EU stance on glyphosate leaves farmers ‘frustrated’

[HuckleB]

European politicians gave a “no opinion” verdict on the use of glyphosate weedkiller yesterday, with farming leaders reacting angrily to this passive, non-committal position by the EU standing committee.
http://www.scotsman.com/business/companies/farming/eu-stance-on-glyphosate-leaves-farmers-frustrated-1-4147826

"Allan Bowie, president of NFU Scotland, claimed it added to the “frustration” felt by the whole of the farming community over the prevarication on the future of this widely used weedkiller.

And a spokeswoman for Copa Cogeca, which represents farming unions and farm co-operatives across Europe, said her organisations were deeply disappointed.

Bowie said: “Given glyphosate’s role in delivering safe and affordable food across the whole of the EU, today’s ‘no opinion’ position will simply add to the frustration felt throughout the whole farming community with regards to the future availability of this essential product.”

He went on to say that politics rather than science now seemed to be driving the decision-making process, but claimed: “It will be farmers, growers and consumers that will lose out were glyphosate not to be re-authorised.”

..."

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Farmers angry as EU fails to approve weedkiller Roundup
http://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/Farmers-angry-EU-fails-approve-weedkiller-Roundup/story-29370671-detail/story.html

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Farmers will suffer. Consumers will suffer. The environment will suffer. And yet many will cheer.

[Hoyt]

1. Yeah, but Monsanto and the corporatist oligarchs and all that.

To be fair, I really haven't studied this issue as much as I should, figuring most of us have eaten so much of that stuff if it's really bad it isn't going to help to ban it. Plus, I don't think farmers can feed the world with pure organically produced food. But, if there are better options, I'm all for it.

[HuckleB]

2. Hopefully we will develop better options.

The problem is that the obsession with banning glyphosate is that it is likely to lead to the use of more toxic products, increased super weeds, and reduced yield, at least for the coming next few years.

About those harsher herbicides that glyphosate helped replace:
http://www.crediblehulk.org/index.php/2015/06/02/about-those-more-caustic-herbicides-that-glyphosate-helped-replace-by-credible-hulk/

What does Chipotle’s switch to non-GMO ingredients mean for pesticide use?
http://weedcontrolfreaks.com/2015/05/what-does-chipotles-switch-to-non-gmo-ingredients-mean-for-pesticide-use/

As consumers shift to non-GMO sugar, farmers may be forced to abandon environmental and social gains
http://weedcontrolfreaks.com/2016/05/as-consumers-shift-to-non-gmo-sugar-farmers-may-be-forced-to-abandon-environmental-and-social-gains/

[EvolveOrConvolve]

3. At this point, "organic" is a marketing term only

Perhaps it began as a real movement of people growing food sustainably, but it's morphed into yet another con, bilking well-meaning consumers out of money for something that's not any better than the so called factory-farm product, either environmentally or health-wise.

[Hoyt]

4. That's kind of my opinion, although admittedly I haven't really studied it closely.

I'm much more careful what foods I eat nowadays, but how they are produced doesn't concern me other than treating animals cruelly. That ticks me off.

[DetlefK]

5. The consumers and the environment will suffer when Glyphosate disappears? What???

[HuckleB]

6. Yes. More toxic products will be used instead

People who rant about glyphosate ignore the products it replaced.

[DetlefK]

7. And who says that the EU would certify something that's even more controversial than Glyphosate?

We are not talking US-laws here.

The US allows the sale of a product until it's proven dangerous.
The EU forbids the sale of a product until it's proven safe.

[HuckleB]

8. You really don't the reality of the politics, do you?

http://risk-monger.blogactiv.eu/2015/06/17/save-the-bees-ban-these-two-toxic-pesticides-immediately/

What is happening in the EU in regard to glyphosate is not about safety. If it was, and the EU chose to not ok it, the EU would have to ban practically every product used on any kind of farm, if it were going to be consistent.

--------------------------------


A great example of the problem is what non-GMO sugar, which is no better for anyone, and much worse for the farmer and the environment.
http://weedcontrolfreaks.com/2016/05/as-consumers-shift-to-non-gmo-sugar-farmers-may-be-forced-to-abandon-environmental-and-social-gains/