Glyphosate ban in Mexico: potential impacts on agriculture and weed management

Abstract

Since glyphosate was classified as potentially carcinogenic by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, public debate regarding the environmental impact and health risks from its use has intensified. Almost all regulatory agencies throughout the world have concluded that the judicious use of glyphosate does not pose risks to the environment and human health. However, on the last day of 2020 the Mexican government decreed a ban of this herbicide beginning January, 2024. In current Mexican agriculture there are no safer chemical and/or other weed management technologies that allow for the economical substitution of glyphosate for weed control. Many Mexican weed scientists agree that glyphosate use should be reduced, but not banned outright. This decree could have more negative economic and social consequences as well as environmental and human health risks than benefits, which could compromise the countryʼs food and public security. Crop yields are projected by some to decline by up to 40% with this ban, increasing food prices, making food less accessible to low‐income consumers. In addition, a black market for the smuggling and illegal sale of glyphosate is possible. The possible environmental, economic and social impacts caused by the glyphosate ban in Mexico are discussed, emphasizing the impact on weed management. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.

No evidence of effects or interaction between the widely used herbicide, glyphosate, and a common parasite in bumble bees

“…As the world’s most used pesticide ( Duke & Powles, 2008 ; Benbrook, 2016 ), the application of glyphosate is a hotly debated topic, largely due to its human carcinogenicity ( Alcántara-dela Cruz & Cruz-Hipolito, 2021 ), but increasingly regarding its potential toxicity to bees ( Cullen et al, 2019 ). Given its wide usage, the implications for changing its regulatory status would substantively reshape conventional farming practices ( Beckie, Flower & Ashworth, 2020 ), and thus need to be made using robust and environmentally sound science.…”

“…Glyphosate has also undergone regulatory testing for governmental authorities worldwide to determine its effects on bees ( EFSA, 2015 ; Duke, 2018 ). Glyphosate is currently approved in all major territories ( Duke, 2018 ), and where it is not approved (Mexico, for example) this is for human health reasons, not bee health reasons ( Alcántara-dela Cruz & Cruz-Hipolito, 2021 ).…”

A Study on the Phytotoxic Potential of the Seasoning Herb Marjoram (Origanum majorana L.) Leaves

“…[ 34 ]. The increasing restrictions on the use of agrochemicals in crops, i.e., the potential ban on glyphosate in the near future [ 40 , 41 ], triggers the need to develop alternative methods for weed control. The use of natural product enriched extracts such as those obtained from marjoram, might be a good alternative as a pre-emergence herbicide, particularly for low-resource countries.…”

Peer Review #1 of "No evidence of effects or interaction between the widely used herbicide, glyphosate, and a common parasite in bumble bees (v0.1)"

“…As the world's most used pesticide (Duke andPowles, 2008, Benbrook, 2016), the application of glyphosate is a hotly debated topic, largely due to its human carcinogenicity (Alcántara-de la Cruz et al 2021), but increasingly regarding its potential toxicity to bees (Cullen et al 2019). Given its wide usage, the implications for changing its regulatory status would substantively reshape conventional farming practices (Beckie, Flower and Ashworth, 2020), and thus need to be made using robust and environmentally sound science.…”

“…Glyphosate has also undergone regulatory testing for governmental authorities worldwide to determine its effects on bees (EFSA, 2015, Duke 2018. Glyphosate is currently approved in all major territories (Duke 2018), and where it is not approved (Mexico, for example) this is for human health reasons, not bee health reasons (Alcántara-de la Cruz et al 2021).…”