Agrochemicals firm Syngenta has declared that it will cease the production of the herbicide paraquat by June this year. This choice, influenced by financial factors, will result in approximately 90 job losses at Syngenta’s Huddersfield, UK facility, which is the only location for producing this chemical.
Mike Hollands, president of Syngenta UK, stressed that this action is aimed at reallocating resources to areas where they can deliver the greatest value for both the company and its customers. Importantly, paraquat represents less than 1% of Syngenta’s global sales, with 750 other companies authorized to market the chemical.
This event unfolds against the backdrop of numerous lawsuits in the US, where individuals have claimed that exposure to paraquat resulted in their development of Parkinson’s disease. Studies have suggested that the herbicide may increase the risk of this condition, particularly among those who handle it or reside near sites where paraquat is utilized.
Since 2007, the European Union has prohibited the use of paraquat, while the US still allows its regulated use. Until now, companies, including Syngenta, have persisted in manufacturing paraquat for export beyond the EU. An investigation showed that in 2024, the EU exported nearly 122,000 tonnes of pesticides banned within its borders.
Michael Eddleston, a toxicologist at the University of Edinburgh, UK, noted that although the company claims paraquat can be used safely, this safety does not apply to smallholding farmers, who constitute a major portion of its users.
Eddleston expressed his approval of Syngenta’s decision, a step long supported by many. He recognized that while the economic importance of paraquat has diminished for Syngenta, thus making the decision easier, the political ramifications are significant. He noted that as the original creator of paraquat, Syngenta’s halt in its production is a vital symbolic gesture.