GlyphosateThe reason farmers decide to cultivate crops sustainably with glyphosate: To ensure our food supply for many years to come.

It’s not surprising that the world’s populace is growing. It’s no secret that world’s population is increasing. By 2050, it will be 9.7 million people.1 But the amount of land that could be utilized for agriculture around the world isn’t expanding in the same way as we do. This poses serious challenges for farmers, who must create enough food items of good quality to provide food for Canadians and people around the world.

Canada is the 5th largest exporter.2 Canadian farmers play a vital role in providing food for all. They will be required to provide more food than ever before.

In order to supply the growing number of people, farmers will require 70 percent more food in 2050. *Source How to Feed the World 2050, published by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, How to Feed the Planet in 2050

This growing demand is too to be handled by farmers by themselves. Luckily, new tools and technology, including herbicides like glyphosate, are able to help farmers manage weeds precisely and efficiently, leading to an environmentally sustainable and secure food supply.

What is glyphosate exactly?

Glyphosate is used as a versatile, non-selective herbicide by land managers as well as gardeners all over the world. It has been in use for over 40 years. It works by inducing an enzyme required by plants to develop, in this case unwanted plants. These enzymes aren’t present in either humans or animals.4 Therefore, when applied properly, glyphosate is not a risk to either.5

There are many other uses for glyphosate, too. It’s utilized in urban areas to shield wildlife and humans from poisonous plants.6 It’s also utilized for railroads to enhance the visibility of conductors and to ensure that accidents are not caused on tracks.

In recent years, glyphosate has received more attention and is increasingly being used in our daily life. It’s essential to question the ingredients that we consume. グリホサート But, more than 160 health regulatory bodies around the world including Health Canada agree that glyphosate is safe when it’s used in the right way.

Helping Canadians understand what glyphosate is, how it’s used, and the critical role it plays in food production as well as sustainable agricultural practices, can help alleviate concerns about the glyphosate that is only one of the instruments farmers employ to make sure that we have healthy, affordable, and readily available food to eat.

Glyphosate: Why it is used in the field of agriculture?

Glyphosate-based herbicides provide many advantages for farmers, consumers and the environment. It is key to effective weed control, a secure food supply and sustainable environmental sustainability. Let’s look at each benefit.

In the world, farmers lose between 30-40% to 40% of their crops due to diseases, pests as well as weeds.9 According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (UNFAO) the losses could double when crop protection methods are not used. グリホサート It is devastating, especially for farmers who depend on those crops to support their families.

It’s not surprising that farmers have been relying on their tools each year. Applying glyphosate to the fields is a tried and tested method of keeping harmful plants free of weeds, especially glyphosate-tolerant crops.

Crops against. weeds–the fight of their lives

Glyphosate is an herbicide that provides crops with a chance to fight.

Canadians as well as other consumers across the globe reap the benefits of plentiful, affordable food

The number of people living in Canada is growing and 50% of our agricultural land is likely to be unusable in 40 years. グリホサート This is leading to food security issues. In the absence of modern agricultural innovations and the use of glyphosate, Canadians might have to spend 55% more on food.11

Additionally, our most loved food items will become harder to find. グリホサート However, thanks to plant science farmers will soon be in a position to grow more of our most-loved staple foods over the years.

Glyphosate does more than just keep your produce affordable. Glyphosate can also be utilized by farmers to look after what Cherilyn Joy-Nagle of Mossbank in Saskatchewan calls “their most valuable asset”–their property.

Keep the dishes that we love to eat on your table

Farmers can prosper by using crop protection tools, such as glyphosate to protect crops from disease and pests.

42% more grain, similar to corn and wheat

72% more fruit

83 percent more vegetables and potatoes12

The benefits are clear. グリホサート But is glyphosate actually safe?

It is essential to keep in mind that all pesticides need to be used according to instructions on the label. In Canada the use of glyphosate is regulated by both the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) which checks crops for pesticide residue to ensure that the use of the pesticide is done correctly, and the Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA), which provides the regulatory guidelines for product submission evaluations, as well as approvals (or rejections)–and has one of the largest evaluation procedures throughout the world.14

Regulators ensure that farmers use approved herbicides in a secure and appropriate way. It is the responsibility of farmers and producers to ensure that there aren’t unintended consequences for the environment, animals, and human beings.

Additionally, with the advancements in technology and the application of precision farming, farmers have the ability to make use of data to be even more precise in their application of glyphosate, both where it’s applied and how much is applied.150

When it comes to pesticide residues, it’s rare for glyphosate to be found in food and, if it is detected at levels that are too low, to cause harm. CFIA makes sure that farmers make use of herbicides safely and adhere to established residue limits16. This is rare and it does not cause harm for human or animal health17.

Glyphosate is used in sustainable farming practices.

Farmers employ herbicides like glyphosate in integrated pest/weedmanagement methods. This means they use more herbicides, not just weedicides. Glyphosate is a good herbicide that has helped them adopt conservation-tillage / non-till practices that provide long-term benefits for the soil, air and environmental health.

– The reduction or elimination of plowing/tilling of land

Reduced CO2 emissions

Capturing carbon from soil

– Improve the health of your soil

– Reducing water runoff and limiting erosion13

“No pesticide regulatory agency anywhere in the world has considered Glyphosate to pose the risk of human cancer at current levels.” – Health Canada (January 11, 2019, Health Canada).

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

It’s more important than ever before that Canadian farmers are able to access the technology, tools, support and tools needed to satisfy the food supply requirements of an increasing number of people.

Farmers will ensure that our food secure and plentiful by following good agricultural, food safety , and pest control practices. Glyphosate, however is only one tool they’ll employ to ensure that Canadians can access cheap, healthy food options for the coming years.