Defoliant

Worldwide use of defoliants, along with the development of other herbicides and pesticides, allowed for the Green Revolution, an increase in agricultural production in mid-20th century.

[4][5] In Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War, the Rainbow Herbicides were a group of tactical-use chemicals used by the United States military.

The environmental destruction caused by this defoliation has been described by Swedish Prime Minister Olof Palme, lawyers, historians and other academics as an ecocide.

[6][7][8][9][10] In 1998, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) concluded that the use of agricultural defoliants led to increased risks of water contamination and dangers to freshwater and marine life.

[13] Among other occupations, farmers are at a significantly higher risk of developing Alzheimer's disease due to a greater chance of defoliant exposure.

Defoliants are used as an aid in the harvesting of certain crops such as cotton.
2,4-D, one of the first chemical herbicides used as a defoliant.
U.S. Army Huey helicopter spraying Agent Orange over agricultural land during the Vietnam War .