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US decision on glyphosate ignores science and risks dangerous precedent
The National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) has criticised a US court’s ruling that glyphosate causes cancer as being ‘in blatant ignorance’ of science.
Recent court proceedings in California resulted in a jury ruling in favour of a dying grounds-keeper against Monsanto, the manufacturers of widely-used herbicide Roundup – of which glyphosate is an active ingredient.
Monsanto, which was bought out by Bayer earlier this year, faces a potential cascade of new cases following this ruling. Whilst sympathetic to the grounds-keeper’s predicament, Bayer still holds that glyphosate is safe and does not cause cancer. They plan to appeal the finding which serves as a dangerous precedent for future cases.
In 2015, the International Agency for Research on Cancer, as part of the UN World Health Organisation, classified glyphosate as a probable carcinogen, causing the state of California to follow suit.
However, in Australia, the NFF remains certain that ‘the science on the safety concerning the use of glysophate is clear and overwhelming’.
In a recent press release, NFF said it is ‘concerning that such a significant legal decision has been made in blatant ignorance of the findings of the world’s most authoritative sources on human health’ – amongst these, the US Environmental Protection Agency.
National regulation authorities in Canada, New Zealand and Australia have all reviewed the evidence and come out in strong support of glyphosate being safe to use according to its label instructions. This position is supported by CropLife Australia.
At Infopest, we support the findings of our own regulator, the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA), which has concluded that glyphosate does not pose a carcinogenic risk to humans and there are no grounds to place it under formal reconsideration.
The take-home message is that Australian farmers can be assured it is safe for them to continue to use glyphosate according to its label instructions.
New Syngenta seed treatment for canola, soybeans and rice
A new Syngenta product called Saltro (active ADEPIDYN) has been announced with registrations expected in the United States and Canada in 2019, followed by Australia in 2020.
The molecule belongs to the group of Succinate dehydro-genaise inhibitors (SDHI), impeding the specific enzyme complex within cells. It helps to control diseases such as Blackleg in canola, Sudden Death Syndrome in soybeans and Bakanae in rice.
Along with the arrival of Saltro, Syngenta is planning to expand their global Seedcare Institute network with a new branch soon opening at the Charles Sturt University in Wagga Wagga, Western Australia. The institute will offer support to customers and aims to advance the use of seed treatment technology through local expertise. https://www.syngenta.com.au/press-release/syngenta/syngenta-announces-global-introduction-novel-seed-treatment-fungicide
Diversity: a new weapon against pests
Researchers in Michigan State University (MSU) are investigating the links between plant diversity and reducing pests and subsequent damage. Plants use a variety of mechanisms to defend themselves from pests including leaf hairs, toxins or sticky substances.
Plant diversity by the method of planting multiple crops in the same field, known as polyculture farming, provides greater protection against pests than is the case with monoculture agriculture.
MSU researchers are conducting a four-year study of natural defences in tomato plants. Plant breeders have developed numerous tomato cultivars that each emphasize a different plant defence, leading to the organism’s designation as a model system for studying plant defences.
The study aims to compare traditional monocultures to experimental polycultures to determine which mixtures of defences produce the greatest impact on pest damage. It is hoped that the findings will give farmers a “new tool against insect pests without increasing the complexity of the farm operations”.
For more information on this study, visit http://www.hortibiz.com/item/news/diversity-as-new-weapon-against-crop-pests/
AUSVEG surveys veggie growers ahead of ACAP forum
The AgChem Access Priorities (ACAP) Forum is the current iteration of the AgVet Collaborative Forum which is project-managed by AgriFutures Australia and facilitated by Growcom.
The forum provides a process that is designed to bring together the top five pest management needs for the RDC managed commodities and seek new pesticide solutions with CropLife member chemical registrants and participating chemical companies.
This year’s forum is an invitation only event to be held in Melbourne in October. In preparation for the forum, AUSVEG is coordinating a survey which allows vegetable growers and associated agronomists to feed into the ACAP forum process.
The survey is part of a project funded by Horticulture Innovations which is being facilitated by Patrick Arratia. For more information, visit: https://ausveg.com.au/biosecurity-agrichemical/biosecurity/vg16060/.
The AgChem Access Priorities (ACAP) Forum is funded by six Crop Research and Development Corporations and Crop Life Australia.
Prioritising sheep health during a drought
With much of the nation experiencing severe drought, it is necessary to keep livestock healthy to prevent stress and disease on-farm.
Infopest lists over 600 products for use on sheep from antibiotics and mineral supplements to insecticides and vaccines. These products can help assist you to keep your stock in good condition.
Of course, none of these incentives are any good if your sheep can’t be fed! However, keeping your sheep in the best health possible will help them resist disease during drought-feeding situations.
Central Highlands Veterinary Group has posted an article to help farmers deal with a number of conditions that may occur in drought-feeding situations when sheep are congregated into small areas for feeding.
To read that article, visit http://broadfordvets.com.au/AnimalCareArticles/VetArticleDetails/tabid/3258/ArticleID/1598/Sheep-Health-During-A-Drought.aspx
In the defence of pesticides
Ontario farmer Terry Daynard, who grows genetically engineered crops, recently made the point that eliminating pesticides from farming isn’t realistic or desirable, in an article for the Genetic Literacy Project [1].
Pesticides were developed to save time and money by reducing the amount of labour required by a farmer to keep his crop healthy. They also contribute to a successful harvest and ensure good quality produce that is not marked and blemished by pest or disease.
The origins of pesticide-use in agriculture date back to before 2000 BC. The earliest known pesticide was elemental sulphur dusting, implemented by the Sumerians about 4,500 years ago in Ancient Mesopotamia. Ancient documents also mention the use of a variety of poisonous plants for pest control.
Pesticides were developed to save time and money by reducing the amount of labour required by a farmer to keep his crop healthy. They also contribute to a successful harvest and ensure good quality produce that is not marked and blemished by pest or disease.
The origins of pesticide-use in agriculture date back to before 2000 BC. The earliest known pesticide was elemental sulphur dusting, implemented by the Sumerians about 4,500 years ago in Ancient Mesopotamia. Ancient documents also mention the use of a variety of poisonous plants for pest control.
By the 15th century, arsenic, mercury and lead were being applied to crops to kill pests. A little later in the 17th century, nicotine sulphate extracted from tobacco plants was being used as an insecticide. Other plant extracts such as pyrethrum from chrysanthemums and rotenone from vegetable roots were discovered in the 19th century.
Arsenic-based pesticides were dominant until the 1950s when Organochlorines such as DDT took over, subsequently to be replaced by organophosphates and carbamates in the U.S. Then pyrethrin compounds were used as insecticides and, in the 1950s, triazine and other herbicides such as carboxylic acids; 2, 4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and glyphosate became common[2].
The pesticide era unfolded throughout this time and discoveries lead to the banning of DDT and other Persistent Organic Pollutants. Pesticide production technology has certainly come a long way since then and is now heavily regulated in the developed world.
In many countries, the amount of pesticide used per hectare has decreased due to the introduction of genetically modified crops, but according to Daynard, they alone are not sufficient to reduce our reliance on pesticides.
“Reductions in pesticide usage are to be applauded where possible and [are] beneficial but hopes for a total elimination of all pesticide usage in food production are not realistic – at least with technologies now available or on the horizon,” he wrote.
“It would not be possible to feed 7.6 billion people today without pesticides – let alone the 9-10 billion expected by 2050. So, as well as being cautious and sparing in pesticide usage, let’s also give them some praise. Let’s thank pesticides for what they have contributed to human well-being for so many years and will in decades to come.”
I tend to agree with Daynard’s sentiments and I echo his words: “Let’s stop assuming that complete pesticide elimination is a laudable and realistic goal – for it is neither.”
[2] Ritter SR (2009). “Pinpointing Trends In Pesticide Use In 1939“. Chemical and Engineering News.