Search Results (12)

The potential withdrawal of glyphosate necessitates a comprehensive evaluation of alternative weed control strategies that balances human health safety with environmental concerns. This study applied a decision-support grid to compare the impacts of glyphosate-based reference strategies against chemical and non-chemical alternatives across four Belgian case studies: pome fruit orchards, grassland renewal, arable weed patches, and railways. The assessment integrated twelve risk indicators including human, environmental and biodiversity risk, and life cycle assessment for global warming potential (GWP) into a Final Scenario Score (FSS). The results indicated that only one alternative strategy, the chemical alternative in local weed patch control, achieved the FSS threshold (<0.75) required to justify substitution (FSS = 0.70). Chemical alternatives in other case studies frequently shifted burdens; for instance, bio-herbicides in railways increased risks to residents and aquatic organisms compared to the reference. Conversely, mechanical and thermal alternatives eliminated chemical toxicity but resulted in GWP increases up to 32 times higher than glyphosate-based practices. These findings demonstrate that chemical substitutes often maintain toxicity risks while non-chemical strategies trade them for increased climate impacts. Consequently, a ban on glyphosate is currently unsupported by the environmental performance of available alternatives in these temperate high-intensity systems. Sustainable progress requires a transition period where optimized conventional strategies remain available within integrated weed management, while innovations in electrification and precision technology are accelerated to resolve current trade-offs. Full article

This study analyzes global data on human exposure to pesticides, focusing on glyphosate, POPs, carbamates, and organophosphates, which are among the most widely used in agricultural and urban environments, providing an overview of global human contamination by these substances. Current research has increasingly focused on the unintended consequences of pesticide use, including food, water, and soil contamination, biodiversity loss (especially beneficial insects such as pollinators), and the growing evidence of adverse impacts on human health (neurological, reproductive, endocrine, and carcinogenic effects). Therefore, we compiled information from several existing studies that evaluated pesticide residues in human biological samples, specifically urine, blood, and breast milk, to assess the extent of exposure. The analysis takes a global perspective, highlighting the importance of monitoring exposure in countries that demonstrate exceptionally high pesticide use (in terms of absolute volume), such as Brazil, the United States, and China, which are among the largest global consumers. The data cover both contemporary pesticides, whose consumption is driven by intensive agriculture in these and other countries, and persistent legacy compounds (POPs) that continue to circulate in nature and accumulate in the human body decades after their ban in many countries. Globally, there is a wide disparity in global regulations, and many developing countries continue to use pesticides that have been banned or severely restricted in more developed nations. Finally, it provides a critical overview of global data on human pesticide contamination. The data reinforce the critical importance of establishing preventive initiatives and strengthening surveillance and monitoring systems to detect and control pesticide residues in human populations globally, ultimately aiming to mitigate the harms of chronic pesticide exposure to human health and well-being. Full article

Many natural areas are colonised by the invasive species Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle. Its presence in natural ecosystems damages the ecological richness while competing with native flora. A. altissima is one of the most widespread weed species in natural areas of temperate regions such as conservation parks, archaeological sites and communication corridors. Not many active ingredients are available to control this weed since the most popular, glyphosate, has been banned by many municipalities. To test the efficacy of alternative herbicides, naturally occurring populations in Collserola Conservation Park in Barcelona (Catalonia, Spain) were treated with different herbicides using three different techniques. Aclonifen, metribuzin, flazasulfuron, metsulfuron-methyl, fluroxypyr, isoxaflutole + thiencarbazone-methyl and triclopyr mixed with 2.4-D, fluroxypyr, aminopyralid and clopyralid were applied by stem injection, cut stump injection or basal bark techniques to trees of about 5 cm diameter. Cut stump and stem injection both gave almost total control of the trees while basal bark showed more varied results depending on the herbicide. The best control was achieved when flazasulfuron or triclopyr were present as active ingredients and poorer control was observed when using metsulfuron-methyl or isoxaflutole + thiencarbazone-methyl. Aclonifen showed no damage to the trees. Metribuzin worked better if the cut stump injection technique was used. These results showed that several alternatives are available to the use of glyphosate, which has been banned for some uses due to environmental concerns. Full article

Despite discourse advocating pesticide reduction, there has been an exponential increase in pesticide use worldwide in the agricultural sector over the last 30 years. Glyphosate-Based Herbicides (GBHs) are the most widely used pesticides on the planet as well as in Canada, where a total of almost 470 million kilograms of declared “active” ingredient glyphosate was sold between 2007 and 2018. GBHs accounted for 58% of pesticides used in the agriculture sector in Canada in 2017. While the independent scientific literature on the harmful health and environmental impacts of pesticides such as GBHs is overwhelming, Canada has only banned 32 “active” pesticide ingredients out of 531 banned in 168 countries, and reapproved GBHs in 2017 until 2032. This article, based on interdisciplinary and intersectoral research, will analyze how as a result of the scientific and regulatory captures of relevant Canadian agencies by the pesticide industry, the Canadian regulation and scientific assessment of pesticides are deficient and lagging behind other countries, using the GBH case as a basis for analysis. It will show how, by embracing industry narratives and biased evidence, by being receptive to industry demands, and by opaque decision making and lack of transparency, Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) promotes commercial interests over the imperatives of public health and environmental protection. Full article

Cultivation of cover crops is a valuable practice in sustainable agriculture. In cover crop management, the method of desiccation is an important consideration, and one widely used method for this is the application of glyphosate. With use of glyphosate likely to be banned soon in Europe, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the herbicidal effect of pelargonic acid (PA) as a bio-based substitute for glyphosate. This study presents the results of a two-year field experiment (2019 and 2021) conducted in northeast Germany. The experimental setup included an untreated control, three different dosages (16, 8, and 5 L/ha) of PA, and the active ingredients glyphosate and pyraflufen. A completely randomised block design was established. The effect of the herbicide treatments was assessed by a visual estimate of the percentage of crop vitality and a comparison assessment provided by an Ebee+ drone. Four vegetation indices (VIs) calculated from the drone images were used to verify the credibility of colour (RGB)-based and near-infrared (NIR)-based vegetation indices. The results of both types of assessment indicated that pelargonic acid was reasonably effective in controlling cover crops within a week of application. In both experimental years, the PA (16 L/ha) and PA_2T (double application of 8 L/ha) treatments demonstrated their highest herbicidal effect for up to seven days after application. PA (16 L/ha) vitality loss decreased over time, while PA_2T (double application of 8 L/ha) continued to exhibit an almost constant effect for longer due to the second application one week later. The PA dosage of 5 L/ha, pyraflufen, and a mixture of the two exhibited a smaller vitality loss than the other treatments. However, except for glyphosate, the herbicidal effect of all the other treatments decreased over time. At the end of the experiment, the glyphosate treatment (3 L/ha) demonstrated the lowest estimated vitality. The results of the drone assessments indicated that vegetation indices (VIs) can provide detailed information regarding crop vitality following herbicide application and that RGB-based indices, such as EXG, have the potential to be applied efficiently and cost-effectively utilising drone imagery. The results of this study demonstrate that pelargonic acid has considerable potential for use as an additional tool in integrated crop management. Full article

Since the introduction of glyphosate (N-(phosphomethyl) glycine) in 1974, it has been the most used nonselective and broad-spectrum herbicide around the world. The widespread use of glyphosate and glyphosate-based herbicides is due to their low-cost efficiency in killing weeds, their rapid absorption by plants, and the general mistaken perception of their low toxicity to the environment and living organisms. As a consequence of the intensive use and accumulation of glyphosate and its derivatives on environmental sources, major concerns about the harmful side effects of glyphosate and its metabolites on human, plant, and animal health, and for water and soil quality, are emerging. Glyphosate can reach water bodies by soil leaching, runoff, and sometimes by the direct application of some approved formulations. Moreover, glyphosate can reach nontarget plants by different mechanisms, such as spray application, release through the tissue of treated plants, and dead tissue from weeds. As a consequence of this nontarget exposure, glyphosate residues are being detected in the food chains of diverse products, such as bread, cereal products, wheat, vegetable oil, fruit juice, beer, wine, honey, eggs, and others. The World Health Organization reclassified glyphosate as probably carcinogenic to humans in 2015 by the IARC. Thus, many review articles concerning different glyphosate-related aspects have been published recently. The risks, disagreements, and concerns regarding glyphosate usage have led to a general controversy about whether glyphosate should be banned, restricted, or promoted. Thus, this review article makes an overview of the basis for scientists, regulatory agencies, and the public in general, with consideration to the facts on and recommendations for the future of glyphosate usage. Full article

Glyphosate-based herbicide has been the first choice for weed management worldwide since the 1970s, mainly due to its efficacy and reported low toxicity, which contributed to its high acceptance. Many of the recent studies focus solely on the persistence of pesticides in soils, air, water or food products, or even on the degree of exposure of animals, since their potential hazards to human health have raised concerns. Given the unaware exposure of the general population to pesticides, and the absence of a significant number of studies on occupational hazards, new glyphosate-induced toxicity data obtained for both residual and acute doses should be analyzed and systematized. Additionally, recent studies also highlight the persistence and toxicity of both glyphosate metabolites and surfactants present in herbicide formulations. To renew or ban the use of glyphosate, recently published studies must be taken into account, aiming to define new levels of safety for exposure to herbicide, its metabolites, and the toxic excipients of its formulations. This review aims to provide an overview of recent publications (2010–present) on in vitro and in vivo studies aimed at verifying the animal toxicity induced by glyphosate, its metabolite aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA) and glyphosate-based formulations, evaluated in various experimental models. Apart from glyphosate-induced toxicity, recent data concerning the role of surfactants in the toxicity of glyphosate-based formulations are discussed. Full article

Surface water pollution (as a result of pesticides) is a major problem, due to the negative impact on human health and ecosystems. The excessive use and persistence of surface water pollution in the environment may present a notable risk. In this article, DDT and its metabolite DDE hereafter, DDT–DDE), and a commonly used pesticide (herbicide) glyphosate, were analyzed in agricultural drainage waters; afterward, a spatial analysis was applied to identify potential areas of high pesticide occurrence in an agricultural Mediterranean coastal floodplain. The spatial distribution of banned (Directive 79/117/EEC), yet highly persistent pesticides in the environment, such as DDT (and metabolites), was compared with the (currently and mostly used) glyphosate. A sequence of various point patterns, spatial analysis methods, and non-parametric statistics, were computed to elucidate the pesticide pollution hotspots. As a reference value, almost 70% of the water samples were above the World Health Organization (WHO) guideline for DDT (and metabolites) for drinking water (1 µg/L), with a maximum of 6.53 µg/L. Our spatial analysis approach revealed a significantly high concentration of DDT–DDE clusters close to wetlands in natural parks, where mosquitos are abundant, and pesticides persist and flow to the surface waters from soil and groundwater pools. Conversely, glyphosate concentrations were below WHO guidelines; their spatial patterns were related more toward current agricultural uses in the southern sector of the study area. Full article

In the early 1990s, tillage was the leading form of weed control, with minimum/zero-tillage management practices incapable of long-term continuation. Presently, weed control through tillage has virtually disappeared as cropland management systems have transitioned largely to continuous cropping, with zero to minimal soil disturbance. Research was undertaken to examine what was driving this land management transition. A carbon accounting framework incorporating coefficients derived from the Century Model was used to estimate carbon sequestration in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. The results quantify the transition from farmland being a net carbon emitter to being a net carbon sequesterer over the past 30 years. This evidence confirms the correlation between genetically modified, herbicide-tolerant crops and glyphosate use is a driver of the increased soil carbon sequestration. The removal of tillage and adoption of minimal soil disturbances has reduced the amount of carbon released from tillage and increased the sequestration of carbon through continuous crop production. Countries that ban genetically modified crops and are enacting legislation restricting glyphosate use are implementing policies that Canadian farm evidence indicates will not contribute to increasing agricultural sustainability. Full article

In Europe, conservation agriculture (CA) is currently challenged by higher weed pressure, potential glyphosate ban and reduced crop yield. Based on preliminary results and a critical analysis, we provide insights on how to assess the effect of introducing different levels of tillage intensity, after a long-term CA sequence, on weed communities and crop yield. The experiment compared three types of fallow management (ploughing (CT), reduced tillage (RT), no-till with glyphosate (NT)) on four fields after 17 years of no-plough, which ended with 7 years of CA. The introduction of tillage proved to be a major driver of weed communities before weeding (density, richness and composition) in winter wheat. Weed density and species richness before weeding was greatest in RT, intermediate in CT and lowest in NT. The number of grains per ear and crop yield increased with tillage intensity (+11% for RT, +31% for CT). We provide avenues for future research through detailed methods and key references. Differences in winter wheat productivity were possibly related to enhanced soil structure and increased mineralisation of soil organic matter. Potential benefits of occasional ploughing will depend on the density and composition of the newly upwelled weed seedbank, which will need to be assessed before implementing tillage. From a multicriteria perspective, the long-term benefits associated with CA could largely exceed short-term yield increases associated with occasional tillage. Future studies will need to characterize the impact of occasional tillage operations on the long-term multiperformance of CA systems. Full article

Recent statements from scientific organisations and court decisions have resulted in widespread public interest and concern over the safety of glyphosate, the most popular and effective herbicide used worldwide. Consequently, glyphosate-based products are under intense scrutiny from governments at all levels. Some jurisdictions have already banned or restricted its use, which will adversely impact international trade in bulk grain commmodities if glyphosate residues are detected. The possibility of farming without glyphosate is becoming an important issue facing the agri-food research and development sector. Contingency plans need to be formulated if that scenario becomes a reality. In this review, we briefly summarize international events that have led to this possible situation, describe current glyphosate usage in major agronomic field crops worldwide, outline possible alternatives to glyphosate in two agroregions and perform bioeconomic model scenarios of southern Australian broadacre cropping systems without the herbicide. Model predictions suggest that we can farm profitably without glyphosate by consistently utilizing key non-herbicidal weed management practices combined with robust pre-emergence soil residual herbicide treatments. However, maintaining low weed seed banks will be challenging. If the social license to use glyphosate is revoked, what other pesticides will soon follow? Full article

In Taiwan and other countries, glyphosate has been used widely as a non-selective herbicide over 40 years in crop lands and non-crop lands. However, public concerns about its environmental and health risks have increased rapidly because the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) reclassified it as Group 2A (probably carcinogenic to humans) in 2015. From the viewpoints of environmental quality, food security and human health, it is necessary to regulate the release of glyphosate into the environment due to its massive use. The purpose of this case study was to analyze the historical consumption of glyphosate in Taiwan and also summarize its current regulatory measures through multi-ministerial levels. It showed that the sales quantities of glyphosate in Taiwan can be grouped into three stages, which include a ramping period (1984–1992), a stable period (1992–2007), and a declining period (2007–2016). These variations can be correlated with the annual price, manufacturers’ promotion and other non-selective herbicide competitors (i.e., paraquat and glufosinate), as well as the excellent action features of glyphosate. It should be noted that its sales quantities significantly increased from 3200 metric tons in 2015 to 4535 metric tons in 2016 mainly due to the official announcement of paraquat ban effective in February 2019. The core regulations for protecting food security and water quality from the use of glyphosate are based on its residual limits and standards under the authorization of the Food Sanitation Management Act (FSMA) and the Water Pollution Control Act (WPCA), respectively. More importantly, there are occasional reports of contamination by herbicides (including glyphosate) in drinking water sources. Unfortunately, glyphosate is not yet considered among chemical items when evaluating drinking water quality standards in Taiwan. Full article