the pesticide market | France

1.1 INTRODUCTION

A pesticide is a substance intended to control pests on agricultural land: the term pesticide includes insecticides, fungicides, herbicides and parasiticides. The purpose of a pesticide is to attack insect pests, fungi and parasitic worms in particular

Pesticides are part of the more global market for phytosanitary products for agriculture, forestry and horticulture, but also for animal health products and of the household products (moth repellents, lice repellents, ants, flies, mosquito repellents, etc.). The products phytosanitary products are used in agriculture to protect crops from pests, certain insects, fungi or weeds. These products with a specific authorization for each use.

The market for plant protection products is dominated by giants global in the chemical industry, leaving little room for new entrants. Indeed, 80% of the world market for plant protection products is concentrated among the 6 giants of the sector. The players in the plant protection products market are relying on innovation to sustain their growth, as evidenced by the increase in their budgets of R . The market trend is towards pesticides organic Unlike chemical pesticides, organic pesticides use only natural processes to protect gardens and vegetable gardens. Only a few players share the niche market for organic pesticides, which nevertheless arouses the appetite of global agrochemical giants, such as Monsanto. The numerous takeovers testify to a market for organic pesticides in full concentration, under the influence of the world's agrochemical giants.

The market for plant protection products and pesticides has long been characterised by double-digit growth in France, but this growth has slowed slightly since 2018 with the rise of protests and warnings about harmful health effects. France is also the world's leading exporter of pesticides, the third largest user in the world and the largest in Europe.

The main challenge of the pesticide market remains its harmful to the environment and health Pesticides are, along with fertilizers, the two main sources of pollution of surface and groundwater by the agricultural sector. By extension, the market for plant protection products is confronted with much more restrictive regulations, as shown by the desire of the French executive government to reduce the use of pesticides by 50% by 2025.