TWN Info Service on Biosafety
12 June 2024
Third World Network
www.twn.my
Dear Friends and Colleagues
Stopping the Transgene-Facilitated Herbicide Treadmill
Genetically modified (GM) dicamba-resistant soybean and cotton were developed to enable farmers to combat weeds that had evolved resistance to the herbicide glyphosate. However, the dramatic increases in dicamba use these crops facilitated have led to serious problems, including the evolution of dicamba-resistant weeds. It is likely that in some regions of the US the usefulness of dicamba (and dicamba-resistant (DR) GM crops) will soon be undermined by evolution and spread of DR weeds. Disturbingly, this pattern of dicamba use has unfolded while the total herbicide applied to soybean has nearly doubled since 2006.
Dicamba is prone to volatilizing after it is applied, sometimes several days later, and the resulting dicamba vapor can move great distances from the site of application. Widespread damage to susceptible soybean and other broadleaf plant species has been reported. The societal impacts of dicamba include a fracturing of agricultural communities into those for and against continued use of DR crops, brewing distrust among neighbours.
The US experience with DR GM crops and dicamba should serve as a cautionary tale when evaluating the next agrotechnology. Systemic changes to how agriculture is practiced offers the most robust solution. Ample research has demonstrated that diversified cropping systems can greatly reduce the need for pesticides and other inputs. Transformative actions will be required, including changes in agricultural policy at all levels of government, along with development of value chains for the alternative grain and perennial crops necessary to diversifying these systems.
With best wishes,
Third World Network
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ANOTHER STEP ON THE TRANSGENE-FACILITATED HERBICIDE TREADMILL
Mortensen, D. A., Ryan, M. R., & Smith, R. G.
Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry
https://doi.org/10.1002/ps.8105
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ps.8105
25 March 2024
Abstract
Transgenic, dicamba-resistant soybean and cotton were developed to enable farmers to combat weeds that had evolved resistance to the herbicide glyphosate. The dramatic increases in dicamba use these crops facilitated have led to serious problems, including the evolution of dicamba-resistant weeds and widespread damage to susceptible crops and farming communities. Disturbingly, this pattern of dicamba use has unfolded while the total herbicide applied to soybean has nearly doubled since 2006. Without substantive changes to agricultural policy and decision making, the next ‘silver-bullet’ agrotechnology will likely be no more than another step on the transgene-facilitated herbicide treadmill.