Campaigners Demand Action to Break UK's 'Addiction' to Glyphosate Herbicides
Environmental campaigners are urging the UK government to ban or severely restrict glyphosate following a ten-fold increase in its usage over the past three decades. Data reveals that over 2,200 tonnes were sprayed on UK farmland in 2024, primarily on wheat and cereals, despite the chemical being classified as 'probably carcinogenic to humans' by the WHO in 2015. While farmers argue that glyphosate is essential for regenerative agriculture to prevent soil erosion and protect carbon levels without ploughing, critics highlight severe health risks and environmental pollution. With the herbicide's license up for renewal, groups like Pesticide Action Network UK are calling for a phase-out, citing links to cancer and other diseases. This debate intensifies amidst global legal challenges against Bayer and regulatory bans in the EU regarding pre-harvest use.
Wire timeline
Campaigners Demand Action to Break UK's 'Addiction' to Glyphosate Herbicides
Environmental campaigners are urging the UK government to ban or severely restrict glyphosate following a ten-fold increase in its usage over the past three decades. Data reveals that over 2,200 tonnes were sprayed on UK farmland in 2024, primarily on wheat and cereals, despite the chemical being classified as 'probably carcinogenic to humans' by the WHO in 2015. While farmers argue that glyphosate is essential for regenerative agriculture to prevent soil erosion and protect carbon levels without ploughing, critics highlight severe health risks and environmental pollution. With the herbicide's license up for renewal, groups like Pesticide Action Network UK are calling for a phase-out, citing links to cancer and other diseases. This debate intensifies amidst global legal challenges against Bayer and regulatory bans in the EU regarding pre-harvest use.
The Guardian