March 2026
In September 2025, the Biocontrol Coalition hosted its first Member State Breakfast, opening a space for dialogue on how Europe can move towards a truly fit-for-purpose framework for biocontrol. The conversation continued in November and most recently in March, gradually building a constructive exchange between policymakers and stakeholders on the future of biocontrol in Europe.
Across the three breakfasts, the Coalition brought together representatives from ten Member States, alongside members of the Biocontrol Coalition, including companies active in the sector and, most importantly, farmer organisations.
The aim of these roundtables was simple: to create an open and informal environment where policymakers and members of the coalition can exchange perspectives, discuss emerging policy developments, and reflect on the practical challenges surrounding the development and uptake of biocontrol solutions.
All three breakfast were focused on one message: the need of European farmers to have timely access to a diverse toolbox of plant protection solutions. Ensuring that farmers can protect their crops sustainably while maintaining productivity and competitiveness remains central to the discussion on how Europe approaches biocontrol.
Several key themes shaped the exchanges. A recurring topic was the need for greater clarity around the definition of biocontrol at EU level. All of the participants highlighted that a clear and forward-looking definition could provide legal certainty, support innovation, and ensure consistency across the single market. Discussions also explored how the current regulatory system could evolve to better accommodate biocontrol products. What was also discussed was ways to improve the efficiency and predictability of approval processes, strengthen the capacity and expertise needed to evaluate biocontrol solutions, and ensure that risk assessment approaches are adapted to the specific characteristics of these products while safeguarding public safety.
The third breakfast, held on 4 March, focused more specifically on recent policy developments, in particular, the proposals under Omnibus X, providing an opportunity for the Biocontrol Coalition to present its gap analysis on what additional changes beyond the Omnibus are needed to achieve a truly fit-for-purpose framework for making a wide range of biocontrol products available to EU farmers. The discussion examined how far these proposals move Europe towards a more effective framework for biocontrol, while also identifying areas where additional progress is still needed.
Taken together, the exchanges across the three breakfasts highlighted a shared interest among Member States and stakeholders in advancing practical solutions that can support the development and uptake of biocontrol across Europe.
These discussions are particularly valuable because they bring policymakers and members of the Biocontrol Coalition around the same table, creating opportunities for constructive and practical dialogue. Crucially, the Coalition also ensures that farmers are part of the conversation. As the end users of plant protection tools, farmers provide essential insights into what works in practice and what conditions are needed for new solutions to succeed in the field.
The Biocontrol Coalition is committed to continuing this conversation. Advancing biocontrol in Europe requires sustained dialogue and collective effort to move from discussion to real-world implementation. By maintaining this exchange and working together with policymakers and stakeholders, the Coalition aims to keep building momentum for practical solutions that support innovation in European agriculture.