CURRENT CROP PROTECTION CHEMICALS AND METHODS ENDANGER FARM WORKERS AND THREATEN THE ENVIRONMENT THROUGH GROUNDWATER RUNOFF. MULTIPLE APPLICATIONS OF CROP PROTECTION CHEMICALS ARE OFTEN REQUIRED, DISTURBING THE SOIL, INCREASING FARMING EXPENSE, AND FURTHER ENDANGERING WORKERS AND ENVIRONMENT.A SYSTEM IS NEEDED THAT WILL PERMIT RAPID FORMULATION IN WATER AND ON SITE, AND ONCE APPLIED WILL STAY PUT. POLYSACCHARIDES ARE CHAINS OF SUGARS THAT OCCUR IN MANY PLACES IN NATURE; IN PARTICULAR THEY CONSTITUTE A MAJOR PART OF EVERY GROWING PLANT, THE SHELLS OF CRUSTACEANS LIKE CRABS, AND COMPRISE STARCH WHICH IS ABUNDANT IN MANY PLANTS INCLUDING CORN, RICE, AND POTATOES. THESE BENIGN, ABUNDANT, RENEWABLE NATURAL MATERIALS CAN, WE BELIEVE, BE USED TO MAKE NATURAL-BASED GELS, THAT CAN BE FORMULATED INTO TINY GEL PARTICLES BY METHODS THAT REQUIRE NO TOXIC CHEMICALS OR SOLVENTS (ONLY WATER!). THESE TINY GEL PARTICLES ARE FORMED SPONTANEOUSLY FROM THE MODIFIED POLYSACCHARIDES, IN A PROCESS THAT PROCEEDS QUICKLY IN ROOM TEMPERATURE WATER WITH NO SPECIAL EQUIPMENT REQUIRED (I.E., PERFECTLY SUITED FOR THE FIELD). THEY CAN BE FORMULATED TO ENCAPSULATE AND EVEN BIND TO CROP PROTECTION CHEMICALS. THEN APPLICATION OF THIS TINY GEL-CONTAINING WATER CAN BE TARGETED SPECIFICALLY TO THE CLOSE NEIGHBORHOOD OF THE PLANT TO BE PROTECTED, AND THE CROP PROTECTION CHEMICAL CAN BE RELEASED FROM THE GEL OVER A LONG TIME PERIOD. THESE MATERIALS AND THIS METHOD WILL PROTECT THE FARM WORKER, NEIGHBORS, RIVERS AND STREAMS, AND WILL DO SO BASED ON THESE POLYSACCHARIDES THAT THEMSELVES ARE PRODUCTS OF AMERICAN AGRICULTURE.