In 2022, Europe experienced a significant 9% decrease in cereal production, with an estimated 270.9 million tonnes of cereals harvested across the continent, according to Eurostat’s latest data released in late 2023. This decline has been largely attributed to severe drought conditions that affected key cereal-producing countries such as Romania, France, Spain, and Hungary. Despite this setback, the European Union remains one of the largest cereal producers globally, trailing only behind agricultural giants like China and the United States.
The impact of climate change on European arable farming is becoming increasingly pronounced. Arable farming, which includes the cultivation of essential crops such as cereals, oilseeds, and root vegetables, is a cornerstone of European agriculture. This 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 is the primary agricultural activity.
Fortunately, there is still political momentum to adapt European arable farming to the climate crisis. Recent policy documents, such as the EU Strategic Agenda, outline a new agricultural philosophy for the bloc. This agenda envisions a pragmatic path to climate neutrality, promoting a competitive, sustainable, and resilient agricultural sector that ensures food security. However, the challenges posed by higher temperatures, reduced water availability, new pests, and evolving cropping models have radically altered traditional farming conditions, necessitating new solutions in the short term.
In this context, post-patent plant protection products (PPPs) have emerged as a crucial tool for farmers. These agrochemicals, whose original patents have expired, allow companies to produce and sell generic versions. Post-patent PPPs offer a proven, cost-effective solution for the increasing need for pest control. Given the urgency imposed by climate change, having products that are already available and effective on the market, with just the requirement of label extension, provides farmers with immediate solutions to control the spread of pests and mitigate their damage.
More broadly, post-patent PPPs ensure that European agriculture remains competitive, sustainable, and less dependent on imports, thereby supporting more affordable food production in Europe. However, the potential of these tools is not fully addressed in policy documents like the EU Strategic Agenda. While the document commits to strengthening the single market, it falls short of addressing 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.
Thus, while there are promising signs in Brussels pointing to a new way of thinking about agriculture, this has not yet been translated into concrete policy action. Unlocking the untapped potential of post-patent PPPs through a fair and efficient regulatory framework, thereby increasing their availability on the market, would be a significant first step towards placing pragmatism at the forefront of this new agricultural philosophy. This move could help ensure that European arable farming remains resilient in the face of climate change, while continuing to support food security and economic stability across the continent.