Syngenta announces it will continue selling pesticide linked to Parkinson's disease until 2026.

BASEL, Switzerland—In what company executives are calling a "responsible transition plan," Syngenta announced Wednesday it would continue manufacturing and distributing a controversial pesticide linked to neurological damage for the foreseeable future, with a planned phase-out date of late 2026.

The pesticide, known commercially as NeuroGuard, has been the subject of multiple peer-reviewed studies connecting its use to increased Parkinson's disease risk among agricultural workers. Internal company documents reviewed by this publication show Syngenta's own research identified these risks as early as 2015.

"We understand the concerns, which is why we're taking this measured approach," said Syngenta spokesperson Evelyn Richter during a press conference held in a sterile corporate meeting room. "Farmers have invested heavily in this product, and we owe it to our customers to ensure they can use their existing inventory."

Richter stood before a projected timeline showing gradual reduction milestones spread across 14 quarterly periods, each marked with corporate-friendly terminology like "optimized depletion windows" and "stakeholder alignment phases." The chart indicated full production would continue through 2026 before entering what the company calls "managed decline."

When pressed about whether continuing to sell a known neurotoxin for years constituted ethical business practices, Richter became visibly flustered, adjusting her glasses repeatedly. "Our commitment to safety is unwavering," she stated, reading from prepared notes. "The three-year window allows us to develop alternative formulations while honoring our contractual obligations."

Syngenta's decision comes amid increasing regulatory pressure. The European Chemicals Agency recently classified the pesticide's active ingredient as a "presumed human neurotoxicant," while the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has initiated its own review process. Neither agency has yet issued a ban.

Internal emails obtained through legal discovery show Syngenta executives discussing the "liability calculus" of continued sales versus potential lawsuit payouts. One 2026 message from a senior product manager reads: "At current litigation rates, we're still profitable through Q4 2028 even with worst-case settlement scenarios."

Farmers interviewed expressed mixed reactions. "I've used NeuroGuard for fifteen years," said 58-year-old soybean grower Frank Delaney of Iowa. "They tell me it might give me Parkinson's, but they also tell me I can keep using it? I don't know what to think anymore."

Medical experts were less ambiguous. "This is like a cigarette company announcing they'll stop selling cigarettes in three years but encouraging smoking in the meantime," said Dr. Anya Sharma, a neurologist at Johns Hopkins University. "The damage from continued exposure is cumulative and irreversible."

Syngenta's transition plan includes what the company calls "enhanced safety messaging"—primarily adding more warning labels to existing packaging and updating safety data sheets. The company has allocated $2.3 million for these labeling changes, compared to the $18 million budgeted for marketing a replacement product still in development.

During the press conference, Richter accidentally revealed the company's true priority when she misspoke: "Our shareholders expect—I mean, our stakeholders expect—a smooth transition that maintains revenue streams while we explore... other opportunities."

The company's stock price rose 3.2% following the announcement. Analysts cited the "predictable revenue projection" as a positive signal for investors.

Syngenta has scheduled a series of "customer appreciation events" in farming communities across the Midwest, where representatives will distribute complimentary NeuroGuard samples and demonstrate "proper application techniques."