The global population has recently reached 7 billion and is expected to increase by more than 20% by 2030. The need for sustainably increasing agricultural production is therefore greater than ever. This event will discuss how chemical sciences play a fundamental role in improving agricultural productivity.
Azoxystrobin is the world's leading agricultural fungicide. It is a fully synthetic compound, whose invention was inspired by the structure and activity of the naturally-occurring fungicide strobilurin A. Today it is used worldwide to control fungi growing on over 120 types of crop, improving plant health, raising quality and increasing yield. It is a good example of chemistry's contribution to the agriculture industry and food production.
The success of the project highlights the crucial importance of chemistry in meeting grand challenges such as global food security. RSC Creativity in Industry Prize 2011 Winner Dr John Clough led the team of chemists at Syngenta that invented azoxystrobin. He will speak at the Chemistry Centre in the Chemistry for Tomorrow's World 2012 Lecture Series, discussing the key role that synthetic organic chemistry played in creating an effective and safe fungicide.
We will record this lecture and the video will be available soon on The Reaction.
Watch this video and find out more about the story of azoxystrobin.