Square de Meeûs 35, 1000 Bruxelles
Yesterday, IFOAM Organics Europe, FiBL, and the International Biocontrol Manufacturers Association (IBMA) organised an event at the European Parliament “Biocontrol in Organic: Managing Plant Health with Complementary Practices”. This event brought together policymakers, researchers, and industry leaders to discuss the urgent need to accelerate market access for biocontrol solutions.
A Timely Discussion
The event, hosted by MEP Madjouline Sbai, comes at a crucial time, just days before the publication of the Food and Feed Safety omnibus. The European Commission’s Vision for Agriculture and Food, announced earlier this year, recognized the challenges faced by the biocontrol sector and proposed specific measures to amend Regulation (EC) 1107/2009. These measures aim to streamline approval processes and prioritize biocontrol, providing farmers with the tools they need for sustainable agriculture.
There is a consensus that the EU approval system for biocontrol is far too slow, limiting European farmers’ access to products already widely used elsewhere. Organic farmers, as pioneers of biocontrol, are particularly affected by these delays.
At the same time, the examples from the field showed that biocontrol offers real, safer alternatives to chemical pesticides. Europe must accelerate access to these solutions while maintaining strong protections for health and the environment.”
Conclusions
The event concluded with a strong consensus that accelerating market access for biocontrol is necessary, urgent, and possible. The pathways to achieve this are being envisioned without compromising safety assessments. We are at a pivotal moment, with widespread support from MEPs for the INI report and the European Commission’s ongoing work towards an imminent proposal for the simplification package.
In that respect, this co-organised event with representatives from organic farming and biocontrol is timely and essential. Biocontrol is crucial for the organic sector, which has been at the forefront of pushing for more solutions. Biocontrol is used effectively in all farming systems, and organic farmers are very knowledgeable in creating pest and disease programmes that use biocontrol.
Co-organisers are hopeful for the short-term future, recognizing that elements in the simplification package for products other than biocontrol may require further discussion. However, the need for biocontrol solutions is clear, and they hold the potential to drive real change for the organic farming and biocontrol industries.
As we move forward, we remain committed to making biocontrol a cornerstone of sustainable agriculture in Europe.
