The biocontrol market is now worth over €1.6bn, but EU policies are a bottleneck to unlocking the full potential

Chrysoperla carnea’s larvae are active predators and feed on aphids and other small insects. (Photo credit: Koppert.)

The International Biocontrol Manufacturers Association (IBMA) member survey shows that the biocontrol market in Europe is now worth over €1.6bn, representing almost ten per cent of the European crop protection market.

However, in Europe, it can take up to ten years for a new product to be approved and available for use. Statistics show the biocontrol market has doubled since 2016 and grown by 20 per cent between 2019 and 2022.

Jennifer Lewis, IBMA executive director, said: “The results of this member survey signal the pressing need for an EU-wide definition of biocontrol and a fast-track authorisation process for biocontrol products. IBMA is working to put this on the agendas of the Strategic Dialogue on the Future of Agriculture as well as the European Commission Work Programme.”

The IBMA member survey carried out at the end of 2023 revealed that the biocontrol market continues to grow in Europe and is now worth over €1.6bn. The market has doubled since 2016, but growth slowed between 2019 and 2022. This is a reflection of current European Union authorisation requirements that mean innovators must wait up to 10 years for biocontrol products to be approved and available for farmers’ use.

This must change to unlock biocontrol’s potential and fully stimulate further growth. Farmers in the US and Brazil wait two or three years for a full safety evaluation and final permit for use compared to European farmers’ ten-year wait. This makes Europe unattractive for new investment, jeopardises growth in the green economy, and puts European farmers at a competitive disadvantage.

Despite bureaucratic barriers, the European biocontrol market has a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of nearly ten per cent, whereas the conventional crop protection market has a CAGR of approximately four per cent. This growth rate reflects the demand and need for effective and environmentally friendly pest and disease control, particularly given the decline in the availability and effectiveness of many chemical solutions.

A previous IBMA survey showed that there are over 100 substances in the biocontrol pipeline that are due to be submitted to the approval process before 2028. Once in the farmer’s toolbox, they can provide effective pest and disease control on over 28 million hectares, of which 23 million are arable crops, supporting EuEurope’sood security and strategic autonomy.

All four biocontrol categories (microbials, natural substances, semiochemicals, invertebrates) are growing. Invertebrates have grown the most with an estimated 65 per cent increase in sales volume since 2019, which is to be expected as the authorisation process is significantly shorter.

The Natural Substances category has grown the most in terms of absolute value, increasing by 168.3 million Euros since 2019. This category tends to be an entry point for manufacturers extending their product portfolios to include biologicals.

In addition to providing input to the Strategic Dialogue on the Future of Agriculture, IBMA has called on the next political leadership of the European Commission to provide an EU-wide definition of biocontrol that will ensure fast access to biocontrol solutions while ensuring safety for farmers, consumers, and the environment.