Fytofend at the heart of Europe’s Biocontrol Future
Brussels, 25 September 2025 – On the occasion of the official presentation of the 3rd Joint Roadmap by the International Biocontrol Manufacturers Association (IBMA) and COPA-COGECA, Raffael Buonatesta, CEO of FytoFend SA and member of IBMA, took part as a panelist in a high-level event, contributing to the shared ambition of scaling up biocontrol in European agriculture.
A Strategic Gathering for Sustainable Plant Protection
Hosted by MEP Herbert Dorfmann (EPP, IT) and co-hosted by MEP Cristina Guarda (Greens, IT) and MEP Benoît Cassart (Renew Europe, BE), the event brought together farmers, industry leaders and policymakers to accelerate the adoption of safe and effective biocontrol solutions across the EU farming landscape.
Alongside Mr Buonatesta, the panel included:
- Johann Meierhöffer, Vice-Chair of COPA-COGECA’s Working Party on Plant Health (DBV, Germany)
- Rūdolfs Pulkstenis, Vice-President of CEJA
- Joris Baecke, Dutch arable farmer and Vice-President of ZLTO (Netherlands)
The discussion highlighted the strategic role of biocontrol in building a resilient and competitive European agriculture, while supporting farmers’ capacity to reduce their reliance on conventional chemical pesticides.
A Joint Roadmap to Advance Biocontrol in Europe
The newly launched Joint Roadmap sets out a common vision for the integration of biocontrol tools into Integrated Pest Management (IPM) across all EU farming systems over the next five years. It identifies five priority actions:
- Establish a clear and harmonised definition of biocontrol Plant Protection Products (PPPs) at EU level
- Streamline approval procedures for low-risk and biocontrol PPPs
- Improve mutual recognition and prioritisation of biocontrol solutions among Member States
- Strengthen institutional expertise and resources dedicated to biocontrol
- Support farmers through targeted financial incentives for adopting biocontrol tools
As MEP Cristina Guarda emphasised: “It currently takes up to ten years for a biocontrol product to reach the market. If we are serious about reducing chemical pesticide use, we must offer farmers safe, effective, and sustainable alternatives – and do so without delay.”
Echoing this message, MEP Benoît Cassart called for simplified rules and faster authorisations, especially for SMEs: “By accelerating procedures and fostering investment, we can enhance the competitiveness, resilience, and sustainability of European agriculture.”
Fytofend’s contribution to a shared ambition
As a Belgian biotech company specialising in science-based biocontrol innovations, FytoFend is proud to contribute to this forward-looking European dialogue. Its mission is to equip farmers with the tools they need to build a productive and environmentally sound agricultural future, aligned with the objectives of the Green Deal and the Farm to Fork Strategy.
