Some crops have been genetically engineered to be Roundup resistant. A gene for EPSP synthase from a glyphosate-resistant bacterium Salmonella tryphimurium was used in the first demonstrations that plants could be engineered to be Roundup resistant. Another gene similarly derived from a glyphosate-resistant bacterium was used to engineer the first Roundup Ready soybeans.[1] These resistant crops have "made for exponential growth in glyphosate utilisation", which has increased from 200,000 tons per year in 2000 to over 800,000 tons in 2014.[2]

Soybeans

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Before Roundup ready soybeans, farmers had to supplement Roundup with other herbicides to avoid killing the soybeans.[3] Some weeds have also developed resistance to the herbicides that are used in the Roundup Ready soybean system.[1]

Alfalfa

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Roundup resistant Alfalfa was released in 2005. It was developed as a joint project between Monsanto and Forage Genetics International. Perennial weeds that are commonly encountered while growing alfafa are bermudagrass, nutsedge, Johnson grass and dandelion. One concern is that weeds may develop glyphosate resistance or undergo a weed species shift when glyphosate is used regularly as part of the Roundup Ready Alfalfa system.[4] Another is cross-contamination of non-GMO crops.[5]

In 2007, the United States Department of Agriculture was sued by the Center for Food Safety, alfalfa growers and other non-profits. The complainants claimed that the USDA had violated the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) by allowing farmers to plaint the genetically-engineered alfalfa.[6] The Federal District Court in California ruled that Monsanto could not bring the Roundup Ready alfalfa to market until the government completed an environmental impact statement. This decision was upheld twice by the 9th Circuit, until finally being overturned by the United States Supreme Court in Monsanto Co. v. Geertson Seed Farms (2010).[7][8] Roundup Ready alfalfa was deregulated and approved for sale by the USDA in 2011.[5][9]

  1. ^ a b Monaco, Thomas J.; Weller, Stephen C.; Ashton, Floyd M. (2002-01-16). Weed Science: Principles and Practices. John Wiley & Sons. pp. 384–389. ISBN 978-0-471-37051-2.
  2. ^ Bozzini, Emanuela (2017-03-23). Pesticide Policy and Politics in the European Union: Regulatory Assessment, Implementation and Enforcement. Springer. p. 85. ISBN 978-3-319-52736-9.
  3. ^ "Roundup Ready Soybean". The Age. Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. 1998-01-03. p. 23. Retrieved 2018-08-12.
  4. ^ Summers, Charles Gebbes; Putnam, Daniel H. (2008). Irrigated Alfalfa Management for Mediterranean and Desert Zones. UCANR Publications. ISBN 978-1-60107-608-3.
  5. ^ a b "USDA weighing what to do in case of GMO alfalfa contamination". Reuters. 2013-09-16. Retrieved 2018-08-13.
  6. ^ Sheaffer, Craig C.; Moncada, Kristine M. (2012-08-08). Introduction to Agronomy: Food, Crops, and Environment. Cengage Learning. ISBN 978-1-111-31233-6.
  7. ^ koons, Jennifer. "Supreme Court Lifts Ban on Planting GM Alfalfa - NYTimes.com". Retrieved 2018-08-13. ((cite web)): Unknown parameter |DUPLICATE_last= ignored (help)
  8. ^ Monsanto Co. vs. Geertson Seed Farms, 561 U.S. 139 (2010)
  9. ^ [https://www.aphis.usda.gov/brs/aphisdocs/04_11001p_rod.pdf APHIS Request for Non-Regulated Status: Record of Decision
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