As European farmers face mounting challenges from climate change, rising input costs, and a growing demand for sustainable food, naturally derived biologicals are poised to transform agriculture providing a pathway toward greener, more resilient farming practices.
“Biologicals” are agricultural products derived from natural sources. Their growing appeal lies in their ability to control pests and diseases while meeting consumer demand for natural-origin products. Used alongside traditional solutions, biologicals are an important tool for farmers, helping to offer a balanced approach to crop protection. It is an emerging sector with enormous growth potential. The biologicals market, valued at $5 billion today, is expected to reach a staggering $30 billion by 2035, capturing up to 25% of the global crop protection market.
That forecast expansion is driving investment in R&D that will lead to the development of new products. Major agricultural technology company Corteva Agriscience has recently expanded its biologicals portfolio through the twin acquisitions of Symborg and Stoller, positioning itself at the forefront of the industry.
Alexander Vatelot, Biologicals Business Leader, EMEA at Corteva Agriscience, told The Parliament that biologicals could enable Europe’s hard-pressed farmers to better respond to the various challenges that they face.
“Farmers today face pressures on multiple fronts - from climate change to regulatory constraints and shifting consumer expectations,” Vatelot explains. “Biologicals are a game-changing product. Used alongside traditional solutions, they help enhance sustainability without sacrificing productivity.”
There is convincing evidence highlighting the transformative potential of Corteva’s biological portfolio in enhancing crop performance, helping meet market demand and achieve European sustainability goals.
Field trials of Corteva’s BlueN™, a foliar-applied biostimulant, have demonstrated its ability to provide a natural nitrogen boost for potato crops. In the first full season of application, some growers reported yield increases of 20%.
“The evidence coming out of trials like these spells good news for farmers, the environment, and consumers alike,” Vatelot tells us. “Through our research partnerships and strong product development pipeline, Corteva is committed to supporting the adoption of biological products that can help European farmers to thrive.”
However, Vatelot also cautions that regulatory barriers could restrict the ability of European farmers to access new technologies. He describes the current regulatory approval processes as “lengthy and complex” and calls for a more efficient regulatory review process to provide growers with nature-derived solutions faster than today.
“European policymakers can support this shift by reducing administrative complexity and accelerating the regulatory pathway for biologicals, recognising their natural composition and relatively low environmental risk,” he tells us. “A more agile, science-based approval process would facilitate quicker market entry for biologicals, supporting farmers and aligning with Europe’s Green Deal goals.”
Dutch MEP Jeannette Baljeu agrees that Europe must not allow the adoption and use of biologicals to be slowed down by regulations that were originally designed to manage the use of conventional crop protection products.
“The process to authorise such products can take up 8 to 10 years in the EU, which is extremely slow compared to other parts of the world,” she says. “This mandate is all about competitiveness and I see a huge role for us as decision-makers to ensure that this process gets fast-tracked. Farmers from all over Europe are looking at the European Union, including us as MEPs, to make sure that these kinds of tools become available to them as quickly as possible.”
Corteva would like to see policymakers working hand in hand with industry not just to develop proportionate and effective regulation, but also to help unlock the R&D collaborations that could help develop the products of the future.
Corteva believes that further research work is vital to ensure effectiveness across different conditions. The company would like to see public-private research collaborations that could validate biological efficacy, provide critical data, and foster confidence among farmers, consumers, and regulators alike.
And that holistic approach needs to also encompass strategies to engage with farmers and consumers, many of whom are increasingly demanding sustainably produced food. Mechanisms and incentives such as subsidies or tax credits to help offset initial costs, could help farmers as they seek to complement their use of traditional products whilst clearer labelling, certifications, and public awareness campaigns could build consumer trust.
“If Europe wishes to be a global leader in sustainable agriculture, then embracing biologicals is an essential building block,” Vatelot tells us. “By supporting this shift, European policymakers can empower farmers to meet the challenges of modern agriculture while safeguarding both the productivity of European farms and the planet’s health for future generations.”