b"WHEN CHEAPER MEANS STICKING WITH THE OLDOther parts of the world, including North America and partsThe delays dont only affect new products. Generic CPPsoff-pat-of Asia, manage to review and authorise new products much moreent copies of existing active substancesalso have to go through efficientlywithout compromising safety. Europes lengthy andthe same complex approval procedures. These products tend to be unpredictable timelines are increasingly out of step. cheaper and more accessible, which helps farmers facing rising input costs.INNOVATION IS LEFT WAITING But this creates a dilemma. Given the choice between an older, The real cost of delay is that many of the most promising, sustaina- well-known product at a lower price and a newer product thats still bility-oriented CPPs never make it to marketor arrive too late.caught in regulatory purgatory or carries a higher cost, many farmers These include biologically derived products, low-dose chemistries,will understandably stick with the familiar. This slows the adoption or precision-applied solutions designed to protect beneficial insectsof more sustainable practicesnot because of resistance to change, and reduce residues. but because of systemic inertia.Theyre exactly the kind of innovations that support Europes own ambitions under the Green Deal and Farm to Fork Strategy.MODERNISING THE PROCESSBut when the approval process is this sluggish, developers are dis- The call isnt for lower safety standards. Europe has every right couraged, investment is diverted elsewhere, and farmers are leftto set a high bar. But safety and speed are not mutually exclusive. using outdated tools. Its entirely possible to uphold rigorous scientific review while also streamlining processes, improving coordination among Member States, and sticking to legally mandated timelines.Some of the changes that could help include: Enforcing the current approval deadlines more strictly. Reducing duplication between national and EU-level reviews.Establishing fast-track procedures for lower-risk or sustain-ability-enhancing products. I ncreasing resourcing for regulatory authorities to reduce backlogs.Encouragingly, adapted legislation and dedicated pathways are being considered to accelerate approval times, and the upcoming EU Omnibus package is expected to provide more clarity.A TIME-SENSITIVE CHALLENGESustainability isnt a static goalits a race against time. Every season of delay means older tools remain in use, resistance pressure builds, and newer technologies are sidelined. Europe's farmers are ready to innovate. But they need a regulatory system that moves at the speed of their challenges.Slowness in the approval pipeline doesnt just hold up products. It holds up progress. If Europe is serious about sustainable agricul-ture, it must fix the system thats meant to deliver it.NOVEMBER 2025|SEEDWORLD.COM/EUROPEISEED WORLD EUROPE I 25"