Glyphosate: The Silent Threat on Your Plate, and the Path to Better Health with Organic Farming

In the world of modern agriculture, the word “glyphosate” may not be familiar to everyone, but this chemical has become a crucial part of our food production system, with significant impacts on our environment and health. This article will help you understand what glyphosate is, why it’s so widely used, and why organic farming is a more sustainable alternative.

What is Glyphosate? The Herbicide Paired with GMOs

Glyphosate is a broad-spectrum herbicide capable of killing almost any type of plant, including grasses and broadleaf weeds. This chemical is best known by its trade name, “Roundup,” originally developed by Monsanto and later acquired by Bayer.

Glyphosate works by inhibiting a key enzyme in the shikimate pathway, a critical process plants use to synthesize amino acids essential for growth and survival. When this process is disrupted, the plant dies.

The primary use of glyphosate is on genetically modified (GMO) crops, particularly corn and soybeans. These GMO plants have been engineered to be resistant to glyphosate, allowing farmers to spray the herbicide to kill all weeds in their fields without harming the main crop.

Behind the Use of Glyphosate: The “Factory System” and Profits Laced with Risk

The widespread use of glyphosate is tied to the system of industrial-scale agriculture and monoculture. This system is set up to function like a factory, based on the principle of “bigger scale, lower costs, higher profits.”

However, nature doesn’t operate on a monoculture basis. Planting a single crop over vast areas makes the agricultural system inherently weak. The crops become vulnerable to pests and diseases, forcing farmers to spray large quantities of chemicals simply to keep the plants “alive.” Glyphosate is one of those chemicals.

The Impacts You Need to Know: Glyphosate, Health, and Global Controversy

While glyphosate is used to increase yields and reduce costs in the food industry, there is significant debate and evidence regarding its effects on health and the environment.

• A Landmark Lawsuit: In 2018, Monsanto faced a class-action lawsuit and was ordered by the court to pay $289 million in damages. Although Monsanto claimed that over 800 studies confirmed the substance’s safety for humans, the court’s verdict reflects growing concern.
• Threats to Human Health: Research has linked glyphosate to several health problems:
  • Liver and Kidney Issues: Including oxidative stress that leads to damage.
  • Neurological Effects: Such as neuroinflammation and mitochondrial dysfunction.
  • Respiratory System Impacts: Including asthma and lung inflammation.
  • Cancer Risk: A link has been found with non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
  • Gut Microbiome: It disrupts the function of beneficial bacteria in the gut.
• Trade Pressure: In 2019, Thailand intended to ban glyphosate. However, under immense pressure from the United States, Thailand had to reverse its decision. The main reason was that if glyphosate were banned, Thailand would not be able to import grains from the U.S. due to the glyphosate residue present in them.

The Sustainable Solution: Organic Farming as the “Work with Nature” Alternative

Faced with these risks, Organic farming has become a crucial and sustainable alternative.

• A core principle of organic farming is the complete prohibition of glyphosate.
• Organic farming focuses on growing and producing food naturally, without relying on synthetic chemicals and without needing to “prop up a weak system” with chemicals.
• The fundamental concept is that “nature is not a factory,” and we cannot think of it that way. We must “work with nature.”
• Unlike conventional foods, which often contain significant amounts of glyphosate, organic food is a safer choice.

Choose Better Health: Choose Farm Daddeaw

The food choices we make every day directly impact our health and the environment. Glyphosate is just one of the chemicals hidden within the industrial food production system, and its effects are becoming increasingly clear.

At Farm Daddeaw, we believe in working with nature and are committed to offering safe, organic products free from harmful chemicals, for the good health of all and for truly sustainable agriculture. Choosing food that has been grown naturally is an investment in a better, healthier future for yourself and your loved ones.

Order Farm Daddeaw products with direct delivery to your home throughout Thailand.

Line: @farmdaddeaw