Breaking agriculture’s chemical dependency:
New global assessment details the prospects for sustainable crop protection – with strong benefits projected for Africa 

– 11 December 2025 –

A global shift to sustainable pest management would strengthen biodiversity, reduce water pollution, and improve human health. But such a transition would be likely to encounter major hurdles and benefit regions in different ways, with Africa expected to gain the most – that’s according to new research published in Nature Communications.

The study, led by Niklas Möhring of the University of Bonn, Germany, together with a global team of research partners – including scientists from the World Vegetable Center – assessed what such a shift might mean. It draws on the insights of over 500 specialists from different regions of the world, with expertise ranging from ecology to economics to toxicology. It is the first time such an assessment has been undertaken on a global scale.

The high stakes of crop protection

Without crop protection, around one-third of the world’s harvest would be lost each year to pests, diseases, and weeds. Today, most protection relies on synthetic chemical treatments such as pesticides and herbicides, yet heavy use of these can harm human health and ecosystems. At the same time, efforts to reduce agrochemical dependence remain fragmented, and many farmers still lack effective, affordable, and locally adapted alternatives.

The research team asked what might happen if farmers around the world were to adopt sustainable pest management practices. They designed a global survey to assess how a shift to sustainable pest management might affect five key areas: the environment, human health, food security, farmers’ economic well-being, and social equality. A total of 517 regional experts took part, offering insights grounded in disciplines ranging from ecology and agronomy to economics and toxicology. This broad, multidisciplinary approach aimed to capture a balanced and informed picture of the potential consequences of such a complex transition.

A Global shift with local twists

While experts’ views on a shift to sustainable pest management varied by region and discipline, most anticipated positive long-term effects – especially for the environment and human health – with strong expected gains for biodiversity and reductions in water pollution across all regions.

Economic impacts, however – covering farmer incomes, production costs, productivity growth, and resilience to shocks – showed sharp contrasts: experts from North America, Europe, and Australia were evenly split on whether farmer incomes would rise or fall in the short term, while experts for Asia, Africa, and South America were more optimistic, seeing the transition as an economic opportunity. Respondents from these regions also expected greater improvements in local access to safe food compared with their counterparts in high-input agricultural regions.

They found that the strongest benefits are likely in Africa. There, low pesticide use and high pest pressure – as well as less persistent contamination from past use – mean sustainable approaches could deliver substantial gains across environmental health, human health, food security, farmer livelihoods, and social equality.

“These findings suggest that African farmers could lead the way in sustainable crop protection, bringing a possible triple win for farmers, consumers and the environment,” said Malick Ba, WorldVeg regional director for West and Central Africa, and a co-author of the paper. “With the right support and locally adapted tools, this transition could strengthen food security and livelihoods across the continent.”

Pepijn Schreinemachers, lead scientist – impact evaluation at WorldVeg, and another co-author, said: “Vegetable crops are among the most vulnerable to pests worldwide, and climate change is only raising the stakes. What this study makes clear is that there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Sustainable crop protection will look different from region to region, but for vegetables in particular, better and safer approaches could strengthen both nutrition and smallholder livelihoods.”

Despite some of the differences in experts’ opinions, Möhring described the results as “surprisingly optimistic,” but warned that “the switch to sustainable crop protection would not be free.” He added that “higher short- to mid-term costs could pay off in the long term,” and stressed that “it will be key to support farmers during this transformation by offering them tailored and effective alternatives for crop protection and appropriate support mechanisms.”

Positive impacts of a transition to sustainable crop protection are shown for the environment (green), food security (blue-green), health (blue), equality (yellow) and the economy (lilac) due to this transformation. However, expectations were below average (bars protruding inwards) in Europe, for example, while they were above average (bars extending outwards) in South America. Image: AG Möhring/University of Bonn

Managing withdrawal

The authors make clear that moving towards sustainable pest management will only work if countries invest in a mix of practical, locally tailored solutions. The biggest priority is developing reliable, affordable alternatives to chemical pesticides – tools that actually work for farmers’ crops, climates and pest pressures. They also stress the need for better training and advice for farmers, plus financial support to help them cope with the higher costs that often come with changing practices. Stronger policies and regulation are essential, as is raising awareness of the health and environmental risks linked to current pesticide use.

The paper adds that more research is needed into new farming methods, biological and digital tools, and other innovations that could reduce reliance on chemicals. The study warns that the shift will not look the same everywhere: some regions stand to gain far more than others, and global rules will be needed to prevent the burden simply shifting from one country to another. Finally, the authors highlight a major obstacle — the world still lacks basic data on how pesticides are used, making it hard for governments to plan or track progress.

Harnessing nature’s toolkit

Beyond regional differences, the paper also notes that a global shift away from synthetic pesticides will require effective alternative tools. Among these, it highlights biological pest-management approaches, or “biologicals”. These involve the use of natural, science-based tools – such as beneficial microbes or plant-derived compounds – that protect crops by suppressing pests and boosting plant health without synthetic chemicals. Examples include beneficial fungi, bacteria and viruses that help control disease; plant extracts, pheromones or metabolites that disrupt pest behaviour or bolster plant defences; and bio-stimulants – substances that improve plant growth, nutrient uptake, stress tolerance or vigor by stimulating a plant’s natural, biological processes.

The WorldVeg Biologicals Consortium – launched last month – offers a coordinated platform to unite science, farmers, regulators, and industry in the development of a biologicals sector In Asia. It provides a space where private companies, public researchers, farmers and government agencies can co-create solutions, test new ideas, accelerate product development, and collectively overcome barriers to adoption in a neutral, science-driven environment where innovations can move more efficiently from the lab to the field.

Click to read: Möhring, N., Ba, M.N., Braga, A.R.C. et al. Expected effects of a global transformation of agricultural pest management. Nat Commun 16, 10901 (2025).