EU urgently needs crop protection solutions for specialty crops

A broad coalition of associations representing Europe’s agriculture and food chain industries calls on the EU to do much more to find solutions to the lack of plant protection products for specialty crops, such as fruits and vegetables, rice, flowers or seeds. In February 2014 the European Commission (DG SANCO) published a long awaited report on the establishment of a European fund for these so-called minor uses products. The agri-food chain associations agree that the proposal does not go far enough, leaving many problems still unresolved.

The proposed platform at EU level for coordination of existing activities on minor uses and specialty crops via a secretariat is certainly a good start, but it does not offer a long-term perspective.

“The lack of proper plant protection solutions compromises not only the competitiveness of the entire agri-food chain – the EU being the second largest producer of fruit and vegetables in the world and also the second largest importer – but it also compromises the sustainability of the sector to prevent and control new emerging pests, the employment generated within the sector, and more importantly the diversity of high quality agri-food products in Europe”, said Pekka Pesonen, COPA-COGECA Secretary General on behalf of the agri-food chain partners.

“These may be referred to as “minor crops”, but they are of major importance to the European economy, and to consumers,” said Jean-Charles Bocquet, Director General of the European Crop Protection Association. “To better provide plant protection solutions, we need not only more coordination but also a mechanism in place for boosting cooperation and part funding of research projects. Only in this way will we address all problems by leveraging common solutions for all minor uses and specialty crops in a cost effective manner. Otherwise we will continue to learn about problems from one another and not have solutions available to address them.”

“Solutions need to be urgently found to make mutual recognition of plant protection products across EU Member States really possible for specialty crops for all the agri-food chain actors, including producers and industrial processors” said Jean Bernard Bonduelle - PROFEL President.
The agri-food chain partners propose a more permanent programme on minor uses and specialty crops to be developed within a smart, sustainable and inclusive growth policy in line with Europe 2020 objectives. Such a programme should provide funding to support and boost initiatives to find minor use solutions.  A similar programme is already in place in the USA, and for each dollar spent on that programme, it has been calculated that there is an economic benefit of $500 (Annual spending of $14 million providing an annual economic benefit of $7.7 billion).