Speciality crops and minor uses in Europe - Major conference calls for permanent solutions
Europe
December 2, 2011
Luc Peeters
November 8, 2011
Major conference calls for permanent solutions
At a major conference organised by 10 agri-food chain associations, participants called for concrete solutions and proper investment schemes to support minor uses and specialty crops and to improve the availability of tailor made solutions for their protection.
'Minor uses' particularly applies to fruits and vegetables, cereals, seeds, flowers and plants that need a tailor made pesticide product for their protection, whether it is for growing them, storage or transportation. There is a foreseeable reduction in available solutions for their protection, posing difficulties for their cultivation.
The conference, including the EU Commission, recognised the vital need for EU consumers to have access to a wide range of agricultural and food products at an affordable price. It recognised as well the value of EU agricultural production for minor uses and specialty crops which represents about 20-22% of the value of the EU total agricultural production and the strategic importance for Europe to preserve these sectors.
The conference agreed that with EU food security and the competitiveness of the whole agri-food chain under threat, the reduction in active substances and available solutions which is foreseen cannot be ignored any longer. A study on minor uses requested by the Commission also confirmed that the new Regulation 1107/2009 is not expected to solve the majority of the issues.
Participants at the conference have reached a general consensus upon the following points:
An EU Minor Use Programme is a must
An EU Minor Use and Speciality Crops Programme should address better knowledge management and communication between authorities and the agri-food chain as well as funding for EU projects leading to solutions. A coordinating center organising the work done in member states with the entire agri-food chain is crucial.
Commission ready to take the lead DG SANCO will communicate the needs of the minor uses community to other Directorates and particularly DG Research. It is important to set up the right framework for coordination and cooperation of activities for finding solutions for minor uses and speciality crops. DG SANCO also encouraged stakeholders to contact DG Research directly.
Practical solutions are possible Several concrete solutions, as developed* by the 10 agri-food chain associations, can dramatically improve the situation:
an EU database on products and uses authorised at Member State level because there is currently little exchange of knowledge among Member States;
greater use of mutual recognition of active substances authorized at Member State level;
common protocols for simplified studies on minor uses and speciality crops because a number of simplified studies accepted by some Member States are not accepted by others;
funding for the EU working groups on minor uses.
“This conference offered a clear and concrete understanding of the situation and problems that the whole agri-food chain is facing. We look forward to seeing the European Commission take the only appropriate steps forward, which should be reflected in the next Commission report expected in December 2011” said Luc Peeters, chairman of the phytosanitary group within COPA-COGECA and speaking on behalf of the 10 agri-food chain associations co-organising the event.
“This is a unique opportunity that we cannot afford to miss. As encouraged by the Commission itself, we call again on DG SANCO and all relevant Directorates of the European Commission (DG Agriculture and Rural Development, DG Research, DG Enterprise and Industry, DG Competition, DG Trade, and DG Budget), to come up with an effective EU Minor Use and Speciality Crops Programme. Otherwise, there would be significant negative long-term consequences for sustainable agriculture and food security in Europe”.
*Agri-food Chain Partners Joint View on the need to fund inititatives to support speciality crops and minor uses authorisations, February 2011.
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