Ever wonder why weed scientists are so aggressive about protecting herbicide chemistry? Growers are constantly being told to protect the chemistry available today because who knows when, or if, they will get anymore. But why is that? In short, any new chemistry would have to be ‘the perfect herbicide.’
But let’s say we want to try to bring new chemistry to the farm today and make that perfect herbicide. What do we need to do?
To get our new herbicide chemistry venture started, we need at least $250 million. After Brad Haire (reporter for Southeast Farm Press) donates the money, we will begin our research and development of the perfect herbicide. Brad needs to understand he will have to wait 10-15 years to begin getting any of his investment back and then only has 14 years before others can start selling the same product.
Let’s say by some miracle Brad coughs up the $250 million. What do we need to do next to get to growers new herbicide chemistry?
Environmentally friendly is a requirement for our new product. It cannot pose a threat to surface waters, ground waters, wild life, fish and most every other critter on earth. And for sure, it cannot pose any risk to endangered species: to plants as well as animals that eat plants.
Of course, the user of the new chemistry product and the consumer of the crops that we treat with it must be protected. Acute or chronic toxicity issues are absolutely forbidden. Our product must be harmless to all humans who could come in contact with it directly or indirectly.
Persistence of the herbicide also must be understood early in development, or in other words we need the herbicide to last just long enough to help growers, but then we need the herbicide to break down into friendly natural compounds that will not harm the environment or people. The herbicide certainly can’t pose any carryover risk to the crops our growers rotate into either!
Additionally, we have to:
1) Make sure the product does not cause unacceptable crop injury under a million different environmental conditions and grower production practices.
2) Make sure the product has an extended shelf life for storage, so it doesn’t go bad in a few years or separate out in the tank.
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