In November 2023, the EU reapproved the use of the controversial herbicide, glyphosate, for another 10 years. The toxic chemical, widely adopted for weed control, had been approved for use until 15th December 2023, after which point, many member states were anticipating a total ban.
With mounting evidence linking glyphosate to a whole host of health risks and environmental damage, it appeared the chemical was on borrowed time. However, this seemingly wasn’t enough for the European Commission. Many organisations and citizens, along with the team here at Foamstream, are bitterly disappointed that the lobbying power and influence of manufacturers and those in the glyphosate industry have contributed to this decision.
In this blog, we’ll explore how the European Commission’s stance on glyphosate has been received, the many ways the chemical is detrimental to our health and future, and the innovations on the rise that mean we no longer have to compromise health, environment and ethics for fast and effective weed control.
What is glyphosate used for?
Glyphosate is a chemical compound used as the active ingredient in many herbicides. It’s used as a weed killer in agriculture, private facilities management, and in many public spaces, gardens and playgrounds.
First introduced to the market in the 1970s, glyphosate’s popularity quickly skyrocketed and today it’s still the most widely used herbicide globally. However, our understanding of the chemical and its detrimental impact has continued to grow, along with an ever-expanding body of evidence against its use.
EU glyphosate regulation: Where are we now?
Glyphosate is still widely used in the EU and around the world. However, the regulation does impose some restrictions and conditions on glyphosate’s use, which goes some way to acknowledging the very real threats it poses.
Glyphosate is currently restricted for ‘pre-harvest use’ and several measures are in place to ‘protect non-target organisms’. The EU has also set Maximum Residue Levels (MRLs) for Glyphosate in various food products. However, these measures don’t go far enough and still allow dangerous chemicals to enter the food chain and damage animal and plant life.
However, not all EU states took the renewal as a green light for glyphosate’s continued usage. Countries including Germany, France and Austria have implemented a partial ban, restricting domestic use and application in certain public ‘sensitive’ areas.
Meanwhile, pressure has been mounting from different groups and organisations, with the Pesticide Action Network UK (PAN UK) and a coalition of organisations pursuing legal action against the European Commission’s renewal decision.
Why is glyphosate so damaging?
Glyphosate poses risks and threats for human health, the environment, wildlife, waterways and biodiversity.
Impact on human health
There are several ways humans are exposed to glyphosate. It can enter through the nose, mouth, eyes or skin, causing irritation, burns, nausea and vomiting. It can also be ingested via food, if the chemical has been used on or around the crops and animals we consume.
Along with its unpleasant side effects, glyphosate is also linked to much more severe, long term health complications, particularly cancers.
Interestingly, before the EU’s glyphosate usage extension, a PAN-Europe poll was carried out with European citizens across six countries to gauge feelings towards the chemical. Given that one public authority classified glyphosate as a ‘probable carcinogen’ and another classed it as ‘probably not carcinogenic’, respondents were asked which view more closely matched their own.
62% overall believe the use of glyphosate should be banned in the EU. This was highest among respondents in France (70.5%) and 68.3% of Germans, 63% of Romanians, 59.9% of Poles, 57.3% of Spaniards and 52.5% of Danish respondents agreed.
Damage to the environment
Glyphosate causes damage to the environment in a number of ways, including:
- Threats to soil health - Glyphosate requires soil absorption to be effective as a weed killer. Traces of glyphosate have been detected in crops grown in this soil, and this can cause the chemical to enter the food chain.
- Negative impact on bees - Herbicides like glyphosate can make bee colonies more susceptible to disease and impacts their development, navigation and foraging abilities, thermoregulation, learning and memory. This damage to our key pollinators has severe knock-on impacts for plant and food production and biodiversity.
- Contamination of water sources - Glyphosate can contaminate rainwater runoff in contaminated areas, which can then find its way into streams, rivers and other bodies of water. This poses risks to aquatic life and again, can lead to the chemical entering the human food chain.
Alternatives to herbicide weed control
Toxic chemical methods are by no means the only route to affordable and powerful weed control. As the EU glyphosate debate continues to unravel, innovative, non-toxic weed control methods have continued to gain traction. These sustainable technologies are not only crucial in the fight to protect human health and the environment, but are also helping a wide range of industries take important strides in their drive to adopt eco-friendly practices.
Significant developments, like weed zapping and even steam-weed control are increasingly coming to the fore. Foamstream, developed by Weedingtech, is an environmentally friendly and organic weed control solution that’s safe for use around humans, animals and delicate ecosystems. Many local authorities have licensed its usage for public weed control, and it’s also been deployed in some agricultural environments to great effect, as reported by NewScientist.
Foamstream uses heat as the active ingredient to kill the weed, while a biodegradable foam insulates it to maintain ‘kill zone’ temperatures. Its widespread use and support from a range of organsations is testament that we don’t need to rely on toxic, damaging chemicals for effective and fast-acting weed control.
The glyphosate ban campaign continues
The health risks and environmental impact of glyphosate warrant serious and urgent reconsideration by the EU. We cannot afford to sacrifice the health of citizens and the environment for toxic weed control, especially as other proven, widely-trusted methods are increasingly making the argument for the chemical redundant.
As our knowledge and understanding of the devastating impacts glyphosate can have grows, so too does the camp against herbicide, with citizens, scientists and environmental bodies all joining forces in the important fight to secure an indefinite ban. We must keep the pressure on the European Commission to take necessary precautions to protect our people and planet, with strong and decisive to secure our future.
