Mónica Teixeira elected as new president of European Crop Care Association
The European Crop Care Association (ECCA) has announced the election of Mónica Teixeira as its new President, effective immediately. Teixeira succeeds Pankaj Patil, who has been appointed the inaugural Vice-President of ECCA, a newly established position designed to enhance the association's leadership and bolster its advocacy initiatives.
Teixeira, a seasoned professional within the post-patent plant protection industry, has been involved with ECCA as a Board member since 2019. Her current role as Product Safety, Regulatory, and R&D Director at Ascenza, a position she has held since 2017, positions her well to lead the association through a period of significant change in policy and regulation.
Before joining Ascenza, Teixeira dedicated seven years of her career to the Portuguese Ministry of Agriculture, specifically within the Plant Protection Directorate. Her extensive experience also includes 18 years at Syngenta as the Regulatory Affairs and Stewardship Manager. She possesses an educational background as an Agronomic Engineer, having studied at the University of Lisbon, which underpins her commitment to plant protection with a focus on regulatory matters and stewardship practices.
In a statement, Mónica Teixeira expressed her honour at taking on the presidency of ECCA at a pivotal moment for the industry. "The European Union is placing significant focus on competitiveness and regulatory simplification while maintaining strong climate objectives, and ECCA and its members are eager to play an active role in shaping this evolving framework,” she stated. Teixeira emphasized the association's commitment to advocating for competitive sustainability, in view of harnessing the post-patent plant protection industry's potential to enhance the competitiveness of European agriculture.
Under her stewardship, ECCA is anticipated to further assist its members in navigating the complex regulatory environment and emphasise the importance of post-patent plant protection products (PPPs). These efforts aim to address contemporary challenges faced by European policymakers, member states, and farmers within the region. A critical aspect of ECCA’s mission will involve enhancing the EU's competitiveness and guiding farmers as they transition towards greener agricultural practices.
The leadership team of ECCA is set to include a diverse range of experienced professionals, effective from 1st January 2025, which will consist of:
- Mónica Teixeira, President of the Board and ECCA | Regulatory, Product Safety, and R&D Director, Ascenza
- Pankaj Patil, Vice-President of the Board and ECCA | Head of Europe, Indofil Industries Netherlands
- Giacomo Ravetta, Treasurer and Member of the Board and ECCA | Regulatory Affairs Director, Finchimica
- Jean-François Henry, Board Member | Head of Registrations & Regulatory Affairs, Globachem NV
- Steve Kozlen, Board Member | Senior Regulatory Advisor, Galenika Fitofarmacija
ECCA, being the collective voice for the post-patent plant protection sector in Europe, plays a significant role in representing and advocating for its members. With Mónica Teixeira at the helm, the association is expected to maintain its focus on addressing the ongoing regulatory challenges while supporting European agriculture's goals towards sustainability and competitiveness.