Crop protection continues to advance to help farmers maximize the potential of land, seed and crop inputs with less environmental impact.
2023
Better profiles
Increase in product effectiveness
Many of the most widely used pesticides of the 1960s are replaced with products that are more effective against pests and have better environmental and human health profiles.
2022
New modes of action
Reduced resistance risks
Crop protection products feature new modes of action that reduce resistance risks and targeted profiles that reduce impact on beneficial organisms like pollinators.
2021
Regulatory approvals
Crossing Regulatory Hurdles
To meet regulatory approval around the world, today’s crop protection products must show they control pests with as little impact on the environment as possible.
2018
Less herbicide use
Decline in use rates
Active ingredient use rates decline. Now, farmers use 97% less herbicide active ingredients to protect against weeds than they used to.1
1960
Period of discovery
Revolutionizing control
A ground-breaking period of discovery begins, revolutionizing control of disease, insects and weeds in crops.
1950
Rise in productivity
Green Revolution
The Green Revolution introduces new chemistry-based pesticides which result in significant improvements in farm productivity.
1760
Pest control
Industrial Revolution
Farmers experiment with byproducts of the Industrial Revolution, including coal tar, to control pests. These options are not very effective or environmentally friendly.
1000
Weed control
Cultivation methods
Farmers begin controlling weeds with cultivation methods, such as optimizing plant spacing. Weeds and insects are removed by hand.
300 BC
Climate impact
Insect management
Farmers begin learning about the impact of climate and temperature on insect populations and look for ways to time their planting to avoid insect infestation.
500 BC
Farming in China
Use of predatory ants
Chinese farmers use predatory ants to protect their citrus crops.
2500 BC
First practice
The first record of crop protection
Ancient Sumerians leave the first record of practicing crop protection. They use sulfur compounds to control insects, a practice that’s still used in some organic farming.
