AgriGuide Newsletter #15 – June 2026

From the Project Chair: A Regulatory Milestone

The recent adoption of Commission Regulation (EU) 2026/1123 marks an important moment for the AgriGuide community.

With this update, digital labelling is now formally embedded within the EU framework for plant protection products. This provides a clear direction for how authorised label information will evolve in the years ahead.

For many of us, this is not a new concept. Over the past couple of years, you have all contributed to building and refining digital representations of label information, with a strong focus on making this content easier to access and understand in practice. What is significant now is that this direction is being recognised and supported at the regulatory level.

The new framework brings greater clarity on how label information should be structured and accessed, including defined requirements for clearer presentation, improved readability, and digital access to label content. It also supports a more consistent approach across Member States, providing a clearer reference point as we continue aligning our work with evolving regulatory expectations.

Through AgriGuide, digitised label information supports greater interoperability across the agricultural ecosystem, helping reduce the risk of misunderstanding and non-compliant use of PPPs. Across countries, companies, and teams, there has been a shared effort to structure label information in a way that is both reliable and connectable. This collective work positions AgriGuide as a bespoke solution to digital labelling as the framework moves from adoption towards implementation.

Conference Highlights

SETAC Europe 36th Annual Meeting: Focus on Precision Applications

The SETAC Europe 36th Annual Meeting (Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry) brought together experts to exchange insights on emerging trends in environmental and regulatory science. A poster corner was organised on the topic of recent developments in risk assessment for precision applications.

LEGERA Annual Eastern Europe Regulatory Conference: Strong Engagement on Digital Labelling

At the LEGERA Annual Eastern Europe Regulatory Conference in Bratislava, discussions focused on regulatory developments and their practical implementation across the EU.

Anne Alix (about whom you will read more in this newsletter later) delivered a presentation on the EU regulation on labelling and its connection to ongoing digitalisation efforts. The session outlined how digital labelling solutions, including those developed through AgriGuide, can support the rollout and consistent implementation of labelling requirements across the EU-27.

The presentation was well received, with strong engagement from the audience. There was clear interest in how digital tools can facilitate compliance and improve access to label information.

Although specific questions were not formally captured, the discussion pointed to strong interest in how digital labelling will be implemented across Member States, how digital solutions can support compliance, and how digitalisation will shape labelling processes more broadly.

This positive reception reinforces the relevance of ongoing work in this space and highlights the growing importance of digital solutions in the regulatory landscape.

From the Technical Corner

Building on the direction set earlier this year, our technical efforts continue to focus on maturing the platform and preparing AgriGuide for broader operational deployment as more countries move towards launch. 

Regulatory Alignment and Data Model Evolution 

A key priority has been the continued alignment with evolving regulations, particularly the latest CLP updates and the newly published replacement plant protection label regulation. As part of this, the latest release introduces a revised and combined CLP tile in the app, bringing required information together into a single, more accessible view. This simplifies how regulatory content is presented while ensuring consistency with updated requirements. 

In parallel, the label data model continues to evolve, extending machine readability into new areas. The most recent update expands coverage to adjuvant products, enabling structured representation of their targets, whether classes of chemistry, specific crop protection products, or broader indications such as herbicides or fungicides. Work is also well advanced on the next extension, which will introduce support for PPE tables, with an initial focus on products in France. 

Standards and Ecosystem Engagement 

Engagement with standards bodies remains an important part of ensuring long-term alignment. Following earlier contributions, the AgriGuide team recently took part in a webinar hosted by ISO Technical Committee 347, focusing on proposed work items related to mode of action and formulations. This ongoing collaboration ensures that AgriGuide not only aligns with emerging standards but also contributes practical experience from its data model to their development.

Supporting Rollouts and Product Foundations 

Preparations have continued to support countries entering their next rollout phases, whether extended pilots, soft launches, or full deployments. This includes improvements that make it easier to deploy and access the mobile applications, helping ensure a smoother experience for end users as adoption expands. 

In parallel, work has also begun on updates to country-specific product catalogues throughout 2026. These catalogues will support SAppR and provide a foundation for additional use cases as they emerge over time. 

Progress on Simple Application Records 

We continue to develop our Simple Application Records (SAppR), and the first set of tests were completed successfully in May 2026 in our three pilot countries: Germany, Italy, and Romania. Minor improvements were identified to enhance end-user experiences. A new map with satellite view will allow a better positioning of the field for the end user. Equally, some translations for the three countries were changed to better represent the context of recording a treatment. Last but not least, we have implemented a better set of pesticide product catalogue mainly for Romania.

Overall, these developments reflect a continued shift from building core capabilities towards refinement, standardisation, and readiness for scale, ensuring that both the platform and its supporting ecosystem are well positioned for the next phase of AgriGuide’s rollout.

AgriGuide Country Roll-Out

AgriGuide continues to make steady progress across the EU, with momentum building across both digitisation and country adoption. 

In addition to advancing the digitisation of labels, more countries are actively reviewing and launching AgriGuide.eu websites in their local languages, helping make the platform more accessible and relevant to end users. 

Efforts remain ongoing across all the current 25 participating countries, with further expansions expected as they move towards readiness for full portfolio digitisation and wider rollout. 

Meet the Team!

Before we get into AgriGuide, could you briefly introduce yourself? 

I’m Anne Alix, Policy Leader for Europe, the Middle East and Africa at Corteva Agriscience. My background is scientific. I studied biology and completed a PhD in integrated pest management, and I’ve gradually moved into regulatory and policy work. Today in addition to that, I am also the Co-Chair of the AgriGuide Programme.

Today, I focus on topics linked to the future of agriculture, including sustainability, precision application and new technologies. A big part of my work is about enabling those technologies and looking at how we can improve the way crop protection is used in practice. I am particularly interested in how we move from long, static information to something more accessible and usable, such as interactive or searchable formats.

On a more personal note, I’m French but I live in the UK, near Oxford, where our regulatory headquarters are based. And yes, I do have a cat who regularly joins meetings and seems quite interested in what I’m doing.

Could you tell us a little more about your role within AgriGuide, including your main responsibilities and day to day focus? 

I joined the project in the early stages, back when it was still called DLC, to provide the team with regulatory input.

My role is to help the team understand regulations in practical terms. That means starting from the texts, then looking into how they should be interpreted, and what we should expect when they are implemented.

There is indeed often a difference between how a Regulation reads at the EU level and what actually happens at the country level. Part of my role is to help anticipate that difference and give guidance on what is likely to happen in practice, based on national specificities.

I also support countries when specific questions come up. This can be about interpreting a requirement, helping them prepare to engage with authorities or simply finding a way forward that is compliant and workable without creating unnecessary complexity. The idea is really to help people find a path that works in their context.

What would you highlight as a part of your role that most people might find surprising? 

One thing that might be surprising is how often I still go back to the regulation itself. I actually open and check it every day. 

Even when you know the text well, situations are rarely completely fitting in the boxes. There is the regulation, and then there is the reality of how things are applied, and the two do not always fully align. 

Very often, you find yourself in situations where the answer is not explicitly written. You are in a sort of grey area, and you need to interpret what is acceptable while staying compliant. So the role is not only about knowing the rules, but also about helping people make decisions when the rules do not tell you what to do. 

That is also why we have so many discussions across the project, because the text does not tell you everything, and you need to guide people in making those calls. 

Do you have a small habit or moment during the day that helps you stay grounded or energised when things get busy? 

One simple thing I try to do is to remember to breathe properly. 

When the day becomes very busy with meetings, emails and messages coming from everywhere, it is easy to get absorbed and almost forget. You end up with very shallow breathing without noticing it. 

So from time to time, I try to pause and take a proper breath. It sounds very basic, but it really helps to reset and keep things under control. 

What are you currently curious about or enjoying learning, whether related to work or completely outside of it? 

At work, I do learn a lot simply because of the topics I am involved in, especially around precision application and innovation. There is always something new, whether it is a technology or a different way of approaching things. 

Outside of work, I am a musician, and I play in a band. That is something I really enjoy, and it is also a great way to do something completely different. 

We play rock with quite diverse influences, including blues, jazz and a bit of soul. We write our own music and perform it, so it is both creative and quite demanding in its own way. 

It also brings good discipline. When you have a rehearsal booked, you stop working, and you go. It is not really something you move around, and I think that is actually quite helpful. 

Looking ahead, what would you personally like to help improve or make easier for others involved in AgriGuide 

I think the project is moving at the right pace, especially considering how complex it is. There is a strong team, and a lot of good work has already been done. 

Where I see the biggest opportunity now is around mindset. It is about helping people fully embrace the change that comes with a project like this. 

There is still some hesitation in parts of the community, which is completely normal. Everyone is already very busy, and this represents a new way of working. There is also sometimes a tendency to focus on smaller details when the real value is in moving forward on the bigger picture. 

For me, it is about helping people feel comfortable taking that step forward and understanding that this is the direction we are going in. Once that shift happens more broadly, things will naturally become easier, and we will be able to move faster as a group. 

At the end of the day, the strength of AgriGuide comes from working together. If we all align behind the same approach, we can achieve much more collectively than we would individually. 
 

What’s Next​

As we move into the summer period, things naturally become a little quieter across the AgriGuide calendar, and we are completely embracing it. 

Instead of events and conference halls, it’s time for a change of pace: longer days, a bit more sunshine, and hopefully a chance to step back and recharge. Whether that means time off, travel, or simply enjoying a slower rhythm, we hope you make the most of the season. 

Behind the scenes, the AgriGuide journey continues, and we look forward to picking things up together with fresh energy in the months ahead. 

From all of us in the AgriGuide team, 

We wish you a bright, relaxing, and sunny summer!