Insecticides sales

A striking feature of the toxic compounds considered so far is that many of them are neurotoxic to vertebrates or invertebrates or both. The nervous system of animals appears to be a particularly vulnerable target in chemical warfare. Not altogether surprisingly, all the major types of insecticides that have been commercially successful are also neurotoxins. Indeed, in 2003, neurotoxic insecticides accounted for over 70% of total insecticide sales globally (Nauen 2006). 

This marketing revolution has proven successful by all accounts. Consumer spending on lawn chemicals has increased in many markets, and has remained steady despite declines in other areas of herbicide and insecticide sales. ... 

Within the overall pesticide market, the proportion of insecticide sales decreased during the 1980s (from about 32% to 29%), but has changed little over the last... 

Pesticide sales in Brazil were predicted to increase by around 15% in 1998 to US 2153 million based on provisional figures from the country s industry association, ANDEF. Herbicides account for 60-65% of agrochemical sales, followed by insecticides at 25%. Insecticide sales have shown the greatest growth rate with a 19.8% increase over 1997. 

However, when classifying the presently available crop protection products of substantial commercial importance, one hnds only a comparatively low number of biochemical modes of action for which compounds have been commercialized. Altogether, four modes of action account for more than 75% of the current insecticide sales (Figure 1). In the helds of herbicides and fungicides, the situation is similar. Here six different modes of action dominate each market. Of these, several represent modes of action that have been commercialized during the last decade. Further classes of compounds demonstrating other modes of action which have been identihed in the past in all three indications have not gained major market shares from an economical point of view. 

The flexibility of the bulk blending system and the close relationship with the farmer allow the bulk blender to provide a number of valuable supplementary services, such as adding herbicides, insecticides, micronutrients, or seeds to the blends bagging blends liming and sampling soil. Consultation services and custom appHcation can also be provided as can sale of anhydrous ammonia or nitrogen solution. 

The first synthetic pyrogaHol plant using hydrolysis of chlorinated cyclohexanol (2,2,6,6-tetrachlorocyclohexanone) was built by BFC Chemicals, Inc. (Muskegon, Michigan) and has been producing pyrogaHol for the carbamate insecticide Beniocarb since 1982 (8,19). SocifitH Fransaise Hoechst offers pyrogaHol for sale in the United States (American Hoechst Corp.), and Japan is also a source of this chemical. 

California, one of the first states to recognize the need for control, enacted legislation in 1901 governing the sale of insecticides. This was later broadened to include, under the term economic poisons, all materials used for pest control. In the almost 50 years of regulating these materials in California the law, which is the Economic Poisons Article of the Agricultural Code, has been modified from time to time, but the basic purpose has been to prevent sale of worthless products, to provide for adequate labeling, and to assure users that the products correspond to guarantee. 

Each insecticide, fungicide, rodenticide, herbicide, or other pest control product must be registered with the State Bureau of Chemistry as an economic poison before being offered for sale in California. Registration may be refused, after hearing, for a product that is of little or no value for the purpose intended, or that is detrimental to vegetation (except weeds), to domestic animals, or to the public health and safety, when properly used. 

DDT helped build a powerful industry. Between 1944 and 1951, U.S. production of DDT increased tenfold, from 10 million to more than 100 million pounds, peaking in 1962 to 1963 at 188 million pounds. Pesticide sales soared from 40 million in 1939 to 260 million in 1954. Although fewer than ten large companies dominated the market, the number of insecticide and fungicide companies jumped from 83 in 1939 to 275 in 1954. 

By 1934 Farben had gained an absolute world monopoly of the sale of Zycion B. It was known the world over, with the warning agent, as an insecticide. 

The top 20 agrochemicals in terms of sales dollars are compiled in Tables 11.6 and 11.7. The list shows both modern products requiring small dosages and old ones with high dosages. The former products require much smaller application rates, but also have much higher unit prices. The most expen-sive agrochemicals in terms of unit prices are the modern insecticides -cyhalothrin ( 768/kg) and Imidacloprid ( 461/kg) the cheapest ones are the old herbicides Atrazin ( 4.90/kg) and 2.4-D ( 5.80/kg). As shown in Table 11.8, the cheaper products are the simpler ones in terms of their chemical structure. 

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