AREFLH forum on CAP reform and crop protection

The Assembly of European Horticultural Regions (AREFLH) will hold its annual forum on 4 November in Brussels and online. The event will bring together representatives from European institutions, regional authorities, and professionals in the fruit and vegetable sector. The programme will address two main topics: the future Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and innovation in sustainable crop protection.

Future role of regions and sectoral interventions
Discussions will focus on the CAP for the 2028–2034 period, which is being shaped under tighter budgets and new structural reforms. Planned changes include the end of protected rural development and the introduction of new co-financing rules. These measures could affect the balance of the single market and reduce the role of regions, with potential implications for the fruit and vegetable sector. The forum aims to consider how the regions and producers can maintain influence in shaping future policy.

Advancements in crop protection
Another session will examine plant protection under current constraints. With fewer active substances authorised and climate change intensifying production pressures, new approaches are under consideration. New Genomic Techniques (NGTs) and biopesticides are being presented as potential tools, with recent calls in the European Parliament to accelerate their registration and mutual recognition. The debate will focus on how these technologies can be integrated into production systems.

Speakers and participation
Speakers will include members of the European Parliament, representatives of the European Commission, and experts from the sector. They will share perspectives on CAP reform and on the development of sustainable plant protection tools.