EBIC Hosts Successful Mid-Term Strategy (MTS) Forum to Foster Industry Growth
October 2024
On October 8 and 9 2024, EBIC hosted its online Mid-Term Strategy (MTS) Forum. The two-day event brought together members to celebrate achievements, address challenges, and plan for future growth.
The forum opened with remarks from Arne Pingel and Elodie Lebastard, setting the tone for the event by outlining key objectives. David Hiltz and Massimo Toni provided a refresher on the 2023-2027 EBIC MTS, followed by an insightful session on the changing political and socioeconomic landscape and its impact on the biostimulant sector.
A key moment was the update on EBIC’s 2024 achievements by MTS Steering Group Co-Chairs Antonis Angeletakis and Céline Durieu, who discussed the increasing political awareness of regulatory barriers and the recognition of EBIC as the leading voice of the industry. Over the past 12 months, EBIC has continued to push for regulatory changes, calling for the support of the EU Commission through its Manifesto, and developing strategic relationships with key stakeholders such as Fertilizers Europe and FoodDrinkEurope. EBIC’s growing influence within EU policymaking was highlighted as well as its increased engagement in Commission Expert Groups. EBIC aims to create a more favourable regulatory environment for its members, with improved market access, particularly for products containing microbials and animal by-products, and support member companies’ growth. This was followed by an interactive session, facilitated by Carlos Rodríguez-Villa Förster, allowing members to share their feedback on EBIC’s contributions to the industry.
In the afternoon session, Theodora Nikolakopoulou from the European Commission’s DG GROW delivered a comprehensive presentation on the regulatory environment surrounding plant biostimulants. A brainstorming session on advancing EU market access for microbial and animal by-products followed, facilitated by Kristen Sukalac.
Day 2 focused on creating growth opportunities for the plant biostimulant industry. In the morning, participants engaged in a breakout group exercise to explore current market challenges, untapped opportunities, and the role of EBIC in overcoming regulatory barriers and fostering partnerships. Each group reported their findings in a plenary session moderated by David Barton and Kristen Sukalac, highlighting critical paths to industry expansion. EBIC is committed to growing the market, giving its members better access to a bigger, more competitive landscape.
The forum concluded with a session dedicated to supporting EBIC’s strategic objectives through communications and how companies can align their messaging with EBIC’s MTS goals. A final plenary session, led by Jessica Fitch, wrapped up the event with a call to action, urging members to collaborate on positioning EBIC as a driving force in the sector’s growth.
The MTS Forum provided valuable insights and actionable strategies for EBIC members, reinforcing the council’s commitment to advancing the plant biostimulant industry.