10 World’s Biggest Agricultural Pesticide Users– Based on the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nation (UN), there are 10 World’s Biggest Agricultural Pesticide Users. In general, pesticides are tools in maintaining the continuity of production from the infestation of pests and pathogens of plants. Many countries use it as a last eradication treatment to control populations of pests and plant pathogens. As we know, pesticides are always the main concern. the negative effects of the pollution to the environment that can happen if used this substance in long term. So far, as we know in Agriculture, there is no technology more effective in reducing the pest than the pesticides.
The pesticides included in FAO’s research results are the combined use of insecticides (insects), rodenticides (rats), fungicides (mushrooms), herbicides (weeds), and Plant Growth Regular (growth hormones). Based on the FAO database, total usage of pesticides in all countries in the world in 2020 reached ± 2.6 million tons with an area of agricultural land recorded worldwide of 4.8 billion hectares.
The World’s Usage of Pesticides From 1980 to 2020
| Years | World’s Pesticides Usage From 19990 to 2020 |
|---|---|
| (Tons) | |
| 1990 | 1,685,494 |
| 1991 | 1,662,278 |
| 1992 | 1,698,992 |
| 1993 | 1,725,509 |
| 1994 | 1,777,775 |
| 1995 | 1,832,379 |
| 1996 | 1,894,768 |
| 1997 | 1,974,728 |
| 1998 | 2,005,589 |
| 1999 | 2,048,922 |
| 2000 | 2,047,088 |
| 2001 | 2,031,917 |
| 2002 | 2,042,878 |
| 2003 | 2,131,265 |
| 2004 | 2,266,116 |
| 2005 | 2,280,626 |
| 2006 | 2,266,096 |
| 2007 | 2,485,641 |
| 2008 | 2,493,892 |
| 2009 | 2,382,853 |
| 2010 | 2,602,517 |
| 2011 | 2,678,699 |
| 2012 | 2,706,818 |
| 2013 | 2,671,213 |
| 2014 | 2,718,422 |
| 2015 | 2,716,449 |
| 2016 | 2,744,824 |
| 2017 | 2,748,890 |
| 2018 | 2,678,475 |
| 2019 | 2,653,819 |
| 2020 | 2,661,124 |
| Source : FAOSTAT, 2023 | |
Statistically, Overall, for 30 years, the world’s usage of pesticide has increased overtime. in 1980, the world’s usage of pesticides reached 1.6 million tons and became 2.6 million tons in 2020. Maybe increasing population and consumption on agricultural products drives the increasing usage of pesticides across the nations.
The Usage of Pesticides Based on Continent in 2020
| Continent | Peticides Usage in 2020 |
|---|---|
| (Tonnes) | |
| Africa | 105,758 |
| Americas | 1,357,984 |
| Asia | 658,529 |
| Europe | 468,432 |
| Oceania | 70,421 |
| Source :FAOSTAT, 2023 | |
According to Continental Statistics, the main area with huge of pesticide’s usage can be tracked down into some areas. Americas regions still became the biggest pesticide’s users that used 1.3 million tons of pesticides. Furthermore, Asia and Europe also used 658 thousand tons and 468 thousand tons, respectively. In addition, Africa also used 105 thousand tons of pesticides in 2020.
Table Rank 10 World’s Biggest Agricultural Pesticide Users in 2020
| Rank | Countries | Overall Pesticides Consumption in 2020 | Total Agricultural Land |
|---|---|---|---|
| (Tons) | (Hectare) | ||
| 1 | United States of America | 407,779 | 405,552,000 |
| 2 | Brazil | 377,176 | 236,878,000 |
| 3 | China, mainland | 262,700 | 527,773,000 |
| 4 | Argentina | 241,294 | 108,381,000 |
| 5 | Russian Federation | 90,535 | 215,494,000 |
| 6 | Canada | 78,893 | 58,157,000 |
| 7 | France | 65,216 | 28,621,000 |
| 8 | Australia | 63,416 | 362,477,000 |
| 9 | India | 61,702 | 179,578,000 |
| 10 | Italy | 56,556 | 12,999,000 |
| Source : FAOSTAT, 2023 | |||
Brief Description of 10 World’s Biggest Agricultural Pesticide Users
1. United States of America
This country is the biggest country with the most pesticide users in the world with a total of 407 thousand tons in 2020. In addition, In this country, there are also many large agricultural pesticide companies from the United States such as Monsanto, Corteva Agriscience (merger between Dow Agro Science and Dupont), Food Machinery Corporation (FMC). Statistically in the United States, agriculture in this country is dominated by Maize with production reaching 347 million tons in 2019, Soybean with the production of 96 million tons, Wheat with production reaching 52 million tons, and Sugarcane reaching 28 million tons.
2. Brazil
As one of the world’s agricultural countries, Brazil certainly needs a lot of agricultural pesticides to support its economy. With an area of 236 million hectares of agricultural land, the country is well-known as a producer of sugar cane, soybeans, and corn. Cumulatively, in 2020 the country’s total pesticide use is 377 thousand tons.
3. China
In 2020, China is the 3rd world’s biggest user of agricultural pesticides with 262 thousand tons. With a very large agricultural area of around 527 million hectares, this country needs a lot of pesticides to control pests and plant pathogens. Moreover, to strengthen the quality of pesticides in China, China National Chemical Corporation (ChemChina), China’s State-Owned Chemical Company, acquired the world’s largest pesticide company, Syngenta from Switzerland in 2016. Statistically, agriculture in China is dominated by certain commodities such as Maize with the production of 260 million tons in 2019, Rice paddy with the production of 211 million tons in 2019, Wheat of 133 million tons, and Sugarcane of 109 million tons
4. Argentina
Argentina is also one of the biggest pesticide users in the world. In 2020, the total pesticides used were 108 thousand tons. As one of the food crops producing countries in the South American Region, this country is a producer for Maize with production reaching 56 million tons, Soybean with production reach 55 million tons, Wheat with production reaching 19 million tons, Sugarcane with production reach 17 million tons, and Barley with production reach 5 million tons.
5. Russia
Russia is the next biggest country as a user of agricultural pesticides. In 2020, the overall usage of pesticides reached 90 thousand tons with a total area of agricultural land reaching 215 million hectares. In Russia, most of Russia’s agricultural land is used for certain commodities namely wheat with the production of 74 million tons, 54 million tons of sugar beets, 22 million tons of potatoes, 20 million tons of barley, and 15 million tons of sunflower seeds.
6. Canada
Canada is one of the biggest pesticide user countries with the use of 78 thousand tons in 2020. Statically, in the agriculture sector, this country is a producer of Wheat 32-million-ton, Rapeseed 18-million-ton, Maize 13-million-ton, Barley 10-million-ton, Soybean 6-million-ton crops with an area of agricultural land in 2019 ranging from 58 million hectares.
7. France
France is ranked 7th as the country’s biggest user of agricultural pesticides. In 2020, the total use of pesticides in the country reached 65 thousand tons. Geographically, this country has an agricultural land area of about 28.6 million hectares with the most widely grown mainstay commodities in the country including Wheat with a production of 40 million tons in 2019, Sugar beet with a production of 38 million tons, Barley with a production of 13.5 million tons, Maize with a production of 12.8 million tons, and potatoes with a production of 8.5 million tons.
8. Australia
Australia is the 8th biggest pesticide user country based on data from the FAO Statistical Database (FAOStats). In 2020, the total usage of agricultural pesticides in the country reached 63 thousand tons. With a large agricultural area of about 362 million hectares, the need for pesticides as plant protectors is of course very high. Statistically, in this kangaroo country, the most widely grown agricultural commodities include Sugarcane with production reaching 32 million tons, Wheat with production reaching 17 million tons, Barley with production reaching 8 million tons, and Rapeseed with production reaching 2.3 million tons.
9. India
India is the next 9th country with the biggest pesticide usage in the world. In 2020, the total use of pesticides for agricultural activities reached 61 thousand tons. With such a vast agricultural land which is around 179 million hectares in this country and a large human population, the need for agricultural products is also high. In this country, statistically, total crop production is dominated by certain commodities such as Sugarcane with production reaching 405 million tons in 2019, Rice with production reaching 177 million tons in 2019, Wheat with production reaching 103 million tons, and Potatoes with production reaching 50 million tonnes in 2019.
10. Italy
Italy is one of the biggest pesticides users in 2020. Statistically, the usage of pesticides of Italy in 2020 reached 56,556 tons. Overall, in 2020, there are 12,999,000 hectares of agricultural land in Italy. in this country, Italy has some popular agricultural products, namely Milk of Cattle, Grapes, Wheat, Tomatoes, Maize, Onion, Apples, Oranges, Sugar beet and others.
Bibliography The 10 World’s Biggest Agricultural Pesticide Users
Food and Agriculture Organization of United Nations (FAO). 2021. Pesticides Use. Accessed via http://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/RP/visualize on 22 September 2022.
Food and Agriculture Organization of United Nations (FAO). 2021. Land Use. Accessed via http://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/RL on 22 September 2022