The Herbicide Revolution in Developing Countries: Patterns, Causes, and Implications

Two major shocks in global supply systems have driven a rapid recent surge in herbicide adoption in the developing world. A flood of off-patent herbicide formulations has hit global markets at the same time that emerging low-cost Asian suppliers have mastered herbicide production technologies, scaled up productive capacity, and significantly lowered production costs. Together, they have increased availability and driven down herbicide costs in farming communities across the developing world. In settings where rural wage rates face upwards pressure, from non-farm and urban employment alternatives, herbicide adoption has responded rapidly. The years since 2005, in particular, have witnessed a sharp spurt in herbicide adoption in countries as diverse as China and Ethiopia. The six case studies reported in this special issue – the USA, EU, China, India, Ethiopia, and Mali – examine the differences in timing, key drivers, and consequences of herbicide adoption across this broad range of global settings.