From the Lab to the Field

What is a crop protection product or pesticide?
What are the benefits of the crop protection products?
How is a pesticide product researched and developed?
How much does it cost to research and develop a pesticide?
How much does the Research and Development industry invest annually in new products?
How are crop protection products or pesticides classified?

What is a crop protection product or pesticide?

These products prevent, repel or control pests of animal or vegetal origin during the production, storage, transportation and distribution of agricultural products. If not controlled, these pests can significantly reduce agricultural productivity.

Molecules, polymers, chemical groups, toxicology, eco toxicology are only some of the words that scientists who work in technological advancements to benefit agriculture use, specifically on the subject of crop protection products.

What are the benefits of the crop protection products?

They protect the crops from pests, weeds and diseases.
Without pesticide products the world production of fruits and vegetables, pastures and fibers would drop 30 to 45% due to damage from pests.
A greater agricultural production means a cost reduction for the end consumer and greater access to food for the world population.
Crop protection products ensure a greater and better production of food and other crops benefiting the survival and well-being of humanity.

How is a pesticide product researched and developed?

Crop protection products are the result of a very detailed laboratory and field work, in which scientists from different disciplines participate.

It is a process that lasts an average of nine years of work, encompassing both Research and Development activities. The process involves more than 120 tests, studies and evaluations that analyze the behavior of the product from an agricultural, environmental and health perspective.

The risk of canceling a project before concluding the development process is constant. In any of the development stages, the project can be canceled. Only one out of 140 thousand molecules studied by the agrochemical industry is able to go from the laboratory to the field.

How much does it cost to research and develop a pesticide?

The research and development process for a pesticide product has an average cost of 256 million dollars.

These costs have been increasing. In 1995, the figure was $152 million and in 2000 it went up to $184 million. The costs increase due to the need to conduct more studies that guarantee the safety of the products.

How much does the Research and Development industry invest in new products?

It is more than five billion dollars each year. % corresponds to new crop protection chemical product developments and the other percentage corresponds to biotechnology.

The result of this investment is new phytosanitary products. They are newer, safer and more effective, and will benefit the farmers, consumers and the environment.

How are crop protection products or pesticides classified?

Herbicides:
Control the vegetal species (weeds) that invade the crops and reduce productivity.

Insecticides:
Control the harmful insects that reduce yields.

Acaricides, fungicides y bactericides:
Their purpose is to fight mites, fungi and bacterial diseases.