What Happened
- A study published in the journal Science in February 2026 ("Increasing applied pesticide toxicity trends counteract the global reduction target to safeguard biodiversity") identifies China, Brazil, the United States, and India as the four nations responsible for 53-68% of the world's total applied pesticide toxicity.
- The study, conducted by researchers at RPTU Kaiserslautern-Landau, covers the period 2013-2019 and finds that global applied pesticide toxicity increased significantly over this period, driven by greater use and higher toxicity of active ingredients, especially insecticides.
- Only 20 (±14) pesticides per species group define more than 90% of the applied toxicity nationally — a highly concentrated problem amenable to targeted regulation.
- Fruits, vegetables, maize, soybean, rice, and other cereals contribute 76-83% of the global applied toxicity.
- The findings are significant in the context of India's Pesticides Management Bill 2025, expected to be tabled in Parliament in March 2026. Experts warn the new bill could be weaker than the existing Insecticides Act, 1968 in key respects.
- The UN Convention on Biological Diversity's COP15 (Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, 2022) commits all signatory nations to reduce pesticide risks by at least 50% by 2030.
Static Topic Bridges
Insecticides Act, 1968 vs. Pesticides Management Bill, 2025 — A Regulatory Shift
The Insecticides Act, 1968 is India's primary law governing the import, manufacture, sale, transport, distribution, and use of insecticides. It established the Central Insecticides Board & Registration Committee (CIBRC) as the apex regulatory body. The proposed Pesticides Management Bill, 2025 seeks to replace the 1968 Act with a broader regulatory framework covering all pesticides (not just insecticides) — including bio-pesticides and biopesticide formulations.
- Insecticides Act, 1968: Covers only insecticides; does not address fungicides, herbicides, and other pesticides comprehensively
- Pesticides Management Bill, 2025: Extends coverage to all chemical and biological pesticides under a single framework
- Draft stage: Government invited public comments by February 2, 2026
- Key improvements in 2025 Bill: Environmental impact assessment, toxicity criteria, residue behaviour, climate-specific risk assessment
- Key criticism (experts): The 2025 Bill reportedly dilutes liability provisions, weakens data exclusivity protections for farmers, may allow re-registration of hazardous pesticides without fresh scrutiny, and reduces penalties for violations
- CIBRC: Continues as the regulatory body under the proposed new framework
Connection to this news: The study's finding that India is among the top four contributors to global pesticide toxicity puts the adequacy of the proposed regulatory overhaul under direct scrutiny. If the 2025 Bill is weaker than the 1968 Act in enforcement provisions, it risks accelerating — rather than curbing — India's pesticide toxicity load.
Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) — COP15 Targets
The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework was adopted at CBD COP15 in December 2022. It sets 23 targets for 2030 under the "30x30" agenda — protecting 30% of land and oceans by 2030. Target 7 of the GBF specifically requires all parties to reduce the overall risk from pesticides and highly hazardous chemicals by at least 50% by 2030, using integrated pest management and other science-based approaches.
- GBF adopted: December 19, 2022, Montreal, Canada
- Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD): Opened for signature at Rio Earth Summit, 1992; in force December 1993
- India ratified CBD: February 18, 1994
- GBF Target 7: Reduce pesticide risk by ≥50% by 2030; reduce excess nutrients lost to environment by ≥50%; eliminate or minimise highly hazardous chemicals
- 30x30 target: Protect 30% of terrestrial, freshwater, and marine areas by 2030
- Current trajectory: The 2026 Science study shows global pesticide toxicity is rising, putting Target 7 at severe risk
Connection to this news: India has ratified the CBD and is bound by GBF commitments. The study's finding that India is one of four nations driving global toxicity increases is directly relevant to India's obligation under GBF Target 7 — and the adequacy of the proposed 2025 Bill must be evaluated against this international commitment.
Pesticide Use in India — Scale, Composition, and Health Impacts
India holds the fourth position globally in agrochemical production. Pesticide consumption in India is approximately 0.5 kg per hectare — significantly lower than Japan (12 kg/ha), South Korea (6 kg/ha), and the US (4.5 kg/ha). However, the toxicity of pesticides used matters more than volume. Highly hazardous pesticides (HHPs) — those classified as extremely or highly hazardous by WHO — continue to be widely used in India despite bans or restrictions in other countries.
- India's pesticide consumption: ~0.5 kg/ha (but toxicity of active ingredients is the concern, not just volume)
- India's share of global pesticide production: ~3.57% of ~2 million tonnes annually
- HHPs still in use in India: Endosulfan (banned 2011), Monocrotophos, Chlorpyrifos — some continue under exemptions
- Pesticide residues: Organochlorides, organophosphates, and synthetic pyrethroids detected in soil, water, and groundwater often exceeding WHO and BIS standards
- Health impacts: Neurotoxic, carcinogenic, and endocrine-disrupting effects documented in farm worker communities (Punjab's cancer belt, Bhopal-adjacent regions)
- The study's key crops driving toxicity: Fruits, vegetables, maize, soybean, rice, other cereals — India is a major producer of all of these
Connection to this news: Despite a lower per-hectare volume, India's use of high-toxicity active ingredients — and its role as a major producer of the study's toxicity-driving crops (rice, cereals, soybean) — explains its placement among the top four nations for applied pesticide toxicity.
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) — Sustainable Alternative Framework
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a science-based approach that combines biological, cultural, physical, and chemical tools to manage pests in an economically and environmentally sustainable manner. IPM minimises chemical pesticide use by emphasising pest monitoring, threshold-based interventions, biological controls, and resistant crop varieties. The CBD GBF Target 7 specifically calls for IPM adoption as a key tool for reducing pesticide risks.
- IPM defined by FAO: Careful consideration of all available pest control techniques to discourage pest population development while minimising risks to human health and the environment
- India's IPM programme: Central IPM Centre (CIPMC), National Centre for Integrated Pest Management (NCIPM), and state-level IPM cells under Ministry of Agriculture
- Biological controls used in India: Trichogramma (egg parasite), NPV (nuclear polyhedrosis virus), Trichoderma (fungal bioagent)
- Economic threshold principle: Pesticides applied only when pest levels reach economic injury threshold — reduces over-spraying
- Challenge: Farmer awareness of IPM thresholds and access to biological control agents remain limited outside progressive states like Karnataka and AP
Connection to this news: A stronger Pesticides Management Bill would mandate IPM adoption across vulnerable crop categories and establish enforceable residue limits. The study's finding that a small number of pesticides (<20 per crop group) drive >90% of toxicity suggests that targeting these specific compounds through regulation and IPM alternatives would have high impact.
Key Facts & Data
- Study published: Science journal, February 2026 (RPTU Kaiserslautern-Landau)
- Study title: "Increasing applied pesticide toxicity trends counteract the global reduction target to safeguard biodiversity"
- Study period: 2013-2019
- Top four nations (applied toxicity): China, Brazil, USA, India (53-68% of global total)
- Pesticides driving >90% toxicity nationally: Only ~20 per species group
- Crops driving 76-83% of global applied toxicity: Fruits, vegetables, maize, soybean, rice, cereals
- India's pesticide consumption: ~0.5 kg/ha (vs Japan 12 kg/ha, Korea 6 kg/ha, USA 4.5 kg/ha)
- India's rank in agrochemical production: 4th globally
- India's share of global pesticide production: ~3.57%
- Existing law: Insecticides Act, 1968
- Proposed law: Pesticides Management Bill, 2025 (expected Parliament March 2026)
- GBF Target 7: Reduce pesticide risk by ≥50% by 2030 (CBD COP15, December 2022)
- India ratified CBD: February 18, 1994
- Endosulfan banned in India: 2011