29 September 2026
Brussels
Science-policy dialogue: Innovative and coherent policies for a redesigned sustainable crop protection
How can research contribute to the development of sustainable crop protection policies? On 29 September 2026, the French Priority Research Programme “Growing and Protecting Crops Differently” (Cultiver et Protéger Autrement) will bring together researchers, European policymakers and agricultural stakeholders in Brussels for a science-policy dialogue dedicated to sustainable crop protection.
Developing sustainable crop protection approaches is a major challenge for the future of European agriculture. Addressing this challenge requires innovative scientific approaches, coherent public policies and strong collaboration between researchers, policymakers, farmers and other stakeholders across the agri-food system.
The event will showcase key insights from the French Priority Research Programme “Growing and Protecting Crops Differently” (Cultiver et Protéger Autrement), launched in 2019 to generate transformative knowledge and support the transition towards sustainable agricultural systems.
From research to policy
Through presentations from four projects financed by the French Priority Research Programme “Growing and Protecting Crops Differently” and one Horizon Europe project, the event will explore how research can contribute to the development of sustainable crop protection policies at European and national levels.
The discussions will address several dimensions of this transition: plant health surveillance and agroecological outcomes through BEYOND; green insurance as a policy tool for sustainable crop protection through VITAE; pesticide use reduction through the Horizon Europe project FORTUNA; collective and systemic transition from field to supply chain through BE CREATIVE; and the transition to low pesticide farming systems through FAST.
A final panel discussion on “Policy coherence for sustainable crop protection” will bring together research, policy and stakeholder perspectives.
By bringing together European institutions, scientific communities and agricultural stakeholders, the event aims to strengthen the dialogue between research and policymaking, foster collaboration across Europe and contribute to shaping a shared vision for a sustainable, fair and resilient European agriculture.
The event will showcase five research projects exploring complementary approaches to sustainable crop protection:
BEYOND – Reorienting plant health surveillance towards agroecological outcomes
The BEYOND project explores how plant health surveillance can better support agroecological crop protection. By linking surveillance systems more closely to crop protection decisions and agroecological practices, the project develops new indicators and tools that can strengthen surveillance systems and inform policy recommendations for sustainable crop protection.VITAE – De-risking agricultural transitions: green insurance as a policy tool for sustainable crop protection
The VITAE project examines how green insurance can help farmers experiment with and adopt more sustainable crop protection practices. Based on a four-year living-lab experiment in French viticulture, the project shows how risk-sharing mechanisms can support farmer learning, accelerate innovation and contribute to long-term pesticide reduction.FORTUNA – Future innovation for pesticide use reduction in agriculture
The Horizon Europe project FORTUNA explores pathways towards reducing, and ultimately phasing out, the use of chemical pesticides in European agriculture. Through systemic transition scenarios combining technological innovation, changes across food value chains and stakeholder engagement, the project contributes to productive, resilient and pesticide-free farming systems.BE CREATIVE – Towards pesticide reduction in agriculture: challenges and opportunities for a collective and systemic transition from field to supply chain
The BE CREATIVE project highlights the importance of collective and systemic approaches to reducing pesticide use. Through territorial case studies, it explores how farmers, advisers, cooperatives, local authorities and civil society can work together to co-design innovative solutions and support the transition across agricultural value chains.FAST – Three pillars for accelerating the transition to low pesticide farming systems
Drawing on research in economics, law and sociology, the FAST project presents policy recommendations based on three complementary pillars: justice, equity and legitimacy. It explores how differentiated policy instruments can better reflect the diversity of farming situations while making pesticide reduction policies more effective, equitable and socially acceptable.
Programme
09:00 — Welcome
09:15 — Introduction
Thierry Caquet (INRAE, France) and Laure Latruffe (INRAE, France)
09:30 — Reorienting plant health surveillance towards agroecological outcomes
BEYOND project
Cindy Morris (INRAE, France)
Policy perspective: Claire Morlot (DG SANTE, European Commission)
10:00 — De-risking agricultural transitions: green insurance as a policy tool for sustainable crop protection
VITAE project
Yann Raineau (INRAE, France)
Policy perspective: Jesús Barreiro-Hurle (JRC, European Commission)
10:30 — Future innovation for pesticide use reduction in agriculture
FORTUNA Horizon Europe project
Silke Dachbrodt-Saaydeh (Julius Kühn-Institut, Germany)
10:45 — Break
11:15 — Towards pesticide reduction in agriculture: challenges and opportunities for a collective & systemic transition from field to supply chain
BE CREATIVE project
Muriel Valantin-Morison (INRAE, France) and Lorène Prost (INRAE, France)
Stakeholder perspective: Céline Feyder (CEJA)
Three pillars for accelerating the transition to low pesticide farming systems
FAST project
Julie Subervie (INRAE, France)
12:00 — Panel discussion: Policy coherence for sustainable crop protection
Moderated by Sophie Thoyer (INRAE, France), with Sophie Hélaine (DG AGRI, European Commission) and Johann Meierhöfer (Copa-Cogeca and German Farmers’ Association DBV)
12:45 — Wrap-up
Christian Huyghe (INRAE, France)
Practical information
- Tuesday, 29 September 2026
- 09:00–13:00, followed by lunch
- Maison Irène et Frédéric Joliot-Curie, Brussels
Registration is free of charge, but required. Places are limited and registration is subject to availability. Once the event reaches full capacity, participants will be able to join a waiting list. Please note that joining the waiting list does not guarantee a place. Registrations from the waiting list will be confirmed by the organisers only if additional places become available.
A post-event brief highlighting the main discussion points and key insights will be shared after the event.
Download the programme pdf - 5.81 MB