A new global study has identified India as one of the four largest contributors to rising pesticide toxicity worldwide, raising concerns about environmental damage and human health risks linked to intensive agricultural practices.
The research, published in the journal Science by scientists from University of Kaiserslautern-Landau, analysed 625 pesticides used globally and found that India, along with China, Brazil and the United States, accounts for 53–68 per cent of total global pesticide toxicity.
The study assessed pesticide impact using a metric called “total applied toxicity” (TAT), which considers not just the volume of chemicals used but also their harmful effects on different species. This benchmark aligns with global biodiversity goals set under the Convention on Biological Diversity to reduce pesticide risks by half by 2030.
Researchers found that while pesticide use is increasing globally, its ecological impact is intensifying even faster. Six key species groups including pollinators, fish, soil organisms and insects are experiencing rising toxicity levels, with terrestrial arthropods showing the sharpest increase at 6.4 per cent annually.
The study also revealed that a small number of highly toxic chemicals dominate the overall burden. Just 20 pesticides account for over 90 per cent of total toxicity in many countries. Chemicals such as glyphosate, paraquat and acetochlor are widely used and have been linked to environmental and health risks.
India’s contribution is particularly significant due to its vast agricultural landscape. Data from the Directorate of Plant Protection, Quarantine and Storage shows pesticide consumption in the country increased by nearly 20 per cent over the past decade. The ecological burden is further intensified in high-production regions such as Punjab, Haryana, Maharashtra and Telangana, as well as across the Indo-Gangetic plains, where toxicity levels exceed the global average.
Crop patterns also play a role. Staples like rice and sugarcane contribute heavily to pesticide use, while cotton despite covering less farmland accounts for a disproportionately high share of toxicity.
Globally, progress toward reducing pesticide risks remains uneven. Among 65 countries with available data, only Chile is currently on track to meet the 2030 target. Countries such as Japan and Venezuela are making progress, while others including Thailand and Denmark are moving further away from the goal.
Experts say reversing these trends will require major structural changes in agriculture, including the adoption of biological pest control, precision farming technologies and stronger policy frameworks.
In India, policy gaps have also come under scrutiny. The proposed Pesticide Management Bill, 2025 aims to reduce risks to humans and the environment, but experts argue it lacks strong provisions on biodiversity protection. Analysts have pointed out that existing laws like the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 operate separately from pesticide regulation, limiting coordinated action.
Policy experts are now calling for biodiversity impact assessments to be made mandatory in pesticide approval processes, with greater involvement from regulatory bodies such as the National Biodiversity Authority.
The study highlights that without urgent reforms, rising pesticide toxicity could undermine global biodiversity goals and worsen ecological degradation, particularly in large agricultural economies like India.