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Health See other Health Articles Title: US 'superweeds' epidemic shines spotlight on GMO New York (AFP) - The United States is facing an epidemic of herbicide-resistant "superweeds" that some activists and researchers are blaming on GMOs, an accusation rejected by industry giants. According to a recent study, the situation is such that American farmers are "heading for a crisis." Many scientists blame overuse of herbicides, prompted by seeds genetically modified to resist them. "In parts of the country, weeds resistant to the world's most popular herbicide, glyphosate, now grow in the vast majority of soybean, cotton, and corn fields," many of which were planted with seeds resistant to the weedkiller, said the study published in the journal Science in September. Earlier this month, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced it was considering the release of new genetically-engineered seeds that are resistant to multiple herbicides. But "weeds that can shrug off multiple other herbicides are also on the rise," the study said. Nearly half (49 percent) of all US farmers said they had "glyphosate resistant weeds" on their farms in 2012, according to the most recent review from agri-business market research firm Stratus. That's up from 34 percent of farmers in 2011. Glyphosate is the name of the most frequently used herbicide in the United States and was created by agricultural biotechnology giant Monsanto in the 1970s. Today, the US company markets it as Roundup while, among other versions, competitor Dow Chemical sells a similar product under the name Durango. Monsanto also launched the first genetically modified seeds that tolerate glyphosate in 1996 and, in its earnings call this past week, mentioned the issue of weed resistance. Still, the industry refuses to accept any responsibility for the "superweed" phenomenon. "Herbicide-resistant weeds began well before GM crops," said a Monsanto spokeswoman. A USDA spokesman told AFP the phenomenon has "been going on for decades, and has happened subsequent to the development of herbicides." "It happens naturally with all herbicide modes of action. The plants select for resistance over time," he said. But Bill Freese of the Center for Food Safety, an anti-GMO non-profit, said "GE crops greatly speeded up" the issue. That's a view shared by researchers such as Charles Benbrook of the Center for Sustaining Agriculture and Natural Resources at Washington State University. Heavier doses of herbicides were used on fields that now harbor glyphosate-resistant weed, he noted. A study published on the website of Pioneer, DuPont's GE seed unit, found that "glyphosate had been used for over 20 years prior to the introduction of glyphosate-resistant crops without any resistance issues." But eventually, resistant weeds developed -- "first in areas where glyphosate had been applied multiple times per season for many years," the study said. Vicious Circle The USDA, backed up by researchers, emphasizes that genetically modified organisms as such are not the source of "superweeds." Instead, they blame "weed management tactics chosen by farmers" who have in large numbers adopted genetically modified seeds alongside glyphosate marketed by Monsanto and its competitors. A spokesman for Dow Chemical said "the problem is that past herbicide-tolerant cropping systems led to overuse of glyphosate, because growers saw no other strategy offering them comparable value." Benbrook described a vicious cycle, saying "resistant weeds have become a major problem for many farmers reliant on genetically-engineered crops, and are now driving up the volume of herbicide needed each year by about 25 percent." "Many experts in the US are projecting that the approval of new multiple herbicide tolerant crops will lead to at least a 50 percent increase to the average application of herbicide," he added. Earlier this month, the USDA announced that, at the request of Dow Chemical, it would study allowing genetically engineered seeds on the market that can tolerate several herbicides at once -- including a controversial weed killer 2,4-D that several scientific studies have blamed for cancer and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, ALS, sometimes called Lou Gehrig's disease. Christopher The problem isn't GMO. This would still be an issue if GMO wasn't involved. Evolution is ongoing, natural selection is always at work and the traits selected are ones that help the plants survive. Mother Nature is only doing what GMO has already done artificially, selecting the genetic traits to live through herbicide. And that's what the problem is, the mismanagement of herbicide use. GMO or not, as long as farmers can't manage herbicide use and rotation this will always be a problem Donald The current head of the FDA is a former lobbyist for Monsanto who manufactures GMO's. Monsanto invented DDT, DDE, Dieldrin along with Olin Chemical in 1940's. Read "Whole" by Colin Campbell. Last year Obama signed the "Monsanto Protection Act". See the tangled web these evil men do? Bon Appetite folks. Joerep39 41 minutes ago 4 4 I farm 3,000 acres myself plus two part-time employees. If I could not use herbicides, I would need at least 300 employees to hand weed these acres 3-4 times a growing season. With the current system you are paying 9% of your income (Lowest ever in the history of the world) for food. If there were no herbicides available, your food bill would be at least 40-50% of your income. I will grow whichever you want. I am having no problem selling my non-organic food now. +4,-4 Be the first to post a comment dead head 1 hour ago 5 21 Regardless what some people say,GMO'S are basically Frankenfood.But honestly,do you really think that the FDA is going to do anything to Monsanto or Dow.Of course not.But you can take some time and effort to shop smart.Avoid as many fake foods as possible.Sure organic and fresh food is a little more expensive but what price do you put on your health? Plus if enough of us don't purchase this #$%$,eventually it goes away.They can't sell what you don't buy. +21, -5 RARE EARTH The author of this article needs to learn some of the terms pertinent to herbicides...specifically the ALS reference associated with 2,4D is not Lou gherigs disease, but rather ALS inhibitors: the acetolactate synthase (ALS) enzyme (also known as acetohydroxyacid synthase, or AHAS) is the first step in the synthesis of the branched-chain amino acids (valine, leucine, and isoleucine). These herbicides slowly starve affected plants of these amino acids, which eventually leads to inhibition of DNA synthesis. They affect grasses and dicots alike. The ALS inhibitor family includes sulfonylureas, imidazolinones, triazolopyrimidines, pyrimidinyl oxybenzoates, and sulfonylamino carbonyl triazolinones. The ALS biological pathway exists only in plants and not animals, thus making the ALS-inhibitors among the safest herbicides.[citation needed]. It is sad how many people spout off without looking up reliable references mike This genetic manipulation is a waste of time. People need jobs and pulling weeds is a job that uneducated people can do. GMO crops are not wholely safe because they haven't studied their effect for a long enough period of time to be sure. Some of these crops are designed to kill insects and that makes at least a little dangerous for people. Just pull the weeds like mankind has been doing for 20,000 years If it ain't broke don't fix it. +20, -7 bamaguy Always a hoot to read the posts from all the experts on these articles. It is very obvious the vast majority know only what they have read on the internet, sure would be nice if it was facts that they are reading. There is some truth to some of it but alot of falsehood to go with it. Monsanto does not force anyone to buy their products, and roundup is one of the safest products we have on the farm. Weed resistance to roundup is a fact, but certainly not a hill that cannot be climbed. We all used roundup because it was relatively easy to use across several crops, now we will have to use different product for corn and soybeans, just like we did before roundup was available. Do you people know what the label rate for roundup on most crops, in most conditions is? The facts are the labeled rate is 21 oz. per acre, that is just one oz. more than an average sized coke bottle for 43560 sq ft., for comparison sake a regulation football fielf is 45000 sq. ft. Do not be fooled by a video of a sprayer going across a field, we mix 21 oz of spray with 10 gallons of water, so most of what you are seeing is nothing but good ol H2O.+4, -6 Brent This is not surprising. Read or watch "The World According to Monsanto". topdocumentaryfilms.com/t...ld-according-to-monsanto/ Folks, this is going to get worse very quickly. And save for a small minority of us, we're going to sit by and let it happen because we're content being ignorant so long as we have good reality TV +5, -2 Energy-Maven I am a PhD chemist, but these chemical companies think they can actually fool Mother Nature. What fools they are !!! Forget you silly chemicals and just go weed your garden you lazy#$%$ morons. +7, -5 GOD-LESS Think this is Bad? GMA (Grocery Manufacturers Assosiation ) are large contributors to the Fight AGAINST GMO LABELING!!!!! Those Scum bags DON'T think The people BUYING the Food they sell, should have ANY right to know what is in that food!!! The GMA, are ALSO pushing the FDA into classifying GMO'S, as, Get this...... ALL NATURAL!!!!! This way they can call GMO products, as being "All Natural", WHY? Because everyone buys "All Natural"!!! If they are successful in this, the Term, 'All Natural' will cease being important to consumers!!!!! Look ma' it says it's 'All Natural', Ewwwwwwwww!!!! +3 Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread
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