Advocacy
Advocacy
EBIC represents the plant biostimulants industry in both policy and practice, working to improve both the regulatory landscape and commercial prospects for biostimulants. We provide a strong voice for members during policymaking, placing biostimulants at the centre of sustainable agriculture and influencing the future direction of the industry.
Simplifying the Rules to Enable Safe Innovation
Although biostimulants are regulated under the Fertilising Products Regulation (FPR 1009/2019), many safe, effective products remain excluded from the EU market due to regulatory inconsistencies. EBIC is advocating for targeted updates that maintain high safety standards while improving access to sustainable solutions for farmers in line with the EU’s current simplification work to unlock European competitiveness.
Explore our work on:
Read our position papers and simplification proposals.
Webinars
Our advocacy webinars are popular events for members, putting them in direct touch with policymakers and enabling them to keep up with current developments and their business implications. We also hold regular workshops to focus on immediate issues and how EBIC can help resolve them.
A manifesto for change
EBIC actively identifies and addresses issues in the plant biostimulants market. As the agricultural landscape faces unprecedented challenges, including climate change, market volatility, and the need for more sustainable practices, EBIC’s advocacy work is critical in ensuring that biostimulants are recognised as essential tools for modern agriculture.
In the summer of 2024, EBIC published a bold manifesto calling for policy change to empower farmers, promote sustainable practices, and ensure resilient food systems. We are asking for regulatory barriers to placing plant biostimulants on the single market to be reduced and policy incentives to be introduced to encourage their uptake and use.
To achieve this, we recommend that EU policymakers facilitate and speed-up routes to market, many of which are currently blocked within the FPR for years, hindering EU efforts to transition to sustainable agriculture – so that the EU market, and our farmers, can remain competitive.
Additionally, EU policy must incentivise and facilitate the uptake and application of beneficial products, such as plant biostimulants, to make the transition to sustainable food systems a reality.
Current issues
EBIC is active in a number of areas as part of our Mid-Term Strategy and current workplan:
1. Regulatory challenges and market access
Despite the proven benefits of biostimulants, the plant biostimulants industry faces ongoing challenges related to regulatory frameworks. The Fertilising Products Regulation (FPR), while recognising the importance of biostimulants, imposes restrictions, particularly on microbial biostimulants and those derived from animal by-products. This regulatory bottleneck limits the availability of effective products to farmers across Europe.
EBIC is actively advocating for a more flexible regulatory approach, including the adoption of a criteria-based system rather than a restrictive positive list for microorganisms, to ensure that innovative products can reach the market swiftly and contribute to sustainable farming practices.
Read more about specific regulatory challenges:
· Reach+
· Seaweed
2. Enhancing farmer competitiveness and livelihoods
Farmers need access to a broad toolbox and the freedom to select options tailored to their crops, soils, climatic conditions, customers preferences, and any other factors affecting their operations. We believe that farmers are best placed to determine how to adapt their farming practices if they are given the right enabling framework.
EBIC is committed to ensuring that farmers are equipped with the tools and understanding necessary to transition to more sustainable practices without compromising their competitiveness or livelihoods. This involves pushing for policy incentives, training, and advisory services that support the uptake of biostimulants and other innovative technologies. By empowering farmers with the right resources, policymakers can improve their standard of living and secure the future of rural communities in the EU.
3. Addressing climate resilience and sustainable agriculture
One of the key current issues is the increasing volatility of climate events, which significantly impacts agricultural productivity. Climate volatility aggravates abiotic stresses on crops, including drought, extreme temperatures, salinity, wind, and waterlogging, all of which can significantly reduce yields and compromise crop quality.
EBIC emphasises the role of plant biostimulants in enhancing nutrient use efficiency and improving crop resilience in extreme weather conditions. These products help farmers reduce losses, optimise input use, and increase yields, thereby contributing to the sustainability and competitiveness of EU agriculture. In the context of the European Green Deal and the Farm to Fork Strategy, EBIC advocates for a regulatory environment that supports the adoption of such innovative solutions, essential for meeting the EU’s sustainability goals.
4. Promoting integrated nutrient management
Another critical issue is the need for integrated nutrient management approaches that combine various agricultural inputs, including biostimulants, to optimise crop production while minimising environmental impact. EBIC advocates for policies that support the use of biostimulants as part of this integrated approach, which is crucial for maintaining soil health, enhancing crop resilience, and ensuring sustainable agricultural production within planetary boundaries.
Biostimulants support sustainable agriculture
EBIC’s advocacy efforts are centred around creating a supportive regulatory environment, promoting the adoption of biostimulants, and ensuring that farmers have access to the necessary tools to thrive in a sustainable and competitive agricultural sector. Through ongoing dialogue with policymakers and stakeholders, EBIC is committed to securing a future where biostimulants are integral to achieving the EU’s agricultural and environmental goals.