2,4-D

2,4-D Expected to Be Sprayed on Millions of Acres of New GM Soy in the US

Over the past two decades, a growing number of weeds have become resistant to glyphosate. More than 90% of soybeans grown in the US are genetically modified, but there are only three major systems that are commonly used to combat glyphosate-resistant weeds: Monsanto’s Xtend, DowDupont’s Enlist and BASF’s LibertyLink soybeans, which are resistant to glufosinate, another herbicide.

June 24, 2019 | Source: Third World Network | by

Over the past two decades, a growing number of weeds have become resistant to glyphosate. More than 90% of soybeans grown in the US are genetically modified, but there are only three major systems that are commonly used to combat glyphosate-resistant weeds: Monsanto’s Xtend, DowDupont’s Enlist and BASF’s LibertyLink soybeans, which are resistant to glufosinate, another herbicide. Xtend soybeans are genetically engineered to withstand being sprayed by dicamba, a volatile herbicide that has drifted off target and damaged millions of acres of non-resistant soybeans, other crops and natural areas since its approval in November 2016.

In January, China approved imports of Enlist E3 soybeans, jointly developed by Corteva Agriscience, a division of DowDupont, and seed company MS Technologies, to withstand 2,4-D. 2,4-D was one of the active ingredients in Agent Orange used by the US during the Vietnam War and has been shown to drift miles away from where it’s applied. The International Agency for Research on Cancer named the weed killer a possible human carcinogen. Studies have also linked 2,4-D to endocrine disruption, disturbing estrogen, androgen and thyroid hormones.