European farmers are being put "on the back foot" by slow and expensive regulatory processes for agricultural innovation in the EU, according to Martin Voss, chief innovation officer at Oath Group. He noted that innovation can be launched more efficiently in other regions, impacting Europe's food system sustainability and security.
Slow regulatory approval for agricultural innovations in the EU could hinder the region's ability to produce food sustainably and efficiently, potentially impacting food security and competitiveness compared to other global markets.
Martin Voss, chief innovation officer at Oath Group, stated that the European Union's regulatory processes for agricultural innovation are causing delays and increasing costs, putting farmers "on the back foot." Speaking at the Forum for the Future of Agriculture event hosted by the European Landowners Organisation (ELO) in Dublin, Voss explained that over the past decade, the EU has become the most difficult and expensive region to register agricultural innovations, whether chemical or biological. He contrasted this with other regions where regulatory processes, while rigorous, are more efficient and faster, allowing innovation to reach the market more quickly. Voss emphasized that faster market entry for innovation would benefit EU growers and the food system. He also highlighted that geopolitical issues, such as the destruction of fertilizer plants in the Middle East which will take years to rebuild, and ongoing soil degradation affecting 75% of managed land, are compounding these challenges. Fianna Fáil MEP Barry Cowen delivered closing remarks, calling for improved food security and farmer support in Europe.