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GE technology relies heavily on herbicide regimes, not just in the growing of GE plants but also for the control of resistant weeds or ‘volunteers’ (regrowth in the field after harvest).
The subsequent, well-documented problems associated with such herbicide use, include:
There is significant concern that weed control – already a major problem all over Australia – will become more difficult, more expensive and more toxic. The need to control herbicide tolerant ‘volunteers’ and increased weed resistance generally is leading to an increased use of more toxic herbicides such as Paraquat and 2,4 – D. The environmental impact of this is yet to be assessed in Australia.
Additionally, glyphosate has now been implicated in the increasing incidence of the fungal disease fusarium. If glyphosate-resistant or ‘Roundup Ready’ crops are commercially released in Australia, the increased reliance on the herbicide will only exacerbate this problem.
The subsequent, well-documented problems associated with such herbicide use, include:
- Weed resistance and the development of ‘super-weeds’
- Increased herbicide use
- Use of more toxic herbicides.
No reduction in herbicide use
One of the most frequent benefits claimed about GE crops is that they will reduce herbicide use for farmers. However, a 2004 study based on US Department of Agriculture data that looked at herbicide used on herbicide tolerant GE plants, found that after an initial decline over the first three years, consistent increases in herbicide use have occurred for the subsequent five years. Herbicide use on herbicide tolerant GE crops in the US now exceeds herbicide use on conventional varieties.Increased use of herbicides
Increased herbicide use and increased reliance on a single herbicide for weed control within cropping areas has been attributed to increased herbicide resistance in weeds – creating what are known as ‘super-weeds’. There are numerous reports of weeds that are resistant to glyphosate (often known as Roundup) in California, Malaysia, Chile, South Africa and Australia. Weeds resistant to multiple herbicides are now well established.There is significant concern that weed control – already a major problem all over Australia – will become more difficult, more expensive and more toxic. The need to control herbicide tolerant ‘volunteers’ and increased weed resistance generally is leading to an increased use of more toxic herbicides such as Paraquat and 2,4 – D. The environmental impact of this is yet to be assessed in Australia.
Additionally, glyphosate has now been implicated in the increasing incidence of the fungal disease fusarium. If glyphosate-resistant or ‘Roundup Ready’ crops are commercially released in Australia, the increased reliance on the herbicide will only exacerbate this problem.
Cause for CSIRO concern
When the UK Farmscale Evaluation Studies found that the ecological impacts of growing GE canola was significantly greater than for conventional canola, the results were dismissed by Australia’s Office of the Gene Technology Regulator (OGTR) as irrelevant. However ecologists at the nation’s flagship scientific institute, CSIRO, have concluded that similar studies would indeed be relevant to Australia.
