The Use Of Glyphosate And Its Effects On The Environment...

The 1990’s ushered in more than Gameboys and a Nebraska – Florida State college football rivalry. It was also a mad-scientists’ delight with the introduction of Dolly, a cloned sheep, and genetic engineering of food. Hoping to create a powerful agricultural tool, chemical companies set out to rearrange the building blocks of life and came back with genetically modified (GM) crop varieties that resist herbicide applications and produce insecticide during the growing process. Whether you are for, against, or indifferent to GM ingredients in your food, consumers should be informed on the questionable practices behind growing GM crops and they have a right to know what they are eating through food labeling. GM crops have been touted by their makers to actually reduce the amount of herbicides that are needed to spray on crop fields to control weeds. This is great news for the environment and humans alike, right? This claim, however, appears to not be the truth. As resistant weeds have emerged on the battle field, the use of glyphosate, a main ingredient in the most widely used herbicide, continues to climb yearly as outlined by the USDA. Currently over 100 million pounds of glyphosate is being used on crop fields throughout the United States and that is just one of the many approved herbicides. Farmers are battling â€Å"super weeds† with more glyphosate and even applying a secondary herbicide to regain control on their fields. As this battle rages on, bee colonies are collapsing,Show MoreRelatedAdvantages and Disadvantages of GMO Products1084 Words   |  4 Pagesthe argument between researcher and scientists. The nutrients the products provide to consumers in third world count ries are undeniable but the side effects are also devastating. A lot cases with consumers getting sick after digesting products that is made from GMOs. Although GMOs have negative side effects on both human health and the environments but with their wide adaptation and increasing potentials plus a correct method of labeling they could be the key to future farming as the world populationRead MorePesticides And Herbicides1100 Words   |  5 PagesHerbicides are also known as weed killers, and they kill plants that they come in touch with. They control undesirable plants, selective herbicides control a specific weed plant, and not only that they have also been used in war and combat. Effects on the environment of pesticides and herbicides, is that pesticides can contaminate soil, water, turf, and other regulations. Pesticides can be toxic to a host of organisms as well as fishes, birds, insects, and non-target plants. Herbicides can also changeRead More The Effects of Coca Eradication in Colombia Essay4174 Words   |  17 PagesThe Effects of Coca Eradication in Colombia A farmer wipes his brow under the hot sun. He started on his crops early in the morning, most likely before sunrise and will most likely work until the sun goes down. He is working for his family, to support them, to provide food and shelter for his wife and two sons, even for other families. Yet the pressures of working to support a family are only a fraction of the strain put upon this farmer. The life of this farmer and others like him in ColombiaRead MoreGenetically Modified Organisms ( Gmos )2430 Words   |  10 Pagesbe a potential hazard to the environment, animals, and humans alike. In addition, many people are concerned about the consumption of crops that are chemically changed in place of crops that are naturally grown with little scientific intervention. The implementation of GMOs brings forth a pivotal environmental issue because GMOs can pose as a future solution to agricultural production and world hunger but also have the potential to cause harm to humans and the environment. To begin with, GMOs are a