Conventional chemistry is still an option. Such solutions are the keys that enable the pesticide and the manufacturer to compete successfully in the marketplace. A commercially successful product allows the manufacturer to recover the costs of initial testing and registration and return a profit for reinvestment into future product development. The development of any new pesticide product begins with discovery and ends with registration. Designer chemical development blends the skills of many specialists, beginning with synthetic chemists and biologists.
Toxicologists evaluate the impact on various mammalian and other nontarget organisms.
Residue, environmental, and metabolism chemists conduct additional tests. Research expands from greenhouse evaluations to field use and involves testing under expected environmental conditions. Process chemists and engineers design systems for mass production of the active ingredient as well as various end use products. Product development personnel expand use pattern testing results beyond field stations to serve as a technical interface with the manufacturer and between the scientific community and the customer. Small amounts of chemicals are synthesized and tested in laboratories and greenhouses.