Agricultural chemicals, or agrochemicals, including pesticides (insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, nematicides), fertilizers, and other growth agents, remain critical to global food production in 2025. They are indispensable for boosting crop yields, controlling pests, and ensuring food security for a growing global population. However, their use comes with significant environmental and health concerns, prompting increased scrutiny, regulatory changes, and a push for safer, sustainable alternatives. This article explores the relevance of agrochemicals in modern agriculture and their safety, drawing on current trends, regulatory frameworks, and innovative practices.
Relevance of Agricultural Chemicals in 2025
Agrochemicals are pivotal to meeting global food demand, projected to increase with a population expected to reach 8.5 billion by 2030. Without pesticides, crop losses could be substantial—estimated at 78% for fruit, 54% for vegetables, and 32% for cereals. In South Africa, for instance, chemicals like Terbufos have been vital for controlling pests such as nematodes in maize production, a staple crop critical to food security. The global agrochemical market, valued at approximately $250 billion in 2025, is projected to grow at a 5% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) through 2033, driven by advancements in precision farming and targeted chemical formulations.
In developing countries like South Africa, agrochemicals are particularly essential to prevent famine and support economic stability through agriculture. For example, South Africa’s macadamia industry, a global leader producing 89,200 tons in 2024 and projected to reach 90,000–94,000 tons in 2025, relies on agrochemicals to maintain high yields for export markets like China and the U.S. The Green Revolution’s legacy, marked by the use of fertilizers and pesticides, continues to underpin high-yield farming, enabling countries to achieve food self-sufficiency.
Technological advancements have enhanced the relevance of agrochemicals. Precision agriculture, using AI and data analytics, optimizes chemical application, reducing waste and improving efficacy. For instance, South Africa’s tax agency, SARS, is exploring AI to streamline operations, a trend that could extend to agricultural monitoring, ensuring precise pesticide use. Innovations like systemic and pre-emergence herbicides and adjuvants (e.g., surfactants, emulsifiers) improve pest control efficiency, supporting crops like cereals, grains, and macadamias.
However, the reliance on agrochemicals varies by region. In sub-Saharan Africa, including South Africa, where chemical use is relatively low, increasing access to agrochemicals could boost productivity in food-insecure areas. Conversely, in industrialized nations, the focus is shifting toward reducing chemical inputs due to environmental concerns, with policies promoting integrated pest management (IPM) and organic farming.
Safety Concerns and Challenges
Despite their benefits, agrochemicals pose significant risks to human health, ecosystems, and biodiversity. These concerns have intensified in 2025, driving stricter regulations and public debate.
Health Risks
Pesticides can cause acute and chronic health issues, including neurotoxicity, cancer, endocrine disruption, and birth defects. In the U.S., an estimated 13,000–300,000 farmworkers suffer pesticide-related illnesses annually, with higher exposure risks for communities near agricultural fields. In South Africa, the tragic deaths of six children in Soweto in 2024, linked to the misuse of Terbufos as a “street pesticide,” led to its ban in June 2025, highlighting the dangers of improper use. Social media posts on platforms like X reflect growing public concern, with claims linking pesticides like glyphosate to cancers in over 10 organs, even at doses deemed “safe” by regulators. While these claims require further scrutiny, they underscore public distrust.
Pesticide residues in food are a global issue. The Codex Alimentarius Commission sets maximum residue limits (MRLs) to ensure food safety, but residues in fruits and vegetables, often consumed raw, can accumulate in the body, leading to long-term health risks. In South Africa, unregulated use of chemicals like Terbufos in informal settings has raised fears of contamination in food chains.
Environmental Impacts
Agrochemicals contribute to soil degradation, water contamination, and biodiversity loss. Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) from pesticides, such as organochlorines, accumulate in ecosystems, harming non-target species like birds, fish, and pollinators. For example, herbicides like atrazine have been detected in higher concentrations in forest canopies than agricultural fields, indicating long-distance transport via atmospheric movement. In South Africa’s Chris Hani District Municipality, water contamination from agrochemical runoff exacerbates shortages, threatening public health with diseases like cholera. Globally, pesticide use contributes to 10% of greenhouse gas emissions, accelerating climate change.
The overuse of pesticides has also led to pest resistance, increasing chemical applications and environmental damage. In China, a 1% increase in agricultural production correlates with a 1.8% rise in pesticide use, creating a vicious cycle of resistance and pollution.
Socioeconomic and Ethical Issues
In developing countries, including South Africa, farmworkers and rural communities face disproportionate exposure to agrochemicals due to lax regulations and inadequate protective measures. The U.S. exports unapproved neurotoxic pesticides to low-middle-income countries, exposing vulnerable populations to chemicals banned domestically. This practice, coupled with historical “agricultural exceptionalism” that excludes farmworkers from labor protections, raises environmental justice concerns.
In South Africa, the Terbufos ban illustrates the tension between agricultural needs and public safety. While effective and affordable for controlling nematodes, its misuse in non-agricultural settings led to a blanket ban, potentially threatening maize production and food security. Farmers argue that alternatives are less effective and costlier, impacting profitability, especially in sandy soils where 63.8% of maize is grown.
Regulatory Frameworks and Safety Measuresions aim to balance agrochemical benefits with safety. In the U.S., the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets tolerances for pesticide residues and evaluates their safety, while the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) enforces these limits. The 1996 Food Quality Protection Act emphasizes protecting children from pesticide exposure due to their heightened vulnerability. However, gaps remain, such as the EPA’s oversight of farmworker safety, which is not covered by OSHA, and delayed Spanish-language labeling for pesticides.
In South Africa, the Department of Agriculture regulates pesticides under the Fertilizers, Farm Feeds, Agricultural Remedies and Stock Remedies Act of 1947, though enforcement is inconsistent. The Terbufos ban, supported by the Human Rights Commission, aligns with policies to phase out highly hazardous pesticides, but critics argue it addresses a policing issue (illegal imports) rather than agricultural use. The South African People’s Tribunal on AgroToxins pushes for banning 194 other hazardous pesticides, citing the EU’s 2009 ban on Terbufos as a precedent.
China’s 2015 Action Plans for Zero Growth in Pesticide and Fertilizer Use have reduced pesticide application, improving the quality and quantity of agricultural products. Such policies could serve as a model for South Africa, where water scarcity and non-payment cultures hinder infrastructure maintenance, exacerbating contamination risks.
Globally, the Rotterdam Convention and Codex Alimentarius regulate pesticide trade and residues, promoting safer use. Initiatives like the $379 million FARM program (2024) in countries like Ecuador, India, and Vietnam aim to phase out POPs-containing agrochemicals and promote sustainable practices.
Innovations and Alternatives for Safer Agriculture
To address safety concerns, the agricultural sector is adopting innovative practices:
-
Integrated Pest Management (IPM): IPM combines biological, cultural, and mechanical controls to reduce chemical reliance. It is gaining traction in regions like sub-Saharan Africa, where pesticide use is low but growing.
-
Biopesticides and Organic Farming: Biopesticides, derived from natural sources, and organic farming practices, such as using arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), enhance soil health and reduce chemical inputs. South Africa’s macadamia industry could benefit from such approaches to maintain export quality.
-
Precision Application: AI-driven precision farming, as seen in South Africa’s SARS modernization efforts, optimizes chemical use, minimizing environmental impact. Drones and sensors ensure targeted application, reducing runoff.
-
Bio-based Herbicides: New herbicides with greater selectivity and biodegradability are being developed to replace persistent chemicals like diuron, reducing residue risks.
-
Policy and Education: Training farmers on safe handling, as mandated by Australia’s APVMA, and transparent billing, as suggested for Chris Hani’s water management, can improve compliance and reduce misuse. Community collaboration and police action are needed to curb illegal pesticide trade, as seen with Terbufos in South Africa.
In 2025, agricultural chemicals remain essential for global food security, particularly in countries like South Africa, where they support crops like maize and macadamias. However, their health and environmental risks—evident in cases like the Terbufos ban and water contamination in Chris Hani—demand stricter regulation, safer alternatives, and public education. Innovations like IPM, biopesticides, and precision farming, alongside policies promoting sustainable practices, offer a path toward balancing productivity with safety. While agrochemicals will continue to play a critical role, their responsible use, guided by science and robust oversight, is crucial to protect human health, ecosystems, and food security in an increasingly populous world.
DISCLAIMER
The views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of any entities they represent. The information contained in this website is for general information purposes only. The information is provided by CRA and while we endeavour to keep the information up to date and correct, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the website or the information, products, services, or related graphics contained on the website for any purpose. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk.
