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Guest Editorial

Agrochemical products: Between agricultural necessity and environmental and health issues

 

Brief history of pesticides

The need to protect crops from pests and diseases is as old as agriculture itself. For instance, the Sumerians used sulfur 4,500 years ago to repel insects and fungi from their fields and storage facilities. In the Roman Empire, various methods were employed, including mosquito nets, elevated silos, sticky traps on trees, and plant-based pesticide extracts. However, ancient practices also included toxic compounds based on arsenic and heavy metals, which were far less environmentally friendly and posed dangers not only to pests but also to humans and ecosystems. It is only in recent decades that corrosive mercury-based seed treatments have been replaced by modern active substances.

Since the discovery of DDT's insecticidal properties in 1935 and its widespread use, pesticides have become indispensable tools for crop protection and for meeting the food demands of a growing global population. Since, numerous chemical families have been synthesized, forming three principal classes: insecticides, fungicides, and herbicides, and more.

However, their intensive and unreasonable use has raised critical concerns regarding their environmental impact, human health risks, and the long-term sustainability of agricultural systems. Indeed, since 1960, the negative effects of pesticides have been highlighted in Racher Carson's book ‘The Silent Spring’, in which she sounded the alarm about the unwise use of these products and their effects on farmers' health and the decline of non-target populations such as birds.

A pillar of agricultural production

Since the mid-20th century, pesticides have provided significant benefits, particularly to the economy, agriculture, and public health. They have made farmers' work easier, increased yields and eliminated many insect-borne diseases such as malaria. They have also helped to stabilize food supplies, playing a crucial role in global food security. A number of active substances have been shown to be effective in controlling many diseases and limiting the spread of many pests, improving the efficiency of farming practices.

Despite the promising results of this chemical management, its efficiency has often been achieved at the expense of a holistic approach to farm management, leading to monotony in pest management without an intelligent systems approach. Moreover, the excessive or inappropriate use of pesticides has led to many acute and chronic problems such as the emergence of resistance in bio-aggressors and a decline in biodiversity in agricultural ecosystems.

Challenges and consequences

Despite these achievements, the extensive use of chemicals in agriculture, including pesticides, has raised concerns about their long-term effects. Environmental pollution, illustrated by plastic waste, chemical spills and water contamination, underscores the unintended consequences of chemical innovation. Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) including many banned pesticides like DDT and endosulfan, along with hazardous industrial chemicals have been linked to severe environmental and health problems, including bioaccumulation in food chains and chronic diseases in humans.

Furthermore, the production and disposal of chemicals contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions, intensifying climate change. The reliance on non-renewable resources for chemical manufacturing has also sparked questions about the sustainability and resilience of the chemical industry in the context of resource scarcity.

The other side of pesticide use

The environmental impact of pesticides has been a growing concern since the 1960s and continues to intensify today. Their persistence in soil, contamination of water resources, and toxicity to non-target organisms, such as pollinators, underscore the urgent need to regulate and limit their use. For instance, the gradual decline in bee populations has been strongly linked to the use of certain systemic insecticides, particularly those belonging the chloronicotinyl chemical family.

From a public health perspective, pesticide residues in food remain a significant concern. While tolerance thresholds are in place, the cumulative effects of long-term exposure are still poorly understood. Furthermore, the consequences of the accumulation of various active substances in the human body - referred to as the "cocktail effect" - have not yet to be fully elucidated, leaving potential health risks inadequately addressed.

Toward sustainable solutions

Faced with this alarming situation linked to a global imbalance, the chemical industry is at a crossroads, with an urgent need to transition towards more sustainable practices. The principles of green chemistry, which focus on designing products and processes that minimize environmental and health impacts, offer a promising way forward. Innovations in bio-based chemicals, biodegradable materials and energy-efficient production methods are helping to reduce the ecological footprint of chemicals.

In addition to these industrial innovations, regulations and international agreements, such as the Stockholm Convention on POPs, are supporting a growing awareness of the need to reduce the use of harmful substances. Collaboration between governments, industry and research institutions is essential to encourage the development and adoption of safer and more sustainable chemical/biological solutions.

Toward a new generation of pesticides

In response to these challenges, crop protection research is increasingly focusing on more sustainable alternatives. Biopesticides, derived from natural organisms, and plant defense stimulators are promising avenues. These solutions reduce the impact on the environment while maintaining the effectiveness of pest control.

In addition, technological advances such as precision spraying, the use of drones, the microencapsulation of pesticides and analysis tools based on data and damage localization enable better dose management and targeted application, thus reducing waste and side-effects.

Conclusion

Since their invention, pesticides have played a central role in the development and growth of modern agriculture. However, their intensive use has had environmental, health and social consequences. The future of crop protection lies in a transition towards integrated and systemic approaches, combining biological, cultural, technological and ultimately chemical solutions. By adopting a more sustainable vision, it is possible to reconcile agricultural production and preservation of the environment, while meeting society's expectations for responsible, resilient agriculture.

Prof. Hanène Chaabane-Boujnah
INAT, University of Carthage, Tunis
Tunisia

Website : http://www.tjpp.tn