The problems with Glyphosate

Bayer, the German multinational that produces Glyphosate insists the substance does not pose any risk to human health. According to the World Health Organization, however, it probably causes cancer. Some law courts in the USA have made Bayer pay hefty compensations to farmers who suffer cancer and argue that their illness was caused by the pesticide.

The full truth is that scientists so far do not fully understand the impacts. Resent research suggests, for example, that it has an impact on humans’ hormone system and may actually play a role in so many men becoming infertile.

Fundamentally flawed

It should also be noted that Glyphosate is not suitable for Integrated Pest Management (IPM). This is the best pesticide practice recommended by scientists and mandated by law in the EU. IPM only permits pesticide use as a crisis intervention when a specific pest threatens the harvest on a specific field. In principle, precautionary use is thus illegal in the EU, though it is tolerated within certain limits.

Glyphosate is definitely not designed for crisis intervention, however. This toxin kills off all kinds of weeds. It protects gene-modified crops but exterminates all other plants. It cannot be used as a targeted remedy for a specific pest. It serves a precautionary purpose in a very radical way – and thus, it systematically diminishes biodiversity.

Glyphosate was originally developed by Monsanto, a scandal-ridden US-based corporation. Bayer bought Monsanto in 2018 because the top management wanted to make Bayer a key player in agrochemical industries. They achieved that goal – but that success has since led to considerable headaches. Especially the lawsuits in the USA have proven to be very costly. 

Susanne Neubert is the former director of Humboldt University’s Centre for Rural Development in Berlin. She retired last year. She is also a member of D+C’s advisory board. 
susanne.neubert@agrar.hu-berlin.de