The No. 1 Central Document of 2023 once again underscores the need to ensure an adequate supply of key agricultural products, including vegetables and fruits, in China. With horticultural crops accounting for the largest share of total agricultural output, maintaining their stable supply is vital to the broader economic and social development agenda. Among these, vegetables and fruits are indispensable staples in the daily diets of both urban and rural residents.
Li Baoju, a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and a researcher at the Institute of Vegetables and Flowers of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, believes that, In recent years, China’s horticultural industry has experienced rapid growth; however, it continues to face challenges such as severe pest and disease outbreaks, improper pesticide use, and food safety concerns, all of which hinder its sustainable development. “Taking facility-grown vegetables as an example, more than 1,300 species of pests and diseases have been documented, with losses ranging from 20% to 30%, and in severe cases exceeding 50%.”
Li Baoyu stated that the use of pesticides is an essential means of controlling plant diseases and pests. Although all sectors of society have consistently called for the rational application of these chemicals, in actual production, horticultural practitioners often face the dilemma of having no suitable products available or knowing how to use them effectively. “There are two main reasons behind this situation.”
First, Insufficient registered pesticides for horticultural crops. , the conflict with the demand for pesticides and pest-control agents is particularly acute, threatening the reliable supply of key agricultural products such as fruits and vegetables. Secondly, The existing medication guidelines lack practicality. “The inappropriate use of pesticides in horticultural crops is widespread, compromising the quality and safety of agricultural products.”
It is reported that China boasts a vast array of horticultural crops and varieties, with diverse cultivation practices and highly variable climatic conditions. Coupled with the influence of human activities, these factors have created a wide range of favorable conditions for the emergence and spread of pests and diseases, leading to frequent and widespread outbreaks in horticultural production. However, despite being one of the most effective tools for pest and disease management, the number of registered pesticides available for horticultural crops remains limited. This results in a pronounced lack of approved products for certain minor crops and for key pests and diseases affecting major crops. Moreover, current regulatory guidelines in China generally recommend only already‑registered pesticides; yet, due to insufficient registration coverage, some crops or specific pests and diseases are left without any viable control options. In addition, certain unregistered pesticides happen to exhibit both high safety and efficacy, creating a dilemma in which even promising solutions cannot be used, thereby hindering the effective management of pests and diseases.
In response to the above issues, Li Baoyu recommends, Accelerate the registration process for pesticides used to control major pests and diseases of horticultural crops. Drawing on international best practices, we will continue to advance the implementation of a green‑channel approval process for the registration of pesticides used on specialty small‑scale horticultural crops. By appropriately streamlining registration procedures, granting reasonable recognition to registration data submitted by enterprises, and encouraging collaborative participation from industry associations, we will accelerate the registration and approval process while ensuring quality and safety. Effectively addressing the challenge of “no available drugs” 。 Develop, as soon as possible, a national guideline on the safe use of pesticides for horticultural crops, ensuring that pest and disease management is conducted in accordance with established standards, and thereby offering new approaches to safeguarding agricultural product quality and food safety.
On the one hand, it is essential to strengthen scientific and technological innovation by establishing national special programs to support coordinated efforts among leading institutions in conducting surveys on horticultural crop species and their pest and disease dynamics, as well as in screening and evaluating green, high‑efficiency control agents. On the other hand, we must thoroughly mine scientific data and draw on domestic and international resources to develop a pesticide list that balances safety with efficacy, focusing on the major pests and diseases currently prevalent in China’s horticultural crops.
Li Baoyu concluded by stating, Developing a national guideline on the safe use of pesticides in horticultural crops is of great significance for streamlining pesticide registration, guiding practical production, and enhancing the capacity to ensure stable yields and secure supplies of key agricultural products such as fruits and vegetables, while also safeguarding the safety of horticultural produce and accelerating progress toward building a strong agricultural nation.
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Source: Agricultural Inputs Herald
Author: Wang Meihong
Editor: Liu Qin
Reviewed by: Zhai Yiting
Executive Producer: Jiang Shanjun
