Terminology in Pesticide Science

Terminological activities in agriculture are active in Japan. Each scientific society has authorized terminology pertinent to the science, taking the style of Japanese -English and English-Japanese dictionary. Pesticide Science Society of Japan also edited such a dictionary. Pesticides, implying ” kill” has given a negative emotion to the public, while new pest control chemicals are often not bio-cides but regulating vital life processes and modifying pest behaviors to exert their action. An ACS division has changed its name to ”Agrochemicals” from Pesticide Chemistry. The corresponding Japanese wording “NOYAKU” has already gotten a negative image. The growing number of chemicals which affect uncoventionally to pests and crops requires newer terminology such as bioregulators, bioregulants, pestistatics, behavior modifyer, behavioral chemicals etc. and provides a challenge to translate them into proper Japanese.