Phoxim, a chemical pesticide: a focal point of agricultural application and safety supervision

08/20/2025 15:18:03

In the field of agricultural production, the chemical active ingredient phoxim has always occupied an important position. As a broad-spectrum organophosphorus insecticide, phoxim is widely used in pest control for various crops due to its high efficiency, low toxicity, short residual period, and high environmental compatibility
Based on market data, the phoxim industry is experiencing a positive development trend. Relevant reports indicate that the market size of phoxim in China reached RMB 4.26 billion in 2023, representing a year-on-year increase of 5.3%. This growth is primarily attributed to the continuous advancement of the national food security strategy and the increasing demand for crop pest control. In terms of application structure, approximately 78% of phoxim is used for underground pest control in field crops such as corn, wheat, and rice, 15% for economic crops like vegetables and fruit trees, and the remaining 7% for non-agricultural applications such as garden maintenance. Due to factors such as frequent global extreme weather events and the increasing resistance of pests to pesticides, it is anticipated that the industry will experience a compound growth rate of 4.8%-5.5%, with the market size expected to surpass RMB 6.5 billion by 2030
In terms of technological innovation, phoxim has also made significant progress. Taking the Shandong Academy of Pesticide Science as an example, as early as around 2000, the institute took the lead in developing phoxim for the eradication of underground pests. Without increasing costs, it raised the content of active ingredients to 70%-90%, reaching the highest level in China at that time. In recent years, the research and development investment in slow-release phoxim formulations has increased significantly, with a 210% increase from 2020 to 2025. This innovation not only pushed the added value of formulation products to 3.2 times that of active pharmaceutical ingredients, but also provided more efficient and durable pest control methods for agricultural production
However, with the widespread use of phoxim, the safety issues it brings cannot be ignored. On the one hand, phoxim is highly toxic to aquatic organisms. Previously, an incident occurred in Caolou Village, Guide Town, Changqing District, Jinan. A large number of dead fish were found in the fish pond of farmer Cao Laohan, and a medicine bottle labeled with the phoxim trademark was discovered beside the pond. It is understood that phoxim may have long-term adverse effects on the aquatic environment. In this incident, most of the fish in Cao Laohan's fish pond died, resulting in heavy economic losses. The police have intervened in the investigation
On the other hand, in terms of agricultural product quality and safety, issues of excessive phoxim residue have occasionally arisen. The Market Supervision and Administration Bureau of Hainan Province discovered during a recent special food safety spot check that the water celery sold by Wenchang Qinglan Chunye Vegetable Stall, Haikou Longhua Zengdehe Vegetable Stall, and Baoting Baocheng Gaohuali Vegetable Stall all contained phoxim that did not meet the national food safety standards. Similarly, the spot check results from the Market Supervision and Administration Bureau of Guizhou Province also showed that the celery sold by Liupanshui RT-Mart Commercial Co., Ltd. contained unqualified phoxim. Once these unqualified products enter the market, they will pose a potential threat to consumers' health
In response to the use and regulation of phoxim, the country has introduced a series of policies. For example, the "Action Plan for Reducing Chemical Pesticide Use and Enhancing Efficacy by 2025" issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs has been beneficial to the market for low-toxicity and high-efficiency products, promoting the development of products such as phoxim in a more environmentally friendly and efficient direction. At the same time, the implementation of the "Management Measures for the Recycling and Disposal of Pesticide Packaging Waste" has led to a rapid increase in the use rate of degradable packaging materials in phoxim products, from 17% in 2021 to 43% in 2023. Although this has increased the production cost per ton of product by approximately 1,200 yuan, it is beneficial to environmental protection and sustainable development of the industry in the long run
In addition, during the use of pesticides, some issues may arise due to farmers' insufficient understanding of pesticide characteristics. Taking phoxim as an example, it is prone to decomposition under strong sunlight, leading to a significant reduction in efficacy. According to data from the Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, crop losses caused by improper pesticide application exceeded 1.7 billion yuan in 2023, with 40% of the cases directly related to the photolysis characteristics of pesticides. Many farmers spray phoxim in the scorching sun at noon, resulting in a significant reduction in pest control effectiveness. To address this issue, it is necessary to strengthen science popularization education for farmers. For example, the Guangxi Agricultural Technology Station has adapted easily photolyzed pesticides into local operas, with lyrics reminding people that "phoxim turns to ash when exposed to light, and spraying in the evening is the most cost-effective." This kind of down-to-earth science popularization approach helps improve farmers' pesticide application skills
Phoxim plays a significant role in agricultural production. However, in its application, whether it is the manufacturing enterprises, regulatory authorities, or farmers, all parties need to attach great importance to its safety issues. Through various measures such as technological innovation, strict supervision, and science popularization education, it is ensured that Phoxim can not only effectively control pests but also safeguard ecological environment safety and agricultural product quality safety