24 I EUROPEAN SEED I EUROPEAN-SEED.COM O ur crops are under a daily and relentless attack from pests and diseases. Already millen- nia ago mankind has learned that with certain compounds the path- ogens can be kept at bay. But crop pro- tection products have come under heavy criticism lately. Reason for European Seed to talk to Graeme Taylor, Director Public Affairs of the European Crop Protection Association (ECPA) EUROPEAN SEED (ES): GRAEME, CONGRATULATIONS ON A SUCCESSFUL CAMPAIGN FOR ECPA. COULD YOU TELL US A BIT OF BACKGROUND ON ECPA, WHEN AND WHY WAS IT CREATED, WHO ARE YOUR MEMBERS, ETC.? GRAEME TAYLOR (GT): ECPA, based in Brussels and founded in 1992, represents the 22 companies manufacturing pesti- cides in Europe today. We are made up of both multinational companies – like Bayer & Syngenta – and SMEs, and have a comprehensive network of National Associations across Europe. I have been Director of Public Affairs in ECPA since September 2015, responsible for leading the organisation’s advocacy and commu- nication efforts; a role that is becoming increasingly challenging in the current vol- atile political and regulatory environment.   ES: WHAT KIND OF CAMPAIGN DID YOU RUN, AND WHY WAS IT NECESSARY? GT: The societal conversation around our industry and the way food is produced changed very quickly, and our industry was somewhat left behind. While we defended individual products, groups and organisations opposed to the use of pes- ticides started a movement, which called into question the very existence of pes- ticides full stop. This new discussion is based on not just misinformation about pesticides themselves (just look at the current debate around glyphosate) but based on the reputation of our industry – accused of being closed and untrustwor- thy. In response we decided we needed to take a more proactive approach, and to start to talk more about the benefits of the products, and to do it in an open way, inviting discussion and debate, recognis- ing societal concerns, and most impor- tantly, acknowledging pesticides are not necessarily a panacea but one of the most important tools available to farmers in Europe today. They exist for fundamen- tally positive reasons – not least if we are going to meet the challenge of feeding 10 billion people by 2050. This is a chal- lenge our opponents will dismiss, but is one that is very, very real. WOULD YOU WANT TO SPEND 70% OF YOUR SALARY ON FOOD? “Pesticides are not necessarily a panacea but one of the most important tools available to farmers in Europe today.” ES: HOW DO YOU THINK THE EUROPEAN REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT SHOULD CHANGE TO CREATE MORE AWARENESS AND UNDERSTANDING FOR THE USE OF CROP PROTECTION PRODUCTS? GT: There is often an idea that our indus- try doesn’t want to be regulated, or even more dangerous a public perception that we are not regulated at all. This could not be further from the truth. We oper- ate in one of – if not the – most heavily regulated industry sectors in the world. All products placed on the market are authorised as part of an incredibly, and necessarily, rigorous scientific process. The primary concern of our companies is ensuring safety of farmers, the public and the environment, and we invest billions every year in research and development to continue to put ever safer, and more inno- vative products on the market. Business needs to be regulated, but that regulation needs to be clear, and implemented in a consistent and predictable manner. The EU has made a number of positive steps toward “Better Regulation”, but there is always more that we can all do. ES: THERE HAS BEEN AND STILL IS QUITE SOME CONTROVERSY AND MISINFORMATION ABOUT THE EFFECT OF CROP PROTECTION PRODUCTS ON POLLINATORS. IS ECPA ACTIVE IN THIS FIELD, AND WHAT ARE YOUR MAIN MESSAGES? GT: This is one of the most difficult areas in which we are working. The pollina- tion services provided by bees and other insects are essential for the production of most fruits and vegetables. By making sure pesticides don’t endanger pollina- tors, we can help farmers maximise food production and safeguard the health of pollinating insects. We don’t dismiss the role that pes- ticides might play, and we are doing everything we can to ensure that our products protect rather than harm health and the environment. The bottom line HOW THE PESTICIDES INDUSTRY IS PUTTING SAFER AND MORE INNOVATIVE PRODUCTS ON THE MARKET. BY: MARCEL BRUINS Graeme Taylor, Director of Public Affairs for ECPA