On the Social Attributes of Pesticides
Category:
Industry Information
Author:
Wu Guoqiang, China Pesticide Industry Association
Source:
Pesticide Science and Management
Release date:
2021-11-18
On the Social Attributes of Pesticides
Every commodity possesses both natural and social attributes. The natural attribute is embodied in the commodity’s inherent use-value—for example, pesticides are used to control pests and diseases. The social attribute, on the other hand, is manifested through social relations and is reflected in political, social, and economic dimensions. Only by understanding the social attributes of pesticides and accurately grasping their status and value in political, social, and economic contexts can we truly appreciate their significance for the national economy and social development.
1 The Political “Stigma” of Pesticides
Pesticides are a commodity; as an agricultural input, they constitute a special kind of commodity that has been profoundly shaped by contemporary politics and imbued with distinct modern political attributes.
1.1 Concerning the “major interests of the nation”—food security
Food is paramount for the people. Without food, individuals either perish or fall ill; without food, nations may descend into chaos or even collapse. Food security, a matter of life and death, is truly a “major national concern.” Pesticides are a critical pillar in safeguarding food security. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, annual global crop losses due to pests, diseases, and weeds range from 20% to 40%. If current pesticide use were abandoned, these losses would double. This underscores two key points: first, even with pesticides, pest and disease pressures still account for 20% to 40% of yield losses; more judicious and scientifically informed pesticide application could further reduce these losses. Second, if existing pesticides were phased out, crop yields would suffer an additional 20% to 40% loss. In a world where global food production is already tightly balanced, abandoning current pesticide use would either require reducing the population by 20% to 40% or leaving everyone in a state of chronic hunger. Undoubtedly, such a scenario is an unbearable burden for our reality.
In Chinese history, the most devastating pest has been the locust. When locusts arrive, they blot out the sun; when they depart, farmers may be left with nothing at all. Under relatively benevolent dynasties and local officials, some relief measures might allow the poor to eke out a meager existence; but under regimes indifferent to the people’s fate, famine would sweep across the land, driving families to cannibalism. The Communist Party of China and the Chinese government place the people at the center of their work, treating food security as a matter of paramount national importance. How can we ensure food security? As a country with a vast population, entrusting our food supply to others and leaving it in their hands cannot guarantee true security. We must rely on ourselves to solve our own food problems and hold our own rice bowls firmly in our hands—only then can we feel truly secure. Reality tells us that it is unrealistic to talk about national food security without acknowledging the role of agricultural chemicals. To focus solely on the problems posed by pesticides while ignoring their immense contributions is a myopic bias—a mechanistic approach that fails to grasp dialectical principles. Small-scale pesticides are inextricably linked to broader food security, and this reality is unlikely to change for quite some time.
1.2 Concerning the “Foundation of the Nation”—Environmental Security
Too much is as bad as too little; fortune and misfortune coexist. While pesticides help ensure food security, their improper or unsafe use can harm the environment. In 1962, American marine biologist Rachel Carson’s book Silent Spring described how birds had fallen silent and springtime had grown eerily quiet, highlighting the environmental damage caused by the overuse of chemical pesticides. The work resonated widely with the international public, abruptly revealing that chemical pesticides are neither a panacea nor an unmitigated evil—rather, they are a double-edged sword, embodying both angelic benefits and devilish risks. While protecting crops from pests and diseases, they can also inflict severe damage on the very environment upon which humanity depends. Thus, as we embrace their beneficial aspects, we must also strive to rein in their harmful consequences, confining pesticides within safe boundaries and employing scientific methods and rigorous regulatory frameworks to keep their darker side in check. Consequently, pre‑market registration and review procedures, along with post‑market oversight mechanisms, have been established.
Over the past six decades, humanity has amassed substantial experience in embracing the principle of using angels to curb demons, gradually mastering this approach. The fundamental strategy involves phasing out high‑risk, highly persistent pesticides in favor of efficient, low‑toxicity, and low‑residue alternatives, while promoting precision application and enhancing pesticide use efficiency—thereby both mitigating crop damage from pests and diseases and minimizing environmental harm. Since the launch of reform and opening-up, alongside socio‑economic development, China’s environmental awareness has steadily strengthened. A comprehensive regulatory framework for pesticide management has been established and continuously refined, ensuring that every stage—from registration and production to marketing and application—is governed by law. As a result, environmental damage caused by pesticide production and use has improved markedly; nevertheless, vigilance in environmental protection must remain unwavering.
1.3 Concerning “Public Health” — Food Safety
Most chemical pesticides remaining in the natural environment undergo natural degradation; however, trace amounts may persist in the environment or in crops and, through the food chain, be absorbed by animals and humans, ultimately posing health risks. The well-being of the people is paramount, and under the leadership of the Communist Party, safeguarding public health is the highest political priority. To mitigate the impact of pesticide residues on food safety, it is essential to rigorously manage four critical stages: First, strengthen the review and registration process—refusing to register or authorize products that may exceed established risk thresholds, thereby preventing problems before they arise. Second, enforce stringent market supervision, resolutely removing counterfeit and substandard products from circulation. Third, ensure proper application of pesticides: prescribe treatments based on the specific condition, follow standardized formulations, and adhere to prescribed dosages. As the saying goes, “even medicine contains some toxicity”; when people fall ill and take medication, insufficient doses are ineffective, while excessive doses can lead to poisoning. The same principle applies to pesticides: applications must strictly comply with established standards, and robust training for applicators and rigorous control over dosage levels are indispensable. Fourth, implement a re‑evaluation and withdrawal mechanism: subject marketed products to periodic reassessment, and, in response to evolving circumstances and technological advances, promptly phase out high‑risk, high‑residue pesticides.
2 The Social Role of Pesticides
2.1 Liberating the Workforce—One of the Pillars of People’s Well-Being
Marx once remarked that replacing human labor with machinery and freeing people from arduous physical work constitutes the greatest contribution of industrial society. One of the key indicators of social progress and human well-being is precisely the liberation of humanity from grueling manual labor; after all, it is hard to call agricultural work—exhausting, performed under scorching heat or bitter cold, with every drop of sweat splattering into eight pieces—truly fulfilling. While the substitution of machinery for human labor has undeniably freed farmers, the extent to which pesticides have contributed to this emancipation remains, for some, rather unclear.
The shift from manual weeding to herbicides is relatively recent, dating back only to the late twentieth century. Before the advent of chemical pesticides for pest control, pest management relied almost entirely on manual labor—yielding poor results and demanding grueling, high‑intensity agricultural work. The primary purpose of developing pesticides was to manage plant diseases and pests, safeguard crops, and boost yields and incomes; yet, in practice, they have also helped free up labor and contribute to greater well‑being.
2.2 Driving Social Welfare—Exhibiting Characteristics of a Quasi-Public Good
Pests, diseases, and weeds spread by exploiting environmental conditions and their own biological characteristics, potentially leading to large-scale, catastrophic consequences. In the past two years, the fall armyworm—drawing close attention from agricultural authorities at all levels and even from central leaders—has leveraged wind currents to travel hundreds of kilometers in a single day, crossing oceans and national borders and causing immense damage. Such pest outbreaks require top-down planning, coordinated deployment, and unified control; fragmented, household‑by‑household efforts yield only minimal results. Although some pests and diseases are far less mobile than the fall armyworm, they can still spread widely through the transport and movement of host plants. Consequently, pest and disease management exhibits a “spillover effect”: when one entity takes action, it benefits not only itself but also others and society at large; conversely, failure to act harms both the individual and the broader community. From this perspective, pesticides are not ordinary commodities; they possess certain attributes of a public good and constitute a social welfare product that safeguards the public interest. The public‑good and social‑welfare nature of pesticides entails a high degree of responsibility and obligation on the part of the government. Indeed, some localities have introduced lists of “green” pesticides, offering subsidies or even free access to certain formulations—this policy is grounded precisely in that rationale. However, this does not mean that the state should bear the full cost of purchasing pesticide products. Since pest and disease control yields benefits both to individuals and to society, an appropriate sharing of costs between private users and government budgets is warranted; as fiscal resources grow, it is entirely reasonable for the government to assume a larger share—or even cover the entire expense.
2.3 Safeguarding Public Health—The Unique Social Function of Alternative Pesticides
The Regulations on the Administration of Pesticides explicitly stipulate that “preventing and controlling mosquitoes, flies, cockroaches, rodents, and other harmful organisms” falls within the scope of pesticides; such products are commonly referred to as “public health pesticides.” Mosquitoes, flies, cockroaches, and rodents pose threats to both production and daily life—harming rural areas as well as urban centers, and affecting agriculture as well as industry, commerce, and services. Often dubbed the “Four Pests,” these pests can even trigger outbreaks of malaria and plague, underscoring their significant harm. According to World Health Organization statistics, in 2019 there were 228 million cases of malaria worldwide, resulting in 409,000 deaths, with over 94% of cases occurring in Africa. Since 2001, among the 663 million malaria cases successfully averted, 69% were attributable to the use of insecticide‑treated bed nets, while an additional 10% stemmed from indoor residual spraying. Data indicate that between 2001 and 2010, increased deployment of insecticide‑treated bed nets prevented the deaths of 842,800 children in malaria‑endemic regions globally. In pursuit of WHO’s goal to control and eliminate malaria and other vector‑borne tropical diseases by 2030, public health products have come to play a pivotal role in vector‑control interventions. Although these pesticides represent a distinct category within the broader pesticide spectrum, they serve a vital social function by safeguarding public health and enhancing quality of life, thereby exhibiting strong characteristics of public goods.
3 Economic and Market Characteristics of Pesticides
As a commodity, pesticides naturally possess the economic attributes common to all goods; at the same time, as agricultural inputs, they also exhibit their own distinctive economic characteristics.
3.1 The Seller’s Dominant Position in the Terminal Transaction Process
In typical commodity transactions, such as the purchase of a television, the buyer has a clear objective and articulates their purchasing needs, while the seller promptly completes settlement and delivery, bringing the transaction to a close—any subsequent installation services are straightforward. By contrast, pesticide transactions differ: farmers generally cannot readily specify which product they wish to buy or in what quantity, nor can they clearly identify the particular pests or diseases they aim to address; more often, they bring samples of the pest or disease, leaving it to the seller to offer recommendations. This effectively grants the seller the authority to prescribe and make decisions, placing them in a dominant—and sometimes decisive—position throughout the end‑user transaction. As a result, the rights and obligations of buyers and sellers are asymmetrical. From the perspective of economic fair‑trade theory, such an imbalance makes it difficult to achieve equitable transactions. To ensure fairness, the state must employ legal and regulatory measures to impose additional duties and responsibilities on the stronger party—for example, requiring sellers to hold operating licenses, mandating that sales personnel undergo appropriate professional training, ensuring that recommended products are registered and approved for use on specific crops and target pests, and maintaining traceable records of origin. Meanwhile, buyers (farmers) also take certain self‑protective steps, such as purchasing pesticides from trusted sources within well‑established social networks. A strong reputation reduces the likelihood of problems, and relying on familiar networks makes it easier to assert one’s rights should issues arise.
3.2 The Complexity of the Usage Process and Its Consequences
Taking televisions as a typical example, their operation is very straightforward—most people can use them, and even those who are unfamiliar with them can master them after brief training. By contrast, the application of agricultural pesticides is far more complex: not only must the product be selected to match the specific pest or disease, but its efficacy also depends on factors such as which other products it is mixed with, the correct mixing ratios, the type of spraying equipment used, environmental conditions at the time of application, and the frequency of treatments. Moreover, the skill level of the applicator and the method of application significantly influence the pesticide’s effectiveness, which often leads to disputes between buyers and sellers. When the results fall short of expectations—particularly in cases of substantial damage—the buyer may accuse the seller of failing to provide proper guidance or of supplying substandard products, while the seller may contend that the buyer did not follow the recommended application procedures. As a result, investigating incidents and gathering evidence can be challenging. Given that farmers, as pesticide purchasers, face limitations in rapidly improving their technical expertise, policy encourages the development of agricultural production‑related social service organizations and promotes the provision of crop‑protection management and specialized pesticide‑application services.
3.3 The Amplification Effect of Outputs
As an agricultural input, pesticide consumption represents a continuation of the agricultural production process, and its output is amplified within that process. This differs from ordinary commodities: when a non‑compliant product—such as a poorly made television—fails to meet quality standards, the loss is confined to the item itself, typically amounting to no more than its purchase price and rarely triggering cascading losses. By contrast, substandard pesticides can lead to substantial losses in agricultural yields, while the cost of the pesticide itself pales in comparison. Properly targeted application and correct usage of pesticides enhance crop growth and improve product quality, yielding exponentially greater returns; conversely, improper or misdirected use results in disproportionately severe damage. It is precisely for this reason that the state strengthens oversight of pesticide safety, quality, and proper application, rigorously cracking down on counterfeit and substandard products. These constitute the primary distinctive economic characteristics of pesticides. In addition to these core economic attributes, pesticides also exhibit three ancillary market features.
3.3.1 The Principal–Agent Relationship in the Agricultural Sector
The agrochemical industry serves agriculture; robust policies that support agricultural development naturally drive the sector’s prosperity, while sluggish agricultural growth can lead to downward pressure on agrochemicals. Agrochemical prices generally move in tandem with agricultural commodity prices, though their volatility tends to be more pronounced. This stems from the relatively small share of agrochemical costs in the overall price structure of agricultural products and the industry’s inherent competitive moat: new production capacity is difficult to establish. When market conditions for agricultural commodities are favorable—leading to expanded planting areas and higher multiple-cropping indices—demand for agrochemicals rises, often triggering rapid price increases.
3.3.2 High User Retention
Given the complexity of pesticide transactions and product usage, a company’s reputation and word-of-mouth play a crucial role in farmers’ choices of pesticide varieties and brands. In rural communities, where social networks are tightly knit and information channels remain relatively limited, farmers place great emphasis on recommendations from neighbors and on the tangible results they observe firsthand. The resulting buyer–seller relationships tend to be fairly stable; once mutual trust is established, these ties can endure over time, fostering strong customer loyalty. By contrast, introducing a new pesticide vendor or a novel product into an unfamiliar market requires significantly greater effort and investment. In essence, the pesticide market demands meticulous cultivation, making rapid expansion or outright market domination impractical.
3. 3. 3 Pronounced regional characteristics
The regional characteristics of pesticide use stem first from the regional diversity of agricultural practices. Crop varieties and multiple-cropping indices vary significantly across regions, inevitably giving rise to differences in pesticide application. Second, variations in the agricultural production environment—such as differing local conditions for pests, diseases, and weeds—lead to distinct pest‑and‑disease pressures. Moreover, factors like light exposure, temperature, and humidity also influence the efficacy of pesticide applications. All these elements result in disparities in pesticide use between countries and among regions. Finally, the localized nature of the agricultural service system further contributes to this pattern: agricultural service providers typically serve their own local areas, with few organizations offering services across large geographic boundaries. These service providers wield considerable influence in recommending agricultural inputs, and the fragmented structure of the service market has, in turn, reinforced the regionalization of pesticide use.
4 Practical Implications of Understanding the Social Dimensions of Pesticides
Theoretical reflection is intended to serve practical realities, not to pursue theory for its own sake. By analyzing the social attributes of pesticides, we aim to gain a clearer understanding of the industry’s trajectory and pathways for development.
4.1 Approaching Pesticide Production with Full Confidence
The pesticide industry is a relatively small sector, yet it is indispensable for human food production; it has freed humanity from arduous labor; and it plays a critical role in ensuring environmental and food safety. Moreover, the development of society and the well-being of humankind depend on the continued advancement of pesticides. For the foreseeable future, the pesticide industry will not be in decline—it will remain a thriving, forward‑looking sector. Those in the industry should approach their work with confidence and pride, rather than feeling disheartened or marginalized. At the same time, pesticides must continually innovate and adapt to evolving societal needs. The pressures faced by developed regions to “replace old industries with new ones,” coupled with growing public expectations regarding pesticide use, reflect an objective necessity for industrial relocation and product‑category adjustments within China’s socio‑economic development. These dynamics should not be interpreted as suppression of the pesticide sector; instead, they call for aligning with the broader trends, rethinking industrial planning from a fresh perspective, and developing cutting‑edge products.
4.2 Adapting to Working Under Public Oversight
As an essential input for agricultural production, the pesticide industry, though relatively small in scale, possesses unique political, social, and economic characteristics that set it apart from ordinary commodities. Bearing greater responsibilities, it naturally draws increased public attention—and with it, more criticism and even controversy. The social nature of pesticides means they will inevitably remain under the spotlight, subject to scrutiny by public opinion. Such societal dynamics are immutable. Since the publication of Silent Spring, pesticides have consistently been the focus of widespread public concern and critique. It is precisely through this sustained attention and critical feedback that the industry has strengthened its governance, balanced interests with risk mitigation, and pursued innovation—resulting in reduced environmental pollution and improved food safety. As people’s aspirations for quality of life continue to rise, the pursuit of a cleaner environment and safer food remains an ongoing process. Consequently, societal expectations for pesticides will only grow higher; these expectations serve as both the driving force and the ultimate goal of the industry’s development—enabling continuous improvement under oversight and fostering progress through refinement.
4.3 Wholeheartedly deliver “Conscientious Products”
Pesticides are production inputs, not end‑consumption goods. Their effectiveness is magnified exponentially in agriculture: high‑quality pesticides boost harvests, while substandard ones ultimately undermine farm incomes, leading to reduced yields or even total crop failure. In this sense, pesticides are “products of conscience”—their production and sale should reflect integrity, not merely commercial profit. Pesticides that deliver superior quality, robust performance, and excellent service are warmly embraced by both farmers and the government. Conversely, products of poor quality and inadequate service will inevitably face widespread rejection from farmers and stringent regulatory action. Only by approaching pesticide manufacturing with genuine dedication—devoting oneself wholeheartedly to agriculture and to farmers, and upholding a spirit of conscientious responsibility—can one achieve positive outcomes; any half‑hearted effort or reliance on shortcuts will prove counterproductive, with potentially dire consequences.
4.4 Continuously innovate while closely monitoring developments in agriculture and among farmers.
Innovation is the cornerstone of industrial development, and the agrochemical industry must remain attuned to the evolving needs of agriculture and farmers, continuously driving innovation. We are living in an era of rapid change, with both agriculture and farmers undergoing swift transformations. The green, high‑quality, large‑scale, facility‑based, standardized, and diversified cultivation trends in agriculture—coupled with the aging population, increasing diversification of farming activities, and structural labor shortages among farmers—demand the accelerated development of new agrochemical products. As demand continues to evolve, any reluctance to adapt on the supply side will ultimately lead to obsolescence.
4.5 The Value Lies in Focus
The diversity of pesticide formulations and the regionally segmented nature of the end‑product market mean that no single multinational agrochemical company can achieve true monopoly. For small and medium-sized enterprises, the key to survival lies in specialization: focusing on one or a few products, and cultivating a deep, niche presence within a specific sector or geographic area. Excellence in specialization is their competitive edge, and that edge enables them to not only survive but also thrive.
Source: Pesticide Science and Management
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