Agrochemical

An agrochemical or agrichemical, a contraction of agricultural chemical, is a <a href="/facts/Chemical/EWcXU41d">chemical</a> product used in <a href="/facts/Intensive_farming/dHGtp0Im">conventional</a> or <a href="/facts/Industrial_agriculture/7afGrA74">industrial</a> agriculture. Agrochemical typically refers to <a href="/facts/Pesticides/Uhf4KnwJ">pesticides</a> (including <a href="/facts/Insecticide/1xYL3MSD">insecticides</a>, <a href="/facts/Herbicide/FN93bvrk">herbicides</a>, <a href="/facts/Fungicide/c1twQBYo">fungicides</a> and <a href="/facts/Nematicide/xnJNqGxx">nematicides</a>) and synthetic <a href="/facts/Fertilizer/ysh3r6NJ">fertilizers</a>. The term agrochemical is sometimes used informally synonymously with pesticides, sometimes also informally to mean pesticides and fertilizers, and sometimes more correctly to include all chemicals used in agriculture. Other chemicals used in agriculture are; <a href="/facts/Plant_hormone/h3noouev">plant hormones</a> and <a href="/facts/Plant_hormone/h3noouev">plant growth regulators (PGRs)</a>, <a href="/facts/Attract-kill_pattern/waJD33Mx">insect attractants</a>, <a href="/facts/Insect_repellent/a5wpJeTr">insect repellents</a>, <a href="/facts/Systemic_acquired_resistance/DkKx6kLa">plant defense inducers</a>, <a href="/facts/Herbicide_safener/BJVPjk43">herbicide safeners</a>, <a href="/facts/Pesticide_formulation/ok2CjJke">adjuvents and co-formulants</a>, <a href="/facts/Soil_conditioner/35DWU3Cc">soil conditioners</a> and soil amendments, <a href="/facts/Liming_(soil)/Wgzp1M3z">liming</a> and <a href="/facts/Soil_pH/D9G9ChcT">acidifying</a> agents. For livestock <a href="/facts/Feed_additive/PDDMf7dv">feed additives</a>, <a href="/facts/Growth_hormone/SLEJ1fws">animal growth regulators</a>, <a href="/facts/Anthelmintic/2p02KN0X">anthelmintics</a> and other <a href="/facts/Antiparasitic/pbd16HMn">antiparasitics</a> are used.
Though the application of inorganic fertilizers and pesticides derived from minerals has a long history, the majority of agricultural chemicals were developed in the late 20th century, and their use was expanded significantly during the <a href="/facts/Green_Revolution/sB1gbDxN">Green Revolution</a>.
Agrochemicals are counted among <a href="/facts/Speciality_chemicals/t1EBkh0W">speciality chemicals</a>. Most agrochemicals are products of the <a href="/facts/Petrochemical_industry/h8WLR1kx">petrochemical industry</a>, where chemicals are derivatives of fossil fuels. The production and use of agrochemicals contribute substantially to <a href="/facts/Climate_change/rEN4BDE7">climate change</a>, both through direct emissions during production, and through indirect emissions created from soil ecology problems created by the chemicals.
Agrochemicals, especially when improperly used or released in local environments, have led to a number of public health and environmental issues. Agrochemicals and their production can be significant <a href="/facts/Agricultural_pollution/p4e9MD4n">environmental pollution</a>. Agrochemicals are responsible for significant damage to waterways through runoff, and inproperly stored agrochemicals and agrochemical wastes are responsible for spills, especially during extreme weather events. Following the publication of Rachel Carson's <a href="/facts/Silent_Spring/NkAlvAn2">Silent Spring</a>, increased global attention has been paid to these ecological impacts of certain classes of chemicals, both in terms of <a href="/facts/Environmental_impact_of_pesticides/S0LPwcDV">effects on ecosystems</a> and <a href="/facts/Biodiversity_loss/p7xI1P0G">biodiversity loss</a>. Some farmers choose not to use agrochemicals, with <a href="/facts/Sustainable_agriculture/XLdTEVAC">sustainable agriculture</a> approaches such as <a href="/facts/Organic_farming/Rce4nxdU">organic farming</a> or <a href="/facts/Agroecological_Restoration/VDjUWwY0">agroecology</a>, avoiding use of pesticides and industrial chemicals, in favor of naturally occurring chemicals.

Agrochemical open-in-new

Agrochemical