Increased demand for food due to population growth, together with a reduction in suitable arable land, has made pesticides essential for ensuring food security. They play a key role in both increasing agricultural yields and improving food quality – they are estimated to reduce crop losses caused by pests and diseases by around 30%.
As a result, their use has grown significantly in recent decades. Globally, agricultural pesticide consumption rose from 2.8 million tonnes in 2010 to 3.5 million tonnes in 2022 – an increase of 25% in just 12 years.
