The acreage of minor crops is steadily expanding, and calls to expedite the registration of pesticides for these crops are growing louder.

　　With the restructuring of China’s agricultural sector, the improvement in living standards, and the growth of international trade in agricultural products, the cultivation of minor crops has expanded rapidly. The acreage devoted to these crops continues to increase, and new varieties are emerging in abundance. However, minor crops remain “unregistered.” Pesticide As a result, the associated contradictions have become increasingly pronounced, and calls to expedite the registration of minor crops are growing louder.
　　The acreage of minor crops is steadily expanding, accelerating the development of minor crops. Pesticide Calls for registration are growing louder.
　　Currently used for the control and prevention of traditional food crops, such as Wheat 、 Corn On crops such as rice, the number of registered pesticides for pests and diseases can reach several hundred, or even over a thousand, whereas for minor crops… Pesticide However, such cases are few and far between, with a significant portion of minor crops remaining entirely unaddressed. According to statistical data from 29 provinces, municipalities directly under the central government, and autonomous regions nationwide, among the 249 minor crops surveyed, 911 active ingredients have been used at some point. Pesticide Among the products, only 190 are registered for minor crops, while as many as 721 are not registered for use on minor crops. Unregistered products are being used in the production of minor crops. Pesticide The use of products beyond the scope of their registration and failure to comply with label instructions are extremely common.
　　How to define minor crops?
　　Minor crops “unregistered” Pesticide The issue of “availability” can be regarded as a global challenge. Regulations concerning minor crops vary across countries and regions, but they generally hinge on two key factors: cultivated area and economic returns. For instance, in the United States, grain crops and horticultural crops—including vegetables—fall under the category of minor crops if their planted area is less than 300,000 acres (1.821 million mu). In Australia, crops with a planted area not exceeding 10,000 hectares (150,000 mu) are classified as minor crops. South Korea defines minor crops as those with a single-season cultivation area of no more than 1,000 hectares (equivalent to 15,000 mu). The European Union sets the threshold at less than 600 hectares (9,000 mu), which corresponds to roughly 0.0035% of the total cultivated area. Meanwhile, Japan designates crops with an annual yield below 30,000 tons as minor crops.
　　From an economic return perspective: the United States, Australia, and the Codex Alimentarius. Pesticide Residual committees and other national or international organizations have all, from… Pesticide Provisions are made regarding projected usage and anticipated sales revenue, generally deemed to be due to… Pesticide Its usage frequency is limited, and its expected sales revenue is less than Pesticide Fees for registration fall under the category of minor crops. In Australia, minor crops refer to… Pesticide The use of a product or ingredient does not generate sufficient economic returns to cover the costs of registration or the expenses associated with registering the product for that particular use. Furthermore, the Codex Alimentarius… Pesticide The Residual Committee also stipulated that areas with small planting acreage and high economic value, and… Pesticide Crops that require minimal inputs are classified as specialty crops.
　　Overview of Pesticide Management for Minor Crops Abroad
　　United States
　　The United States was among the first to initiate research on pesticide use for minor crops. In 1963, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the California Agricultural Experiment Station jointly established a regional research program for minor crops, primarily aimed at evaluating new… Pesticide and low security risk Pesticide Regarding residue levels in minor crops, the study proposes the experimental data and assessment reports required by the EPA to establish MRLs. Over the past decade, the project has annually completed 500–1,000 studies on various minor crops. Pesticide MRL test reports: To date, more than 10,000 MRL test reports have been submitted to the EPA. This work has laid the groundwork for U.S. minor crops. Pesticide Registration provides a scientific basis. The United States first published a crop classification system in 1971 and has since established a comprehensive, science‑based classification framework that encompasses minor crops. Today, for the various minor crops grown across the country, virtually all major diseases, pests, and weeds are either covered by registered pesticides, have available options, or can be effectively managed with approved products, placing U.S. development and production at the forefront of global innovation.
　　Brazil
　　In February 2010, a new “… was announced. Pesticide the Registration Regulations. It focuses on addressing the challenges of registering pesticides for minor crops, thereby promoting Pesticide Production companies place greater emphasis on minor crops. Pesticide The development of this variety has paved the way for the registration of pesticides for minor crops.
　　The key features of this regulation are as follows: First, it permits agricultural cooperatives to collaborate with corporations. Second, the registration procedures for pesticides used on minor crops have been significantly streamlined. Third, minor crops are grouped into categories. According to available information, the new regulation classifies minor crops into seven major groups, with a representative crop selected for each group. Maximum residue limits and pre-harvest intervals, among other parameters, may be inferred based on existing data from other crops within the same group. Under these conditions, maximum residue limits remain valid for 24 months; during this period, applicants need only conduct residue testing on the representative crop within the same group. For example, if an applicant seeks approval for use on eggplant and pepper… Pesticide , in accordance with the principles of crop classification, registered for use on tomatoes Pesticide , it can then be applied directly to eggplants. Tomatoes are the representative crop of the non‑leafy vegetable group, and eggplants belong to this group. The applicant must next conduct residue testing on peppers, as peppers serve as the representative crop of the sub‑group; once this process is completed, it will effectively establish maximum residue limits for both the non‑leafy vegetable group and its sub‑group, which can subsequently be extended to other crops within the same group.
　　The status of small-scale crop cultivation in China and… Pesticide Registration and Usage Status
　　China is a vast country rich in resources and a major agricultural nation, with an abundance of minor‑crop varieties. In recent years, driven by the rapid development of China’s socio‑economic landscape and modern agriculture, the intensification, concentration, and scaling up of minor‑crop cultivation have steadily increased. In some regions, this has even reached the point where each county specializes in one product, each township in another, and sometimes even each village in a single specialty, turning minor crops into economically significant, locally distinctive commodities that provide crucial support to regional economic development. Most minor crops are characterized by high added value, substantial economic returns, and strong profitability, playing an increasingly vital role in both agricultural production and export trade. The following are several common categories of minor crops in China, along with their typical pest and disease incidence:
　　Cereals and oilseed crops
　　China cultivates a variety of minor cereals, including oats, buckwheat, naked oats, mung beans, and coix seeds, as well as oilseed crops such as sesame and sunflower. Although the cultivation of these minor cereals and oilseeds is widespread, the planted areas are relatively small, with fields scattered across the country. Consequently, pest and disease outbreaks tend to be sporadic, and when they do occur, they are generally mild and infrequent.
　　Chinese medicinal materials
　　In recent years, the cultivation of Chinese medicinal materials in China has expanded rapidly, with crops such as ginseng, notoginseng, and Dendrobium officinale gaining prominence. Some of these medicinal plants are unique to China and represent distinctive local specialties. Because many Chinese medicinal herbs are grown under continuous cropping for several years, the longer the cultivation period, the more severe the incidence of diseases—particularly root and stem rots and leaf spot disorders. Today, soil-borne diseases have become a major threat to numerous medicinal crops, and the challenges posed by disease‑induced continuous cropping are increasingly acute. Pest damage is primarily attributable to underground pests.
　　Specialty vegetables
　　China boasts a wide variety of vegetable crops, which are frequently afflicted by serious diseases, including powdery mildew, damping-off, anthracnose, and wilt; pest infestations are primarily caused by soil-dwelling pests and leaf beetles. In production, insecticides and fungicides are often applied in combination, with frequent applications, and many of the chemicals used are employed beyond their approved scopes.
　　Specialty fruits
　　China is vast in territory and boasts a rich diversity of fruits, including nuts, pome fruits, and berries. The types of fruit cultivated vary significantly across different regions. In each area, fruit crops are subject to severe pest and disease pressures: bacterial diseases such as canker, foliar diseases like leaf spot, and rots that are difficult to control all pose substantial threats; among insect pests, the most damaging are wood-boring species.
　　Currently, China’s measures for addressing the registration of pesticides for minor crops are as follows:
　　Newly revised « Pesticide The Administrative Regulations, which came into effect on June 1, 2017. According to the… Pesticide Regulations on Management》《 Pesticide In accordance with the Regulations on Registration Management and other relevant provisions, the “…” has been formulated. Pesticide The “Registration Data Requirements” explicitly stipulates that for specialty minor crops, Pesticide Registration requirements, for those who have already obtained Pesticide Registered products shall be expanded for use on specialty minor crops, and joint trials are encouraged.
　　Identify minor crops (minor uses) Pesticide ) range
　　Develop or optimize for minor crops Pesticide The registration and management procedure begins with defining the scope of minor crops. Following extensive research, the “List of Minor Crops Facing Pesticide Shortages” was published in 2016; going forward, this list will be expanded as needed, based on actual production conditions. The formulation of this list is guided by the following principles: 1) crops with relatively small cultivation areas; 2) crops with a narrow geographic distribution, grown only in specific regions of China; and 3) crops for which targeted pest or disease outbreaks are localized or of low severity, where green control methods—such as physical and biological pest management—can achieve satisfactory results, thereby minimizing or eliminating the need for chemical pesticides. Pesticide Prevention and control; 4) registered Pesticide Crops and pest‑control targets with limited or no available varieties.
　　Strengthen group-based research on minor crops and their target pests and diseases.
　　Small‑scale crops are highly diverse and continue to expand, resulting in an enormous number of potential pest‑and‑disease combinations. Under the conventional crop‑registration framework, it is difficult to secure registration for pesticides intended for these minor crops. Our research indicates that the target pests and diseases affecting most minor crops in China also infest major staple crops, providing a solid scientific basis for grouping and categorizing registrations on a crop‑specific basis. Following a series of validation trials and field surveys, we have now established a “specialized minor‑crop” category for certain crops. Pesticide “Register of Efficacy Test Groups” and “Specialized Minor Crops” Pesticide “Registry of Residue Trial Groups” — the purpose of this registry is to reduce the number of registration trials and lower registration costs, while ensuring the efficacy and safety of registered products under real-world conditions, thereby encouraging enterprises to register their products for minor crops.
　　Harness the enthusiasm of small-scale crop growers.
　　The challenge of registering pesticides for minor crops was first raised by growers themselves. For example, regarding pesticide registration for ginseng, the initiative originated with professional ginseng‑growing associations in Jilin Province. Drawing on their years of practical experience, they recommended well‑performing, crop‑safe products that were already registered. Local agricultural authorities then organized joint field trials to facilitate the registration of these products for use on ginseng. This approach has proven to be a relatively successful model for advancing pesticide registration for minor crops.
　　Strengthen the oversight of agricultural authorities over Pesticide Registration Guidelines
　　 Pesticide The primary entities subject to registration are primarily Pesticide Manufacturing enterprises, out of concern that the costs outweigh the benefits, Pesticide Manufacturing companies lack registration for minor crops or minor uses. Pesticide Registering intent is the bottleneck that makes it difficult to obtain registration for pesticides used on minor crops. By establishing dedicated research funds through local agricultural authorities and organizing relevant… Pesticide Conducting joint efficacy and residue studies is an effective approach for addressing the registration of pesticides on minor crops. At present, approximately seven provinces and municipalities in China have organized such joint trials and have assisted enterprises in submitting their registration dossiers in a centralized manner.

Author: Pesticide Market Information Editor: xwbj1