Innovation Conference
One toolbox, one market – access to innovation for EU farmers
● Date & time: 13 October 2025, 17:00-19:00
● Place: European Parliament (room 6Q1) & online
● Host MEP: Stefan KÖHLER, EPP
Innovation Conference registration form
Europe’s farmers face mounting challenges: climate change, volatile markets, fragmented policies, and growing global competition. They are asked to produce more sustainably while keeping up productivity, but the tools they need are often out of reach.
Innovation is key! Biocontrol and new genomic techniques (NGTs) can build climate resilience, and give EU agriculture a competitive edge. Yet both remain stuck in regulatory and political limbo, delaying access for farmers and SMEs.
This high-level conference will bring together MEPs, policymakers, industry, and farmers to debate how to unlock these innovations and build a common European toolbox of solutions that strengthens sustainability, competitiveness, and resilience in agriculture.
Register now to attend the event in the European Parliament or online!
This conference is organized by the European Landowners’ Organization (ELO) together with CropLife Europe, with the support of the European People’s Party (EPP).
PROGRAMME
| 16:30_17:00 | Participants’ registration |
| 17:00_17:10 | Welcoming address: MEP Stefan Köhler, EPP |
| 17:10_18:00 | Session 1 Biocontrol and legislative hurdles – clearing the path for innovation: The discussion will assess the current state of EU authorisation processes, the upcoming simplification package, and what legislative changes are essential to speed up approval without compromisingsafety. The panel will explore immediate actions to create a functioning single market for biocontrol while also considering longer-term solutions that safeguard the sector, foster innovation, and make the regulatory framework truly future-proof. Speakers: ● Alain Thibault, CEO & Founder, Agriodor ● Klaus Berend, Director Food Safety, Sustainability, and Innovation, DG SANTE ● Alfonso Chico de Guzmán, Farmer (tbc) ● Ioannis Mina, SCA Spokesperson, Cyprus Permanent Representation to the EU (tbc) ● MEP Stefan Köhler, EPP ● Olivier De Matos, Director General, CropLife Europe |
| 18:00_18:50 | Session 2: NGTs– breaking the deadlock: This session will examine the stalled NGT proposal, the reasons behind the legislative gridlock. The panel will explore potential policy solutions to break the current legislative deadlock, focusing on how NGTs can become a real tool in the farmers’ toolbox, rather than remain trapped in political limbo. Speakers: ● Garlich von Essen, Secretary General, Euroseeds ● Duarte Mira, Head of Office, Confederation of Portuguese Farmers ●Hilde Nelissen, Researcher, VIB – Ghent University |
| 18:50_19:00 | Closing high-level dialogue ● Jurgen Tack, Secretary General, ELO ● Macy Merriman, EU Government Affairs Consultant |
