Can the EU’s new agricultural philosophy reverse the cereal production decline?
In 2022, Europe saw a 9% decrease in cereal production, with an estimated 270.9 million tonnes of cereals harvested across the continent, the EU’s data analysis body Eurostat announced in late 2023. Notably, the overall decline in the EU’s harvested production of cereals in 2022 was driven by developments in drought-affected Romania, France, Spain and Hungary.
While collectively the EU continues to be among the largest cereal producers in the world – just behind global superpowers like China and the United States – the impact of climate change is becoming increasingly felt by European arable farmers.
Arable farming is the cornerstone of European agriculture, providing essential crops such as cereals, oilseeds and root vegetables. The sector is crucial not only for the continent’s food supply but also for rural employment and economic stability, particularly in regions where crop production dominates the agricultural landscape.
Luckily, the political will to adapt arable farming to the climate crisis may not have dried up yet. Recent high-level policy documents, like the EU Strategic Agenda document, point to a new agricultural philosophy for the bloc. In particular, the Strategic Agenda envisions a pragmatic path to climate neutrality, promoting a competitive, sustainable and resilient agricultural sector that continues to ensure food security.
Higher temperatures, less water, new pests or new cropping models have radically changed the traditional farming/agronomic conditions
As we hear from farmers working in arable farming, higher temperatures, less water, new pests or new cropping models have radically changed the traditional farming/agronomic conditions in recent years. This new model requires new solutions in the short term to be successful. In this context, post-patent plant protection products (PPPs) play a crucial role. Post-patent PPPs are agrochemicals whose original patents have expired, allowing companies to produce and sell generic versions.
Post-patent PPPs
Post-patent PPPs, which benefit from extended commercial life thanks to the already covered R&D costs, provide a proven, cost-effective solution for the increasing need for pest control. In the context of climate change, having products already available and effective on the market, with just the requirement of label extension, provides farmers with immediate solutions to control the spreading of pests and their damages.
More broadly, these products ensure that European agriculture remains competitive, sustainable and less dependent on imports, thereby supporting more affordable food production in Europe.
The lack of harmonised regulations for approving post-patent PPPs across EU Member States results in disparities
Despite these clear benefits for arable farmers and the wider agricultural community, policy documents like the EU Strategic Agenda do not fully address the potential of tools like post-patent PPPs. For instance, while the document commits to strengthening the single market, it falls short in tackling the issue of market fragmentation within the agricultural sector. The lack of harmonised regulations for approving post-patent PPPs across EU Member States results in disparities in access to these vital crop care tools.
Therefore, while signs in Brussels point to a new way of thinking about agriculture, it has not yet been demonstrated through concrete policy action. Unlocking the untapped potential of post-patent PPPs through a fair and efficient regulatory framework, thus increasing their availability on the market, is a great first step towards placing pragmatism at the forefront of this new agricultural philosophy.
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