Agricultural chemistry

Agricultural chemistry embraces the structures and chemical reactions relevant in the production, protection, and use of crops and livestock.

Its applied science and technology aspects are directed towards increasing yields and improving quality, which comes with multiple advantages and disadvantages.

Chemical materials developed to assist in the production of food, feed, and fiber include herbicides, insecticides, fungicides,[2] and other pesticides.

While organic fertilizers are time-honored, their use has largely been displaced by chemicals produced from mining (phosphate rock) and the Haber-Bosch process.

The use of these materials dramatically increased the rate at which crops are produced, which is able to support the growing human population.

[9][10] Agricultural chemistry encompases the science and technology of producing not only edible crops, but feedstocks for fuels ("biofuels") and materials.

These characteristics include providing new vaccines for humans, increasing nutrients supplies, and creating unique plastics.

Due to an increased market interest in biotechnology in the 1970s, there was more technology and infrastructure developed, a decreased cost, and an advance in research.

2,4-D , an early synthetic herbicide inspired by the study of auxins , had a profound impact on crop yields, starting in the 1940s.
A field after application of a herbicide
The "dead zone" in the Gulf of Mexico is caused by run-off of agricultural chemicals. [ 6 ] [ 7 ]
Pathways for producing biofuels from fat. The processes start with hydrogenation of backbone double bonds. Fatty acid methyl esters can then be produced by transesterification . Alternatively, C16 and C18 diesel fuels arise by hydrogenolysis of the saturated fat.
Structure of fructose (left), which is produced on a multi-billion-ton scale from glucose (right).