Glyphosate Use Surges 10-Fold: Growing Public Health Concerns

Glyphosate use in the United Kingdom has increased tenfold over the last 30 years, leading to intensified concerns regarding public health and environmental safety. In 2024, farmers sprayed more than 2,200 tonnes of the herbicide, with over half of that volume applied to wheat and other cereal crops.

The surge in application has occurred despite a 2015 classification by the World Health Organization, which identified glyphosate as probably carcinogenic to humans.

Health Risks and Scientific Concerns

Beyond the potential for cancer, research and health advocates have linked glyphosate exposure to a variety of other serious medical conditions. These include liver and kidney disease, neurotoxicity, and endocrine disruption.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) contributed to the 2015 assessment of the chemical’s risks, and some researchers suggest that daily exposure to the herbicide could be considered a health risk for humans given its massive presence in the environment.

Environmental advocates have raised questions about the cumulative impacts of decades of widespread application, specifically focusing on food safety, water systems, and soil health.

Origins of the UK Application Surge

The current scale of glyphosate use in the UK can be traced back to the 1980s. During this period, Scottish farmers pioneered a method of spraying glyphosate on wheat crops just before harvest to manage the damp conditions of the glens.

By applying the herbicide one or two weeks before harvesting, farmers were able to kill the crop in a controlled manner, which accelerated the drying process. This practice was initially viewed as a revolutionary solution because the herbicide killed plant-based organisms while sparing animal life.

The technique quickly spread from the Scottish highlands to other colder and wetter agricultural regions globally, eventually evolving into a widespread practice across the UK. Today, the herbicide is used not only on farmland but also in domestic gardens and municipal green spaces.

Regulatory Debate and Industry Response

The increase in usage has led to calls for a total ban or severe restrictions on the herbicide. With the licence for glyphosate up for renewal in December, campaign groups are urging the government to phase out the chemical and support the adoption of sustainable alternatives.

The UK’s glyphosate addiction has spiralled out of control. We know that glyphosate has links to a range of cancers and other life-threatening diseases. And that it damages the environment, polluting our waters and harming wildlife.

Nick Mole, Pesticide Action Network UK

Bayer, the manufacturer of the herbicide, disputes these health claims and maintains that its herbicides do not cause cancer.