Glyphosate - what is happening?

Did you know that Glyphosate is a patented antibiotic? When I mention this, the answer I get is “No I didn’t!” From drain cleaner to herbicide the patents for Roundup keep giving. Picture this…if the majority of our food items (let's say wheat and soya) have been contaminated with Roundup, it is not unrealistic to assume our level of antibiotic resistance is significant and growing. Anti life. At the recent Biofarm conference, we listened as a wise farmer tell us he knew something wasn’t right when he stopped seeing the crows following the plough. The soil was not yielding the worms anymore.
 
A further 10-year licence to use Glyphosate has been granted following intensive lobbying by all powers that be. We are not surprised. From a growing concern about the toxicity and damage this herbicide is linked with, to the corporate desire to keep business going I see echoes of tobacco and sugar wars. Despite the recognition and evidence of damage, corrective action is very slow to take place. If you worked in the business of making or promoting this product would you consider calling a halt to the lifestyle you were used to? It’s a difficult one but realistically it is much easier to stay the same than change even if it is harmful to your individual or community health. We are after all easily persuaded that those that govern and make decisions have our best interests at heart. They couldn’t possibly mean to inflict harm on us…really…

Anne Maher