Perspectivas globales: Líderes de asociaciones de la UE y América del Norte debaten las perspectivas para 2026
26 de enero de 2026 AgriBusiness Global asked 25 association leaders from around the world to identify two changes expected for 2026 and how those shifts will impact global agriculture and their region.
In this article, EU and North American association leaders delve into the developments affecting global agriculture and their region.
Unión Europea
Carlos Rodríguez-Villa Förster
Presidente
Consejo Europeo de la Industria de Bioestimulantes (EBIC)
In relation to plant biostimulants, I think there are two areas where we could see significant change in 2026: regulation and innovation. Influencing regulation is a long-term effort, and EBIC has worked hard for several years to advocate for simplification of the Fertilising Products Regulation (FPR) to ensure market access for all plant biostimulant technologies. Our advocacy fostered the publication of the chemicals omnibus proposal in July 2025, which included simplification of the FPR in two key areas: microorganisms and chemical substances. I think 2026 will be pivotal for the biostimulants industry, marked by the outcome of this proposal. Biostimulants based on animal byproducts and phosphites may also see regulatory progress, though the latter is less certain.
Innovation is at the heart of the plant biostimulants industry, and I expect further technological developments around microorganisms and single molecules. I believe we will also see new business models emerge that improve market penetration and accelerate the adoption of product-based innovations.
Mónica Teixeira
Presidente
Asociación Europea para el Cuidado de Cultivos (ECCA)
The first big change is progress on regulatory simplification. For years, ECCA has highlighted the need for faster, clearer, and more predictable authorization procedures. In 2026, we hope to finally start to see this take shape, as the first tangible outcomes of the simplification omnibus and the follow-up initiatives under Regulation (EC) 1107/2009 begin to emerge. This should also signal a shift from today’s highly precautionary system that often assumes worst-case exposure, treats uncertainty as grounds for restriction, and applies broad one-size-fits-all limits regardless of actual risk, toward a more risk-proportionate model.
This is crucial for Europe’s farmers, who need timely access to reliable and affordable crop protection tools, and it is essential for the post-patent plant protection industry, which depends on fair and workable rules to keep the European market competitive.
The second major shift is a more pragmatic political environment. The new European Parliament and European Commission are expected to reset priorities after the Strategic Dialogue, with a stronger emphasis on food security and resilience. That creates space for practical, science-based policies and for solutions that already support sustainable farming — including post-patent plant protection products. As the policy focus becomes more balanced, the contribution of our industry is set to become even more visible. Underlying both changes is a growing recognition that Europe needs the full toolbox. Partnerships between biological developers and post-patent companies will continue to expand. Farmers need integrated, affordable solutions — and our industry is well positioned to deliver exactly that.
Norteamérica
Daren Coppock
Presidente y Director Ejecutivo
Asociación de minoristas agrícolas (ARA)
At a very fundamental level, farm gate economics are weak in the U.S. Farm profitability is largely in the red for most crop producers due to high input costs, low commodity prices, and difficulty of finding labor. The first two (input costs and commodity prices) are largely consequences of the U.S. Administration’s trade policy, tariffs on imported inputs, and retaliation against tariffs by countries that used to be our export customers. Trade policy is not the only factor in this equation (there are global supply chain factors as well), but in my view, it is the dominant cause. Access to seasonal labor is much more difficult due to the focus on arrests and deportations by the U.S. federal government; even guest workers who have their paperwork in order and haven’t been deported are understandably reluctant to show their faces in public. This lack of labor is putting specialty U.S. crop producers in a terrible bind.
A second change for 2026 is the continued rollout of updated labels to incorporate Endangered Species Act (ESA) requirements in the U.S. It’s important that U.S. EPA gets this process right so that registrations comply with the ESA and the U.S. growers’ toolbox isn’t as vulnerable to legal challenges on that basis, but it’s also important that the requirements are practical, effective and achievable. So far, there’s been good communication and collaboration between registrants, regulators, applicators and retailers toward this end, but we’ve only seen a small handful of labels go through re-registration to incorporate these requirements, and the list will grow consistently over the next decade as the remaining products complete the process.
Keith Jones
Director ejecutivo
Alianza de la industria de productos biológicos (BPIA)
In 2026, funding challenges will likely continue to drive consolidation trends for pre-revenue biological product startups. Larger biological product companies as well as conventional crop protection companies will be looking for opportunities to acquire companies with new and innovative biological technologies. The biocontrol industry is seeing a slow but steady trend of more biological entrants in the U.S. row crop market including bionematicides and bioinsecticides. Seed treatments, planter box, and in-furrow microbials should continue to lead the way.
As more products are developed, biologicals will play a greater role in the row crop market in 2026. I expect more activity involving gene edited microbials such as gene knockouts. However, regulatory uncertainty persists, which creates commercial risk, so these won’t be the majority of new microbials under development, but I think we will see initial products demonstrating the promise of these next-generation microbial products.
terry kippley
Presidente y Director Ejecutivo
Consejo de Productores y Distribuidores de Agrotecnología (CPDA)
One of the most significant changes in the U.S. is the integration of adjuvants into federal ESA mitigation frameworks. As more pesticide products carry ESA labeling requirements, adjuvants, especially drift reduction adjuvants, will be essential in helping growers meet compliance obligations while keeping acres productive. CPDA has worked closely with EPA and stakeholders to ensure that products recognized for mitigation are supported by sound science and practical data. This recognition reinforces the important role adjuvants play in environmental protection and modern crop production.
The second change is the growing emphasis on product verification and performance standards. Regulators, retailers, and applicators are asking for greater assurance that adjuvant claims are consistent and backed by data. CPDA’s Adjuvant Certification Program continues to expand to meet that need, providing the market with confidence in product quality and consistency.
Alexandra Dunn
Presidente y Director Ejecutivo
CropLife America
Innovation is driving pesticide conversations in North America daily. Groundbreaking new chemistries are reaching growers’ hands, and they can apply them with incredible accuracy thanks to advancements in precision application, robotics, and other smart tools. This significant leap forward in agricultural productivity is leading to higher yields and improved environmental stewardship outcomes — a win for growers and consumers.
While these good outcomes are happening on the ground, unfortunately, misinformation about modern agriculture continues to circulate. The scale, sophistication, and spread of false narratives around pesticides continue to accelerate. Influencers, many with little or no agricultural credentials or experience, are increasingly shaping public perception about pesticide use, soil health, and environmental impacts. These voices often dominate online conversations, creating confusion and eroding trust in science-based agriculture and the robust federal regulatory systems that govern pesticide registration.
It is critical that the farming community elevates its voice — sharing real stories, advancing credible experts, and communicating the peer-reviewed science, innovation, and responsibility behind today’s pesticides. If the farming community itself does not lead this conversation, others will continue to define it for the agricultural innovation and distribution sectors.
Corey Rosenbusch
Presidente y Director Ejecutivo
El Instituto de Fertilizantes (TFI)
Two forces are impacting our industry more than anything else — the U.S. farm economy and global geopolitics. Farmers are our customers and partners, and when their margins tighten or planting decisions shift, we feel it immediately. Fertilizer demand follows agronomic need, not speculation, so changes in acres, crop mix, or input costs all reflect real time on-the-ground realities. At the same time, global events are creating real pressure on nutrient supply chains. Almost 30% of all fertilizer produced globally is exported, largely driven by the global distribution (or lack thereof) of natural resources. While currently, 65% of overall U.S. farmers’ fertilizer needs are met by domestic fertilizer production, trade disruptions from war or export controls can ripple quickly across markets and ultimately impact American farmers. Strengthening these supply chains keeps fertilizer accessible and sustainable for the growers who feed us all.
Explore how association leaders in other regions expect 2026 to unfold in the rest of this global series.
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