The Stream
Does RoundUp kill more than weeds?
Glyphosate is the most widely used agricultural chemical in history. But is it safe?
Glyphosate, the main chemical in RoundUp, has been used heavily since the 1990s to kill everything from coca plants to milkweed. It was initially considered one of the safest agricultural chemicals, but the past decade has concerns raised in farming communities around the world. US farm workers are now beginning to allege what farmers in Argentina, Sri Lanka and Colombia have said for years – that glyphosate exposure can lead to illness, including cancer. Those claims were further bolstered by a WHO declaration in 2015 that glyphosate is a “probable” carcinogen.
The announcement prompted renewed debate over glyphosate’s use, and for the first time, the US Food and Drug administration is testing for it in food. Some countries have banned it altogether, and Colombia stopped using it in US-funded drug eradication efforts. In Delaware, farmworkers filed a class action suit against the company.
Monsanto claims that their critics employ “junk science” and that glyphosate is safe. But Monsanto also stands accused of “junk science” and cherry picking research to justify their position. There’s certainly reason for Monsanto to do so. RoundUp sales totaled nearly $5 billion in 2014 – about a third of the company’s profits. Join the coversation at 19:30 GMT.
On this episode of The Stream, we’ll speak to:
Bill Freese @CFSTrueFood
Science Policy Analyst, Center for Food Safety
centerforfoodsafety.org
Donna Farmer @MonsantoCo
Senior Toxicologist, Product Safety Center – Monsanto
discover.monsanto.com
Dave Walton @waltonagseed
Farmer & Contributor, Genetic Literacy Project
Rella Abernathy @bouldercolorado
Integrated Pest Management Coordinator, City of Boulder, CO
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