INFOTERRA: News: Roundup-resistant Weeds Do Their Thing
WEED WACKOS
The widespread use of Roundup, a common herbicide developed by
Monsanto, has caused weeds that are resistant to the chemical to
spring up on a half-million acres of agricultural land across the
U.S. At fault, scientists say, is the popularity of bioengineered
crops that are "Roundup Ready" -- that is, created by Monsanto to be
genetically impervious to the herbicide. Together, Roundup and
Roundup Ready crops make life simpler for conventional farmers, who
can use just one herbicide and spray it directly on their crops. The
ease of the practice has led to widespread use of Roundup, and that
has led to evolution taking its inevitable course: Those weeds that
can survive exposure to Roundup are flourishing. Further spread of
resistant weeds could wreak havoc around the globe, because
glyphosate -- the generic name for Roundup -- is the most popular
weed-killer on the planet. So far, the U.S. government has not
imposed any limitations on the use of Roundup or Roundup Ready crops.
straight to the source: New York Times, Andrew Pollack, 14 Jan 2003
<http://www.nytimes.com/2003/01/14/business/14WEED.html>
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