EPA greenlights two controversial pesticides
Amidst the election turmoil of the last few weeks, the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) quietly approved more harmful pesticide products
for use with genetically engineered (GE) seeds.
Protection Agency (EPA) quietly approved more harmful pesticide products
for use with genetically engineered (GE) seeds.
EPA put Dow's "Enlist Duo" cocktail
of glyphosate and 2,4-D back on the market,
after pulling it off just a year ago due to
widespread concern. The agency also gave
a green light to Monsanto's new formulation
of dicamba, intended for use with the
corporation's latest line of GE soy and
cotton crops. Both approvals mean a dramatic
increase in the use of health-harming herbicides
on farmland across the country.
of glyphosate and 2,4-D back on the market,
after pulling it off just a year ago due to
widespread concern. The agency also gave
a green light to Monsanto's new formulation
of dicamba, intended for use with the
corporation's latest line of GE soy and
cotton crops. Both approvals mean a dramatic
increase in the use of health-harming herbicides
on farmland across the country.
Enlist Duo coming to a field near you
Dow marketed the Enlist Duo formulation as a
solution to tackle glyphosate-resistant “superweeds”
that have emerged in the wake of widespread use
of Monsanto's RoundUp.
Both key ingredients in this herbicide concoction are
known to drift from the fields where they're applied to
neighboring homes and farms. 2,4-D has been linked
to birth defects and cancer, and is particulalry damaging
to non-target plants. And glyphosate is under increasing
scrutiny since UN scientists determined it to be a
"probable carcinogen" last year.
In the face of huge public opposition, EPA originally
approved Enlist Duo for use in a limited number of states
in 2014. The agency withdrew its approval a year later,
under pressure from a legal petition filed by PAN and
our partners at Center for Food Safety that challenged
the agency's oversight of synergistic effects between
the glyphosate and 2,4-D.
But on November 1, EPA re-approved and expanded the
use of Enlist Duo. It is now authorized for use with Dow's
GE corn, soy and cotton in 34 states — up from 15 states
— where the product was previously approved only for
corn and soy.
In the words of Marcia Ishii-Eiteman, PAN senior scientist:
Once again, EPA has failed to protect the health, well-being
and livelihood of America’s farmers and rural communities.
The agency’s decision dramatically increases the risk of
pesticide drift causing severe crop losses and harms to
human health."
Monsanto's "new" dicamba
Just a week after re-approving Enlist Duo, EPA
pushed another new formulation of an old herbicide
onto the market: dicamba.
Dicamba is notorious for drifting onto neighboring fields
and damaging crops, so Monsanto has been pushing for
a "new formulation" that is theoretically less prone to drift.
This past summer, some conventional farmers — desperate
to fight superweeds — bought Monsanto’s new dicamba-
resistant seeds (approved last year) and then illegally
sprayed an old version of dicamba. The result? Neighboring
farms that hadn’t planted dicamba-resistant seeds experienced
extensive damageto soybeans, as well as other non-target
crops like peaches, tomatoes, rice, cotton and alfalfa.
Monsanto claims its new version of dicamba is less drift-prone,
although farmers, scientists and environmentalists alike are
deeply concerned about the lack of scientific testing surrounding
this assertion. Aside from this, the older formulation will still be
cheaper. To avoid potential crop damage, many farmers will be
forced to buy dicamba-resistant seeds just to protect themselves
from neighboring drift.
For PAN, Marcia Ishii-Eiteman shares her thoughts, particularly
her concern for farmers:
The biotech industry’s herbicide-promoting GE crops have
brought farmers higher input costs, greater exposure to
hazardous pesticides, an epidemic of superweeds — and
thousands of acres of drift-damaged crops. Yet once again,
EPA appears more willing to shore up Monsanto’s profits
than defend the public interest.
President Obama and his EPA should leave a lasting legacy
for America’s farmers and agricultural communities by taking
these harmful products off the shelf and providing meaningful
solutions in sustainable and ecological pest management,
rather than yet another acceleration of the pesticide treadmill.”
The incoming President is showing signs that he will put even
more control of our public agencies in the hands of corporations.
But we at Pesticide Action Network remain steadfast in our
commitment to protect the health and well-being of farmers,
workers and rural communities most directly impacted by
harmful pesticides.
Source: http://www.panna.org/blog/epa-greenlights-two-controversial-pesticides
solution to tackle glyphosate-resistant “superweeds”
that have emerged in the wake of widespread use
of Monsanto's RoundUp.
Both key ingredients in this herbicide concoction are
known to drift from the fields where they're applied to
neighboring homes and farms. 2,4-D has been linked
to birth defects and cancer, and is particulalry damaging
to non-target plants. And glyphosate is under increasing
scrutiny since UN scientists determined it to be a
"probable carcinogen" last year.
In the face of huge public opposition, EPA originally
approved Enlist Duo for use in a limited number of states
in 2014. The agency withdrew its approval a year later,
under pressure from a legal petition filed by PAN and
our partners at Center for Food Safety that challenged
the agency's oversight of synergistic effects between
the glyphosate and 2,4-D.
But on November 1, EPA re-approved and expanded the
use of Enlist Duo. It is now authorized for use with Dow's
GE corn, soy and cotton in 34 states — up from 15 states
— where the product was previously approved only for
corn and soy.
In the words of Marcia Ishii-Eiteman, PAN senior scientist:
Once again, EPA has failed to protect the health, well-being
and livelihood of America’s farmers and rural communities.
The agency’s decision dramatically increases the risk of
pesticide drift causing severe crop losses and harms to
human health."
Monsanto's "new" dicamba
Just a week after re-approving Enlist Duo, EPA
pushed another new formulation of an old herbicide
onto the market: dicamba.
Dicamba is notorious for drifting onto neighboring fields
and damaging crops, so Monsanto has been pushing for
a "new formulation" that is theoretically less prone to drift.
This past summer, some conventional farmers — desperate
to fight superweeds — bought Monsanto’s new dicamba-
resistant seeds (approved last year) and then illegally
sprayed an old version of dicamba. The result? Neighboring
farms that hadn’t planted dicamba-resistant seeds experienced
extensive damageto soybeans, as well as other non-target
crops like peaches, tomatoes, rice, cotton and alfalfa.
Monsanto claims its new version of dicamba is less drift-prone,
although farmers, scientists and environmentalists alike are
deeply concerned about the lack of scientific testing surrounding
this assertion. Aside from this, the older formulation will still be
cheaper. To avoid potential crop damage, many farmers will be
forced to buy dicamba-resistant seeds just to protect themselves
from neighboring drift.
For PAN, Marcia Ishii-Eiteman shares her thoughts, particularly
her concern for farmers:
The biotech industry’s herbicide-promoting GE crops have
brought farmers higher input costs, greater exposure to
hazardous pesticides, an epidemic of superweeds — and
thousands of acres of drift-damaged crops. Yet once again,
EPA appears more willing to shore up Monsanto’s profits
than defend the public interest.
President Obama and his EPA should leave a lasting legacy
for America’s farmers and agricultural communities by taking
these harmful products off the shelf and providing meaningful
solutions in sustainable and ecological pest management,
rather than yet another acceleration of the pesticide treadmill.”
The incoming President is showing signs that he will put even
more control of our public agencies in the hands of corporations.
But we at Pesticide Action Network remain steadfast in our
commitment to protect the health and well-being of farmers,
workers and rural communities most directly impacted by
harmful pesticides.
Source: http://www.panna.org/blog/epa-greenlights-two-controversial-pesticides
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