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In recent times, one hears political talking heads and some journalists use the term “the canary in the old mine” for other than its original meaning: taking little canaries down into the mines to let them slowly die of carbon monoxide poisoning. Sad, very sad. Yet, we persist in using toxic chemicals to supposedly make us live better, normalizing toxicity in our every day lives. Now this is very damn tragic to say the least when other countries have banned chlorpyrifos from its multiple uses. And yet the unenlightened Trump Administration recently had the U.S. Environmental Agency remove the ban under the Biden Administration.

A FULL DISCLOSURE So that we may know how serious this chemical agent is, AI Perplexity and AI ChatGPT responses have been reprinted below.

Chlorpyrifos is an organophosphate insecticide whose main health risk is neurotoxicity—it inhibits acetylcholinesterase, causing overstimulation of the nervous system, with particular concern for fetuses and children.

Acute (short‑term) effects:

At low–moderate exposure (e.g., drift, household contact, treated fields), typical cholinergic symptoms include–

• Blurred or darkened vision, muscle twitching, tremors, weakness, loss of coordination

At high doses or severe poisoning, reported effects include==

Chronic and developmental effects:

Evidence from human cohort and animal studies points to significant longer‑term risks, especially with prenatal or early‑life exposure:

Occupational and repeated exposures have also been associated with–

Reproductive, endocrine, and cancer concerns of additional possible risks, although not all are fully resolved–

Who is most at risk?

Groups with higher potential exposure and vulnerability include–

European Union

• The EU has banned chlorpyrifos and chlorpyrifos-methyl entirely from use in plant protection products since 2020.

United Kingdom

• The UK banned chlorpyrifos (with limited exceptions) as of April 2016.

Canada

• Canada cancelled all chlorpyrifos uses and products, effectively banning it.

New Zealand

• New Zealand’s Environmental Protection Authority announced plans to ban chlorpyrifos completely, with phase-out timelines in 2025–2026.

Thailand

• Chlorpyrifos was banned under Thai law effective June 1, 2020.

Nepal

• Nepal implemented an immediate nationwide ban on chlorpyrifos (alongside other hazardous pesticides) in late 2024.

🌎 Other National Bans

Reports and regulatory documents indicate chlorpyrifos has also been banned in several other countries, including:

• Argentina, Morocco, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Switzerland, Saudi Arabia, Palestine, Trinidad & Tobago, Turkey and South Africa for various uses.
• Various sources list additional bans or non-approvals in countries like Sweden, Egypt, Vietnam, and India (with some restrictions and exemptions depending on the use).

🌐 Global Phase-out Effort

In 2025, parties to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants agreed to phase out chlorpyrifos globally with specific exemptions — a move toward eliminating nearly all uses worldwide.

Summary

• Banned: EU, UK, Canada, New Zealand (phase-out), Thailand, Nepal, and many others.
• Restricted or phased out: Some regions (e.g., specific crop uses or states within countries).
• Global effort: Stockholm Convention aims to eliminate it globally, though exemptions remain.

Chlorpyrifos has been used far beyond just crop spraying. Here are the main categories of use historically:

1. Agricultural Uses (Most Common)

• Corn
• Soybeans
• Fruit trees (apples, oranges)
• Tree nuts (almonds, walnuts)
• Broccoli, cauliflower
• Cotton
• Wheat

It’s a broad-spectrum organophosphate insecticide, meaning it kills many types of insects by disrupting their nervous systems.

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2. Residential / Structural Pest Control (Largely phased out in many countries)

• Termite treatments
• Cockroach control
• Ant control
• Flea treatments (yards, kennels)

In the U.S., most residential uses were canceled in the early 2000s because of child exposure risks.

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3. Public Health Uses

• Mosquito control in some regions
• Control of flies in public spaces or livestock areas

Some countries have restricted these uses, but they still exist in limited areas globally.

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4. Livestock Applications

• Treatment for ticks, lice, and mites on cattle and sheep
• Barn and stable insect control

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5. Non-Food / Industrial Uses

• Turf management (golf courses, athletic fields)
• Utility pole and fence post treatments (wood protection)
• Greenhouse insect control

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Important Reality – Chlorpyrifos is potent! So, who manufactures chlorpyrifos?

The reason many countries are banning it isn’t because it’s ineffective — it’s because it’s potent. Chlorpyrifos affects acetylcholinesterase, an enzyme critical for nervous system function. The same mechanism that kills insects can harm human neurological development, especially in children.

Chlorpyrifos has been manufactured by several agrochemical companies over the years. The main ones include the following:

Major Manufacturers (Historically and Currently)

• Dow Chemical Company
  Originally developed chlorpyrifos in the 1960s. It was sold under the brand name Lorsban.
• Corteva Agriscience
  Spun off from DowDuPont in 2019 and inherited chlorpyrifos products. Corteva announced it would phase out production in 2020.
• Makhteshim Agan (now part of ADAMA Agricultural Solutions)
  Produced generic chlorpyrifos formulations.
• Nufarm
  Manufactured and distributed chlorpyrifos products in multiple markets.
• Gharda Chemicals
  A significant producer of chlorpyrifos for export markets.
• Several Chinese manufacturers, including large state-linked agrochemical firms, have also produced chlorpyrifos for global export markets.

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Important context:

Many Western companies have exited production due to regulatory pressure and liability concerns. However, production continues in parts of Asia and other regions where regulations remain less restrictive.

From an investment standpoint, chlorpyrifos itself is not generally considered a growth chemical in traditional portfolios — largely because of regulatory pressure, bans in major markets, and shifting industry dynamics. Here’s how to view it if you’re thinking about capital allocation OR if you do not care about the health and well-being of the global citizenry:

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1. Declining Demand in Developed Markets

• Regulatory authorities in the United States and European Union have restricted or revoked many uses of chlorpyrifos due to health and environmental concerns, significantly reducing its market footprint in those large agricultural economies.
• Many companies have reduced or stopped production, such as Corteva Agriscience exiting chlorpyrifos production and shifting to safer alternatives.

Investment implication: legacy products like chlorpyrifos are not growth engines in developed markets and carry regulatory and legal risk.

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2. Regional Opportunities Still Exist

• While bans are tightening in Western markets, demand persists in parts of Asia, Latin America, and Africa where regulatory constraints are less strict and large-scale agriculture still uses broad-spectrum pesticides.
• Some producers are innovating safer or low-residue formulations to remain compliant and extend product life in certain markets.

Investment implication: niche exposure in emerging markets may still generate revenue, but this tends to be more speculative and dependent on regulatory trends.

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3. Regulatory Risk and Litigation

• Because chlorpyrifos has been linked to neurological effects — especially in children — companies tied to its production face litigation risk, reputational risk, and potential future bans even where currently permitted.
• Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) investing trends penalize exposure to hazardous chemicals, pushing capital away from products with poor health or sustainability profiles.

Investment implication: direct investment in chlorpyrifos production companies carries higher long-term risk.

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4. Broader Agrochemical Industry Context

Rather than investing in chlorpyrifos itself, many analysts position investment more favorably in broader or adjacent sectors:

✅ Biopesticides and Sustainable Inputs

Consumer and regulatory shifts toward safer, low-impact pest control are creating growth opportunities. Biopesticides and next-generation crop protection products are gaining traction.

✅ Integrated Pest Management & Precision Ag Tech

Technologies that reduce reliance on traditional pesticides — such as precision spraying and biological controls — are attracting institutional interest.

📌 Example investment angles

• Agrochemical companies diversifying into biologicals or safer chemistries
• Precision farming and ag-tech platforms improving application efficiency
• Sustainable agriculture ETFs or funds focused on ESG compliance

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🧠 Bottom Line

Chlorpyrifos itself is generally not a growth investment.

• Its traditional market is shrinking due to regulatory bans and health concerns.
• Significant regulatory and ESG risks make it unattractive as a standalone investment.
• Potential value is more likely found in companies pivoting toward safer pest control solutions or broader agricultural technology.

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With all this known reality about this pesticide, why does the Trump Administration still persist in not regulating it, including other toxic agents under President Trump's first and second terms?