Strategic Dialogue on the Future of EU Agriculture includes Biocontrol in its Recommendations

IBMA welcomes the inclusion of biocontrol in the recommendations for transitioning to sustainable food systems in the Strategic Dialogue report. This speaks for the crucial role biocontrol plays in the future of agriculture and reflects the input IBMA provided in the consultation process.

The Strategic Dialogue on the Future of EU Agriculture brought together 29 major stakeholders from the European agri-food sectors. Together, they have produced a comprehensive set of guiding political principles and recommendations. Biocontrol is listed as a specific pathway in recommendations for the transition to sustainable food systems.

Jennifer Lewis, IBMA Executive Director, “The inclusion of biocontrol in the Strategic Dialogue report sends a strong message: biocontrol is crucial to the shared vision for the future of farming. It’s now up to policymakers to establish the legislative framework needed to turn this vision into reality.”

Acknowledging the need to respond to the growing significance of biological control tools in agriculture and environmental management, the report recommends accelerating the development, market entry and application of biocontrol.

To achieve this, the European Commission should, by 2025, enable a robust legislative framework for biocontrol products and approaches.

This legislative framework should:

prioritize fast-track authorization processes for biological control within the upcoming EU Commission’s work program

promote the application of on-farm biocontrol practices

encourage and ensure knowledge transfer between all actors involved in the production and use of biocontrol products

enhance national administrative capacity and expertise to efficiently and safely handle all biological control, natural substances and low-risk chemical PPPs dossiers

extend research topics and investment beyond technical issues to biocontrol’s relation to climate change mitigation and farm economics to create a more holistic image of the impact of the use of biocontrol

In addition, Member States should enhance their national administrative capacities and expertise to more efficiently and rapidly manage biological control dossiers and accelerate entry into the market of safe and sustainable alternatives.

IBMA now looks forward to seeing further commitments to biocontrol in the Vision for Agriculture and Food.

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