Biocontrol: How to remove regulatory obstacles to a greener agriculture
Date: Thursday, 6 March 2025
Time: 10:00-11:30
Location: European Parliament, Brussels (room A3E-2)
Event description
On March 6, 2025, the European Parliament hosted the policy event “Biocontrol: How to Remove Regulatory Obstacles to a Greener Agriculture”, organized by the European Landowners’ Organization (ELO) and Agriodor. The discussion brought together policymakers, industry leaders, and farmers to address the slow approval process of biocontrol products in the EU. While these innovative, natural crop protection solutions offer a sustainable alternative to chemical pesticides, their regulatory authorization can take up to a decade—far longer than in other regions like Brazil or the U.S. MEP Stefan Köhler (EPP), who hosted the event, emphasized the need for a streamlined, science-based approval system that encourages innovation while maintaining high safety standards.
Key takeaways from the event included the urgency of harmonizing biocontrol regulations across EU member states, the need for increased investment in regulatory expertise, and the importance of involving farmers in shaping policy decisions. Industry experts highlighted how Europe’s slow regulatory pace discourages investment and forces agricultural startups to seek opportunities elsewhere. Drawing inspiration from Brazil’s fast-track approval system for biocontrol, panelists urged the European Commission to deliver on its commitment to accelerate access to these essential tools. With upcoming legislative proposals on the horizon, ELO remains committed to advocating for an enabling regulatory environment that supports both innovation and agricultural sustainability.
Agenda
10:00 Welcome address
MEP Stefan Köhler, European People’s Party
10:15 Panel discussion: Biocontrol at a crossroads – Will Europe seize innovation or fall behind?
MEP Stefan Köhler, European People’s Party
Council of EU Representative (tbc)
Eric Thevenard, Head of Unit, Pesticides and Biocide, DG SANTE
Duarte Mira, Head of Office, Confederation of Portuguese Farmers
Alain Thibault, CEO Agriodor
Glauco Bertoldo, Agricultural Attaché, Brazilian Mission to the EU
Moderator: Anne Marchadier, Director, ELO
11:20 Concluding remarks
Jurgen Tack, Secretary General, ELO
11:30 ENDS
Achim IrimescuMinister Plenipotentiary, Permanent Representation of Romania to the EU Achim Irimescu is a former Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development in Romania, after being a State Secretary in the same Ministry of Agriculture. He has a long career as a diplomat in Brussels, since 1998, during which he managed to successfully negotiate the agricultural and fisheries files for Romania’s accession to the EU, and he also was the chairman of the Special Committee for Agriculture during the Romanian Presidency . A mechanical engineer by training , he graduated from the Polytechnic Institute in Bucharest, he worked as a designer for agricultural machineries with a Research Institute in Bucharest before joining the Ministry of agriculture in 1990. He got his PHD in agricultural economics from the Academy of Economic Sciences in Bucharest. |
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Jurgen TackSecretary General of the ELO Jurgen Tack has been the Secretary General – CEO of the European Landowners’ Organization since June 2023. He previously held the role of Scientific Director at ELO and served as CEO of Landelijk Vlaanderen and CEO of the Aanspreekpunt Privaat Beheer Natuur en Bos in 2016. Additionally, he was President of the International Riverine Commission River Maas/Meuse, a member of the European Commission’s Expert Group on Nature Based Solutions, and chaired the board of directors of the Botanical Garden Meise. He earned his PhD in Sciences after studying biology (marine ecology) at Brussels Free University. |
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Stefan KöhlerMember of the European Parliament Stefan Köhler is a German farmer and Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for the CSU. With a background in agricultural economics, he has managed his family farm since 1992, focusing on sustainability. Active in farmers’ advocacy, he became President of the Bavarian Farmers’ Association in Lower Franconia. Elected to the European Parliament in 2024, he champions farmer-friendly policies, reduced bureaucracy, and innovation in agriculture, aiming to balance ecological and economic sustainability for the future of farming. |
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Alain ThibaultCEO, Agriodor Graduated in 1980 from École Centrale Lille, Alain is a serial entrepreneur. He developed a consulting firm that was acquired by Renaissance and later listed on Nasdaq, having become an international general manager. After three years as one of the general managers of Cap Gemini France, Alain acquired the Bernard Julhiet Group from Havas Advertising, expanded it through a build-up strategy, and merged it with Sterwen to create the Julhiet Sterwen Group. Building on these experiences, since 2016, he has dedicated his time to accelerating and developing innovative and disruptive projects (B-Hive, Crème de la Crème, Zenika, Mytraffic, Mentalista, etc.). In 2019, his encounter with Ené Leppik convinced him to put his expertise at the service of sustainable agriculture by developing cutting-edge technological innovation in biocontrol. He co-founded Agriodor with Ené, funded its early years, and, as President, shaped its strategy and position within the French and European biocontrol ecosystem. |
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Eric ThévenardHead of Unit, Pesticides and Biocides (DG SANTE) Dr. Eric Thévenard joined the European Commission in 1998 and is currently Head of the Unit for “Pesticides and Biocides” in the Directorate “Food Safety, Sustainability and Innovation” in the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety. Previously, he has been Head of Unit in the same Directorate-General, for various policy sectors, being responsible respectively since 2007, for Interinstitutional relations, Communication, Food Hygiene, Food Fraud or Animal Nutrition. Earlier, he was Assistant to Robert Madelin, Director-General for Health and Consumer Protection. He is Doctor in Veterinary Medicine from the Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire de Lyon, in France. |
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Glauco BertoldoSpecial Agricultural Attaché Brazilian Mission to the EU Agronomist with a postgraduate degree in fertilizer technology as well as in data science with over 20 years’ experience in the field. At the Ministry of Agriculture, I worked in various areas (plant inspection, agricultural inputs, plant defense and international surveillance) and held positions as head of service, Federal Superintendent and Director of the Department for the Inspection of Products of Plant Origin. I am currently Agricultural Attaché at the Brazilian Mission to the European Union in Brussels. Internationally, I was a Brazilian delegate to the International Wine Organization (OIV) and one of the Brazilian delegates to the OECD’s Fruit and Vegetables Group. Member of the CCFICS of the Codex Alimentarius and expert of the Brazilian delegation to UN/CEFACT. Also at the OIV, I was coordinator of the working group on electronic wine certification. |
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Duerte MiraHead of Office, Confederation of Portuguese Farmers … |
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