Biopesticides: strategies for
improving uptake
Wyn Grant
Before uptake, there have to be
products
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260 biopesticides approved in the US
77 approved in the EU
16 approved in the UK
Very rigid ‘Green Book’ definition of
grounds for intervention in UK
compared with more fluid national
interest approach in US
Four aspects of improving
strategy
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The broad political climate
The regulatory context
Organisation of the industry
Commercial strategies
What does political science
say about the political agenda?
• The political agenda can only deal with
so many issues at one time
• There are cyclical fluctuations in
attention
• How an issue is ‘framed’ is important –
the language that is used to label topics
– ‘hurrah’ and ‘boo’ words
• Sustainability and biopesticides
The environmental agenda
• Receives less attention during a
recession
• Dominated by climate change to the
exclusion of other issues
• Rise of food security issue – how that
plays out is quite complex, resurgence
of productionist approaches
The changing nature of the
policy agenda
• Emphasis placed on expertise and
evidence – evidence-based policymaking
• Yet rise of single issue interest groups
has led to a more emotive form of
politics
• 24 hour media has a key role here
• A good case is not enough
Biocontrol: some challenges
• The language – differentiating
biologicals from synthetics
• Lack of public profile
• Generally unsympathetic attitude of
environmental groups
• SMEs have limited resources to devote
to representation
Biocontrol: some positives
• Fact that they are largely produced by
SMEs is helpful
• Profile in policy-making circles is
increasing
• Academic research has focused on
registration problems
• Opportunities provided by restrictions of
synthetics
New EU regulatory framework
• Emphasis on Integrated Pest Management,
mandatory from 2014
• ‘Non-chemical methods should be preferred
wherever they provide satisfactory control’
• ‘IPM relies on complementary methods from
a diverse array of approaches including
biocontrol agents’
• Source: ‘Implementation of IPM principles:
Guidance to Member States’
A cautionary note
• Devil is in the detail – like much EU
legislation really provides a framework
for action
• Industry has to work effectively to seize
opportunities
• Different regulatory capacity of member
states – UK has taken biocontrol
seriously
Main gains from EU framework
• Creation of north, centre and south
zones and a single zone for
greenhouse, seed and post treatments
etc. – uncertain at one stage
• Generally considered by member state
proposed by applicant
• Other member states can refuse
recognition
Other gains
• Improved time lines for active substance
inclusion but can still take 30 months plus
another 15 months if all clock stops used
• Priority to non-chemical and natural
alternatives wherever possible
• Provision for guidance documents on
biologicals prepared by EFSA, industry needs
to decide priorities and make proposals
‘Grey area’ products
• Products sold as strengtheners,
enhancers etc.
• Do not have to go through registration
process
• Danger of ‘snake oil’ products damaging
image of industry
• Unfinished business
Development of IBMA
• Initial concerns about effectiveness
• Considerable organisational
development during period of our
research – but not all firms members
• Role of Lucerne meeting
• Appointment of executive director in
2010
Why firms need to devote
some time to representation
• Very constrained in time available
because of product development,
registration, marketing etc.
• But if you take part you have to chance
to shape what happens rather than
having something unpleasant imposed
on you
• We live in the ‘Regulatory State’
Implications of the Regulatory
State
• The pressure for greater regulation is
not going to go away
• There are many societal drivers of that
including attitudes to risk
• Tendency for process to displace goals
in regulatory agencies
• Need to foster innovation (Greaves)
Commercial stratgies
• Largely matter for firms
• But challenge of getting retailers to take
biocontrol seriously
• High levels of trust by consumers
• But downside risks of them seeing it as
a silver bullet
Conclusions
• Have confidence in your message
• Biorational products can contribute to
the economic and environmental
sustainability of food production
• The European Union level is likely to
become more important to their future
• Niche actors need to build coalitions
Visit our website
• Thanks for your attention
• http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/pais/
biopesticides/