Glyphosate, a broad-spectrum systemic herbicide and crop desiccant, has become one of the most widely used agricultural chemicals worldwide. Its discovery, widespread adoption, and subsequent controversies have sparked debates among environmentalists, health professionals, and agricultural stakeholders. This blog post delves into the history of glyphosate, its applications, the entities profiting from its sale, modes of human exposure, and its implications for human health and the environment.
The Invention of Glyphosate
Glyphosate was first synthesized in 1950 by Swiss chemist Henry Martin. However, its herbicidal properties were not discovered until 1970 by John E. Franz, a chemist working for Monsanto. Monsanto, an American agrochemical and agricultural biotechnology corporation, subsequently developed and marketed glyphosate as Roundup in 1974. This marked the beginning of its journey to becoming the cornerstone of weed management systems globally.
The Rise of Glyphosate Use
The introduction of glyphosate-resistant genetically modified (GM) crops in the mid-1990s by Monsanto under the brand name “Roundup Ready” significantly boosted glyphosate usage. These crops were engineered to withstand glyphosate, allowing farmers to apply the herbicide without harming their crops. This development transformed agricultural practices, leading to increased yields and reduced labor costs. As a result, glyphosate became integral to modern farming. With its application extending beyond agriculture to forestry, urban, and aquatic environments.
Who Profits from Glyphosate?
Monsanto, now owned by Bayer AG after a merger in 2018, has been the primary beneficiary of glyphosate’s success. However, the patent for glyphosate expired in 2000, opening the market to generic versions produced by numerous chemical companies worldwide. This has led to a competitive market, with companies profiting from both the sale of glyphosate and glyphosate-resistant seeds.
Exposure to Glyphosate
Humans encounter glyphosate through various channels:
- Agricultural applications: Residues in food crops treated with glyphosate.
- Residential use: Application in gardens, driveways, and public parks.
- Water contamination: Runoff into rivers, streams, and groundwater.
- Airborne exposure: Dust from treated fields.
Health and Environmental Effects
Human Health: The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), a branch of the World Health Organization (WHO), classified glyphosate as “probably carcinogenic in humans” in 2015. This was based on evidence of cancer in exposed animals and limited evidence in humans. Other studies have explored potential links to non-Hodgkin lymphoma and other health issues. Although the findings are contested and regulatory bodies around the world have reached varying conclusions on glyphosate’s safety.
Environmental Impact: Glyphosate’s widespread use has raised concerns regarding biodiversity, soil health, and aquatic ecosystems. It has been linked to the decline of pollinator populations, such as bees, and the disruption of microbial communities in the soil. Resistance in weeds has also become a significant challenge. This is leading to increased chemical usage and the potential for more potent herbicides.
Health Impacts
My daughter and I were having some gastrointestinal issues for a couple months. We couldn’t figure out what was going on. We would both get severe stomach pain every time we would eat. This led us both to not want to eat anything at all after a while. Even something as simple as drinking water would irritate out stomachs. We tried cutting out certain foods to see if it was something particular that we were eating. Nothing we did made a difference.
I ended up getting desperate and taking her to the doctor to try to get answers. She tested positive for celiac disease with a blood draw. So, come to find out that it was gluten that was giving us stomach aches. Her doctor wanted to run more tests to confirm and see the severity of the damage. In the meantime, waiting for the other tests, her doctor said not to cut out gluten from our diets.
However, upon doing my own research on celiac and what gluten really does in the body I wasn’t so convinced that gluten alone was the cause of our symptoms. Celiac disease has been increasing over the recent years. Why is it? Why are more and more people having gluten intolerances and sensitivities? Something just wasn’t adding up to me. What was it about gluten that is causing these issues. My gluten links eventually led me to the pesticides and herbicides that were being sprayed on grains. So, in the meantime, if we weren’t cutting out gluten, then I was going to try another approach to test my theory.
Is Organic Worth It?
We started buying all organic grains, fruits, and vegetables. Organic produce still gets sprayed with certain herbicides, but they are not allowed to use glyphosate. In the following weeks of eating organic only, we both had our symptoms not only improve, but disappear altogether. Coincidence? I don’t think so. With the following testing that was completed the results came back normal! Her doctor was in disbelief. I explained to her the changes we had made, and my theory and she was in complete disbelief and said she had never come across this before.
That all being said, my personal belief is that celiac isn’t purely a gluten problem alone and it is a pesticide problem that is poisoning our GI systems. This was proof enough for me. To this day we still eat gluten with no problems at all and we just pay attention to what type we are eating so that it is not covered with glyphosate.
Why Glyphosate is Controversial
Glyphosate embodies the complex trade-offs of modern agriculture: it has enabled increased food production but at a potential cost to human health and the environment. Its role in promoting monoculture, where large areas are planted with a single crop, has furthered concerns about biodiversity loss and ecosystem resilience. The debate over glyphosate is not just about the chemical itself but about the sustainability of current agricultural practices and the search for alternatives that balance productivity with environmental and health considerations.
Final Thoughts
As the conversation around glyphosate continues, it is crucial to weigh its benefits against its risks carefully. Research and policy must prioritize the development of sustainable agricultural practices that ensure food security while minimizing harm to human health and the environment. The story of glyphosate is a reminder of the need for a holistic approach to agriculture, one that respects the delicate balance of our ecosystems. If you want to be more aware of some of the foods that can contain this toxin you can read more about it here.
For even more in-depth information, you can view and download the following document. It is best to view on a desktop unless downloaded, then it can be viewed more easily on a mobile device.
https://www.sokolovelaw.com/blog/foods-glyphosate-cancer/
https://www.iarc.who.int/featured-news/media-centre-iarc-news-glyphosate/
https://www.cooneyconway.com/blog/bayer-pull-roundup-shelves-2023-avoid-further-lawsuits
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/
https://www.sokolovelaw.com/blog/roundup-10-billion-dollar-settlement/
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