Book reviews - Pesticides News No 60

The agrochemical market in Latin America
This fascinating insight into the changes in the pesticide market in Latin America couples an analysis of the overall political situation and agricultural outlook in 15 countries with details of major crop pests and pesticide uses. 
    The region represents 13-15% of global pesticide sales. With growth reaching its limit in the major US, North American and Japanese markets, the major agrochemical companies viewed Latin America as the main hope for expansion. For most of the 1990s the promise was largely fulfilled, but sales dropped by 10% from a high of US$4,837 million in 1998 to US$4,351 million in 2000. Export crops fuelled the growth, and low commodity prices have contributed to the fall. The largest share of pesticide sales are for soybeans, bananas and maize, with growth in the vegetable and flower sectors. 
    The collapse of the Argentinean economy, which, with Brazil, provides the biggest agricultural market, was another major factor in the regional slow-down. Argentina has a thriving generic pesticide industry, which often ignores intellectual property constraints, and these cheaper products sold better than the proprietary agrochemicals. Argentina represents 22% of the global market for genetically engineered (GE) seeds and the dramatic take-off, particularly of Bt and Roundup Ready soya – planted on 90% of the crop area – has undermined sales of selective herbicides. The Roundup Ready GE industry, on the other hand, contributes to the rise in glyphosate sales. Glyphosate and paraquat are widely used in low tillage agriculture, an expanding practice on the continent. 
    The report points out developments in the growth of pesticides for seed dressings. With certified seed becoming dearer, especially the GE varieties, farmers are prepared to pay more for seed dressings to protect their investment, including the new systemic insecticides that have become available. Seed marketing has changed, with more sold by agrochemical companies and sold in packages – combinations of seeds and pesticides, including dressings. The long-term consequences of a firm grip on seed production and marketing by the pesticide industry, and the implications for more sustainable agricultural systems, will worry environmentalists, but is beyond the scope of this report. 
    The country sections are packed with information and statistics. The report provides an excellent overview of the current status of the pesticide market on the continent, and a good basis for analysing potential developments. 

Geoff Goulston, The agrochemical market in Latin America: market analysis, Agrow Reports, PJB Publications Ltd, Richmond, UK, 166pp, November 2002, £495.00, www.agrowreports.com

Weeding with herbicides 
Agrow has produced a detailed examination into the world of herbicide use and markets, with the publication of ‘Post-Emergent Herbicides’. Covering the bulk of the herbicide market, these products range from non-selective pesticides such as glyphosate and paraquat, to selective products and those used in combination with herbicide-tolerant crops. Herbicides account for over half the value of the $29 billion global pesticide market, and post-emergent products are the fastest growing area, partly led by their use in combination with GE crops, and in no-till agriculture. The report covers scientific, agricultural, and market areas, with detailed profiles of 121 post-emergent herbicide active ingredients. One chapter covers the important concern of herbicide resistance, and another is devoted to glyphosate. This active ingredient is the most successful pesticide in history, and with sales of over $3 billion a year it accounts for over 10% of the total value of the world pesticide market. Its sales are greater than the total of the next 10 largest agrochemical active ingredients. 
    The in-depth and broad coverage of this sector of the agrochemical market leaves few blades of grass undisturbed, making a significant contribution to understanding the industry.

Leonard G Copping, Post-Emergent herbicides, Agrow Reports, PJB Publications, Richmond, UK, July 2002, 211pp, £495.00, www.agrowreports.com

State of the World 2003 
This edition of the annual environmental analysis from the Worldwatch Institute covers, among other areas, the rapid decline of global bird populations, the threat of malaria, gender, biodiversity and population, and the scope for collaboration between religious and environmental communities. 
    State of the World clearly addresses the importance of integrating human needs with conservation. It documents disappearing bird species and points to chemicals and habitat loss as key factors, and making recommendations for a sustainable future for birds and diversity. These start with the importance of involving local communities in conservation efforts, and combining compatible commercial activities with conservation goals. The chapter on ‘Combating Malaria’ addresses the urgent need for solutions to this disease that kills three million people a year, mainly children, and 90% of which are in Africa. Discussing the contribution and continued use of DDT to control malarial vectors, it sets out other options that in the long run must provide safer and more sustainable solutions. Foremost among these must be public health approaches and recognition that malaria deaths are largely a disease of poverty. 
    An innovative addition is a timeline documenting announcements, agreements and reports issued during the past year, mostly positive, some sobering – that mark a process of change. The milestones are grouped under such headings as forests, health, climate, biodiversity, fisheries, toxics and governance. This 20th edition provides good documentation of steps towards a sustainable society, and initiatives that are essential to continue making progress. 

Worldwatch Institute, State of the World 2003: Progress towards a sustainable society, Earthscan Publications Ltd, London, 2003, 240pp, £12.95.

Minor crop problems 
Minor crops include most fruit, most vegetables, all herbs and industrial crops. Although individual minor crops represent a small market segment, taken together they represent a significant sector, about 40% of the total crop value in the US. In 1997 they contributed US$39.7 billion to the agricultural economy.
    The withdrawal of pesticide registrations for minor crop applications left many growers without adequate crop protection solutions. Minor crop pesticides are commonly products that were marketed for use on major crops but have been superseded by newer products within these markets, and have been marketed for use in smaller crop markets. 
    Minor crop pesticides are commonly sold at a higher cost per unit volume or per unit area treated. Pesticide companies justify these higher costs by highlighting the increased liability associated with the high value per unit area of minor crops, and the need to recoup high research, development and registration costs associated with minor crop pesticides. Growers have not always accepted these justifications. A US court recently found in favour of a group of minor crop growers who undertook a class action against BASF for charging a higher price for a ‘minor pesticide’ than the equivalent ‘major pesticide’ containing the same active ingredient. BASF has stated that, if this ruling is allowed to stand, many of the leading pesticide companies will withdraw pesticide products.
    Despite the gloomy outlook, Agrow concludes that there are market opportunities for companies who are willing to develop crop protection products for this sector.

Philip Jarvis, Pesticides for Minor Crops: Market opportunities from product withdrawals, Agrow Reports, PJB Publications, Richmond, UK, 2002, 84pp, £495.00, www.agrowreports.com

Urban pest control 
The Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Urban Pesticides held in July 2002 are now available. The latest gathering followed in the three-year cycle of Conferences that began in 1993. Some highlights of the conference include presentations that show the increase in importance of house infesting ants, decrease in pest status of the German cockroach, and the technology applied to subterranean termite control.

Susan Jones, Jing Zhai and Wm H Robinson (Eds), Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Urban Pests, Pocahontas Press Inc, Blacksburg, Virginia, US, 495pp.

[This article first appeared in Pesticides News No. 60, June 2003, page 23]