The Critical Role of Mancozeb in Global Agricultural Sustainability and Food Security

Prepared for Policymakers
By the Center of Excellence in Regulatory Science in Agriculture (CERSA), NC State University, in partnership with UPL, and our Mancozeb Summit stakeholders (June 3-4, 2025, in the U.K.)

Introduction

The ongoing court process regarding the renewal of approval of the broad-spectrum fungicide mancozeb in the European Union (EU) comes at a critical juncture for global agriculture. Recent breakout sessions organized by the Center of Excellence in Regulatory Science in Agriculture (CERSA) at NC State University, in collaboration with UPL, convened international experts on potato, banana, soybean, and citrus production to discuss the significance of mancozeb for production of their respective crops. These sessions underscored the multifaceted importance of mancozeb across diverse crops, geographies, and socio-economic contexts. This paper summarizes the key findings and urges policymakers to consider the scientific, economic, and social implications of restricting access to this vital fungicide.