https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.jafc.4c12827
The agricultural sector has witnessed a dramatic shift in pest management strategies over the past few decades, with fluorinated pesticides emerging as a dominant force. From a modest 9% market share at the turn of the century, these compounds now account for more than half of newly approved pesticides, with nearly 70% of agrochemicals approved in recent years containing fluorine. This surge in popularity is driven by the unique properties that fluorination imparts, including enhanced stability, lipophilicity, and bioavailability. While these characteristics have undoubtedly contributed to improved pest control and agricultural productivity, they have also given rise to pressing environmental and health concerns that demand urgent attention from the agricultural and food chemistry research community. Table 1 lists key aspects and findings, and the sections below outline research priorities to address the pressing issues.