement Hansen mentioned the importance of strengthening competitiveness of the entire food value chain via investment in Research & Investment and supporting on-farm deployment of cutting-edge technologies (such as precision fermentation and biocontrol) and that the CAP is […]

Biocontrol in questions for confirmation hearings

In September 2024, Ursula von der Leyen proposed a team of Commissioner- designates and revealed goals for each of them. The Mission Letters relating to  Agriculture and Health included mandates on biocontrol. To be approved and appointed, Commissioners-designate will appear in confirmation hearings at the European Parliament from 4 November.  As a result of IBMA’s […]