Open Letter to the European Commission: The role of Post-Patent Plant Protection Products in helping Europe regain its Competitiveness

To: Ms Ursula von der Leyen

President of the European Commission

Mr Raffaele Fitto 

Executive Vice President for Cohesion and Reforms

Mr Olivér Várhelyi

Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare

Mr Christophe Hansen

Commissioner for Agriculture and Food

Bruxelles, 11 December 2024

Subject: Open Letter on contribution of Post Patent Plant Protection Products to sustainability and competitiveness of European Agriculture

Dear President, Executive Vice President, Commissioners,

The European Crop Care Association (ECCA) would like to extend its warmest congratulations on the recent approval of the new European Commission by the European Parliament. This significant milestone reflects the confidence placed in your leadership, and we eagerly anticipate the positive impact of your tenure on Europe’s citizens and economy.

We commend the European Commission’s continued focus on environmental and agricultural priorities, witnessed also by the Strategic Dialogue initiative, which remain critical components of our shared political agenda across Europe. These efforts are critical to addressing current and future challenges, strengthening Europe’s competitiveness, and promoting the prosperity and quality of life in rural areas.

In this context, ECCA firmly believes that the post-patent plant protection industry holds a pivotal role. Much like the generic medicines sector in healthcare, our industry specialises in delivering cost-effective, innovative and sustainable solutions in crop protection.

Our industry’s contribution to strengthening Europe’s competitiveness and sustainability:

Driving Innovation for Competitive Advantage:

Intrinsic Innovation: By developing new formulations of proven molecules, we enhance the safety, efficacy, and environmental performance of plant protection products (PPPs).

Extrinsic Innovation: The competition fostered by post-patent PPPs drives broader research and development across the entire crop protection sector, spurring the discovery of new molecules and sustainable solutions to meet emerging challenges.

Empowering Farmers with Effective Tools:

Our products provide European farmers with affordable, effective solutions to address increasingly aggressive pathogens and other threats exacerbated by climate change, ensuring their ability to remain productive and competitive.

Safeguarding the Diversity of European Agriculture:

Post-patent PPPs are uniquely positioned to protect the essence of European agriculture, including minor crops, that require specialised pest management solutions.

Promoting Profitability and Sustainable Practices:

Our solutions help farmers lower costs and facilitate the adoption of sustainable farming practices, aligning with the EU’s environmental goals while supporting farmers’ economic resilience.

In light of these contributions, at ECCA we firmly believe that future agricultural policies must prioritise farmers’ profitability and social well-being, in turn, supporting the European Commission’s policy priorities to enhance economic competitiveness, particularly in the plant protection sector. As such, we welcome the opportunity to engage in open dialogue – grounded in collaboration with Member States and stakeholders – on pivotal issues such as the future of the Sustainable Use Directive.

ECCA is committed to collaborating with the European Commission, Member States, and stakeholders to ensure the success of these initiatives. We stand ready to contribute our expertise to achieve a shared vision for innovation, sustainability, and economic vitality in European agriculture.

We look forward to working with you to achieve these shared objectives.

Yours sincerely,

Pankaj Patil,

President

European Crop Care Association

Link to a PDF version of the Open Letter: Open Letter to European Commission – December 2024