R&D

How are pesticides made?

Effective but environmentally friendly

When developing a new pesticide (crop protection product), scientists first search for the plant pests' weaknesses and then seek to develop a molecule to attack this weak point. This active ingredient controls the problem weed, insect or fungus while having no effect on other non-target organisms. The development of new active substances is also essential to manage the occurrence of resistance by diversifying the available crop protection tools.

Research and product development

Searching for that active molecule, however, is just the beginning of the development process. For every active ingredient that eventually makes it into a farmer's field, another 39,000 are left aside. This is because each successful molecule must clear a huge array of hurdles before it can be approved as a crop protection product, just as with new medicines.

The researchers need to be sure they will be able to synthesise the molecule in commercial quantities. It also has to be formulated so it can be applied in the field. For example, the new molecule may not be soluble in water. Yet the vast majority of crop protection products are applied in water.

While the chemists are working on these issues, biologists test the effectiveness of the molecule in controlling the target pest. Running concurrently with the chemists' and biologists' work, other scientists investigate the molecule's toxicology and environmental fate. Environmental scientists must find out how the new molecule behaves in the environment. Does it break down quickly in the soil? Are any residues left on the crop?

It is also important to know what effect the new molecule might have on people, including those who come into close contact with the product (such as manufacturers, the operators who apply it and the consumer). The earlier any such problems can be identified and the sooner the molecule can be eliminated from the research programme, the better. All the data must be collated to produce the dossier that will be submitted to the regulatory authorities for their approval.

The active ingredient chart for authorisation

To get a single crop protection product launched onto the market, companies typically spend about € 200 million over a 9-year period.