A new 2026 AgbioInvestor study conducted on behalf of CropLife International highlights the increasing time, cost and complexity involved in bringing new crop protection products to market, underscoring ongoing challenges in agricultural innovation and regulatory systems.
Based on recent data from leading industry participants, the report examines the resources required to develop modern crop protection tools and the pressures shaping research and development pipelines. It points to extended development timelines and rising investment needs even as scientific and technical capabilities continue to advance.
According to the study, the average development time for a new crop protection product is 11.4 years. While discovery-phase efficiencies have improved, the report attributes the overall timeline to increasing complexity in regulatory data requirements and submission processes.
The study also found that the average cost of discovery and development has increased to $307 million, or €276 million, representing an increase of nearly $21 million since 2014.
In addition, biological crop protection products now account for 10% of agrochemical research and development investment among CropLife International member companies, reflecting a growing emphasis on complementary tools in the crop protection portfolio.
The findings highlight the scale of scientific effort and financial commitment required to bring new solutions to farmers at a time when agricultural systems face increasing pressure from variable weather patterns and evolving pest dynamics. The report notes that these challenges require timely access to innovation, while extended development timelines can delay the availability of new tools.
The study emphasizes the importance of aligning policy and regulatory systems with the pace of agricultural innovation. It calls for modernization of regulatory frameworks to streamline the process of bringing new products to market, as well as greater use of risk-based assessments to improve predictability and transparency in product registration processes.
Source: CropLife International, "Innovation Delayed Is Progress Denied: New Study Reveals $307M Cost and 11-Year Path to Crop Protection Innovation"