The Conundrum of Glyphosate: Overused but Indespensible Agronomic Management Tool?

Glyphosate (GP) use poses problems. Marketed by Monsanto from 1973 as Roundup (‘total’ herbicide), it allowed welcome replacement of more evidently toxic - to humans and environment - Paraquat (PQ) marketed by ICI from 1962 as Gramoxone. Toxicology and ‘side effects’ questions precede legal clearance of agrochemicals for approved use to protect public and environmental safety. However, many cases are cited about GP damage to people, flora and fauna; possible carcinogenicity and other detrimental effects. Central here is that GP has become integral to agronomic management of beneficial practices of reduced cultivation/zero-tillage and adoption of Conservation Agriculture across vast hectares globally. This leads to repeated applications annually, crop after crop, often combined with adoption of GM seeds (Roundup–Ready or RR) of both maize and soyabean. Residues accumulate in near-surface Soil Organic Matter (SOM), in crops for animal feed interfering with ruminant gut microbial ecology. Furthermore, foods containing GP residues from both plant and animal sources are known to affect adversely the human digestive tract. Overuse of GP that many farmers have viewed as indispensable poses a negative chain effect, necessitating pursuit of alternative approaches, especially in face of bans on GP use in a growing number of countries.