Blog

Trade barriers emerge when policies are introduced unilaterally, impacting trading partners and creating unpredictability for food and feed supplies.

In Geneva this week, we discussed this issue with international partners, concerned about the shift away from science-based, risk-assessed MRL frameworks. Such a shift would create uncertainty for farmers and exporters, challenge alignment with WTO SPS principles and risk broader impacts on competitiveness, innovation and ultimately, on food security.

International cooperation remains essential for a resilient global agricultural sector and those who rely on it. We urge governments to uphold science-based regulatory approaches that enable global trade to be predictable, open and transparent.

Thank you to our members Martin Schäfer, Zhulieta Z. Willbrand, Kevin Bosc and community from CropLife Canada, Emilie Bergeron from Canada Grains Council, Margaux Rundstadler and Stella SimiyuBW from CropLife Africa-Middle East for joining the debate. We look forward to continuing the debate with CropLife Europe to understand the impact of this policy change at global level.

Last week, the CropLife AME team, together with colleagues from CropLife International and the CropLife Morocco Secretariat and Board, came together to discuss the next phase of theSustainable Pesticide Management Framework (SPMF) in Morocco.

Launched in 2022, the five-year SPMF represents a US$1.5 million investment by CropLife International to advance sustainable pesticide management. The objective is to protect human health and the environment while supporting agricultural productivity and farmer livelihoods, and it’s well underway in Morocco.

Indeed, over the past four years, the programme has delivered significant progress under the 3 pillars of the SPMF:

• Reducing reliance on highly hazardous pesticides
• Promoting innovation and sustainable agricultural practices
• Strengthening the safe and responsible use of pesticides

In collaboration with ONCA, CropLife Morocco has delivered large-scale training on Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) to farmers and farmer leaders across the country, reaching more than 60% of farmers using crop protection products to date. Those trainings are being taken to the next level thanks to CropLife Morocco’s collaboration with Al Moutmir. Additional progress includes strengthening the understanding of the root causes of incidence cases to better adapt stewardship activities, improving access to innovative crop protection solutions, and enhancing capacity to combat illicit and counterfeit products.

Last week’s mission included valuable discussions with key partners who have been instrumental in implementing the SPMF, including the CropLife Morocco Board, ONSSA, ONCA, the Al Moutmir Initiative, the Moroccan Poison Control Centre (CAPM), and COMADER. The team also visited the field to engage directly with farmers and witness the training activities firsthand.

As the programme enters its next phase, our shared focus is on ensuring a smooth transition, sustaining the achievements of the SPMF, supporting the implementation of good practices and sharing Morocco’s experience to contribute to regional learning on sustainable pesticide management.

Strong partnerships, shared commitment, and local leadership will continue to drive lasting impact for agriculture. Congratulations to CropLife Morocco on these outstanding achievements – CropLife AME is proud to support these initiatives and looks forward to building on this momentum for a safer, more sustainable future for agriculture across the region.