Perspectivas Globais: Líderes de Associações Internacionais e Africanas Compartilham Expectativas para 2026
26 de janeiro de 2026 Agronegócio 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.
For this article, we share insights from international and African associations and their outlooks for 2026.
Internacional
Emily Rees
Presidente e CEO
CropLife Internacional
In the plant science sector, the biggest single challenge is a lack of regulatory cohesion. We face a global crisis that comes with a ticking clock: a warming planet with a global population set to tip 10 billion by 2050. We need to feed more people on less land in more extreme conditions, which needs a laser focus on sustainable productivity to shore up a food secure future. We know what works — answers already exist. Yet, assessments for products and techniques that will expand the farmer toolbox can take years, internationally recognized systems like Codex Alimentarius are not always applied, and science-based approaches are still not always to the fore. The frustration is that we do all, essentially, want the same outcome, but fragmented regulatory approaches hold back progress, and nontariff barriers based on politics, not science, don’t help put innovation into the hands of farmers.
Secondly, geopolitical fragmentation and volatility exacerbate the lack of cohesion I describe above. And, ultimately, innovation thrives where policy stability provides investment certainty.
Jennifer Lewis
Diretor-executivo
Associação Internacional de Fabricantes de Biocontrole (IBMA)
These are two major changes happening in the world affecting biocontrol. Biocontrol plays a role in climate and biodiversity mitigation. Policymakers increasingly recognize the role of biocontrol in the transition toward more sustainable agriculture. Biocontrol maintains and enhances biodiversity and is the second most impactful on-farm action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Second, there is an increased economic pressure on farmer profitability. Innovation plays a crucial role in manufacturing to ensure farmers can produce quality at the right price. We see huge growth in biocontrol companies that are capable of achieving this.
Dia de Lloyd
Diretor-geral adjunto
Instituto Interamericano de Cooperação para a Agricultura (IICA)
I see two fundamental challenges for 2026. The first is the approval of new technologies. The approval of cleaner, greener technologies that will help stimulate more investment and improve the production of crops. The regulatory approval process is super slow, and from what I can see, it is not getting any better. We’re working toward harmonization in Central America and other parts of the globe. We need to do more of that. We need quick, predictable government regulation that is both transparent and protects consumers but enables good technology and clean technology to get to farmers and ranchers.
The second issue is acceptance of those new technologies and the implementation. We need to ensure that our farmers have the tools they need in different environments. No environment is the same. The food production in Europe, where they may or may not need certain chemicals, is different than the food production in the tropics. There is also the issue of how new technologies, like biological products, are going to scale or combine with synthetic products in order to help with consistent food production.
The industry, international organizations, governments, and producers need to work together in order to find ways to understand and communicate better and put into place regulatory processes that help growers get innovative technology. We are at the start of what can be the blossoming of agricultural innovation in order to enable more robust productivity, while at the same time protecting land, water, and air. All of that could happen if we all work together.
África
Jerônimo Barbaron
Presidente
CropLife África Oriente Médio
A key positive development shaping the crop protection sector in the Africa and Middle East (AME) region is the steady improvement of the regulatory environment, creating a more predictable, transparent, and supportive environment for everyone in the agricultural value chain. As governments enhance their regulatory frameworks, it becomes increasingly possible to train farmers more effectively as well as to introduce innovative, more sustainable, and targeted solutions at a much faster pace than in the past. This enables us to effectively advance integrated pest management (IPM) — one of our core priorities at CropLife AME — by empowering farmers with the right knowledge and ensuring timely access to modern, science-based and risk-based tools that enhance safety and efficiency.
Another significant shift in the crop protection industry within the AME region is the rapid emergence of innovative tools, notably biopesticides. These environmentally friendly alternatives are expanding the farmers’ toolbox, promoting the adoption of IPM strategies. By combining biopesticides with chemical solutions, farmers can effectively manage pests and diseases while protecting human health and the environment, ultimately increasing agricultural productivity. This has been greatly empowered by the accelerated approval process for biological products across the AME region. These processes streamline the approval and market entry of biopesticides, ensuring that innovative solutions reach farmers in a timely manner.
At CropLife Africa Middle East, we work toward supporting enabling legislative environments for biopesticides through capacity-building activities and fostering the sharing of best practices across countries. As the industry continues to evolve, collaboration among industry stakeholders, regulators, and farmers remains key to unlocking the full potential of biopesticides and advancing sustainable agriculture in the AME region.
Debbie Matteucci
Presidente
Organização Sul-Africana de Bioprodutos (SABO)
We are seeing a shift in the perspectives of government and grower organizations in support of the use of biologicals within an IPM program. With this support for 2026, we expect to see more initiatives that promote grower education and awareness around the use of biologicals and IPM. We also anticipate changes in policies that will improve the regulatory processes for bioproduct use, therefore supporting more bioproducts being brought to market in South Africa.
Explore how association leaders in other regions expect 2026 to unfold in the rest of this global series.
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