It’s no secret that the world’s population is growing. The population of the world will increase to 9.7 billion by 2050.1 But, it’s not happening on the planet’s agricultural land. This poses serious challenges for farmers, who are accountable for producing enough food of high-quality for Canadians as well as other people all over the world.
グリホサート Canada is the fifth largest exporter.2 Canadian farmers play a crucial role in supplying food for all. They will be faced with more demands than ever before and will have to control the effects of pests, diseases, and weather changes to ensure that their land is productive and healthy for the next generation.
To meet increasing demands, farmers will need to produce 70% more food by 2050. *Source: The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, How to provide food for the world by 2050
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations How to feed the world by 2050
This growing demand is too much for farmers to handle alone. Technology and tools including herbicides such Glyphosate, allow farmers to manage weeds effectively and accurately, which results in an increased sustainable and secure supply of food.
What is glyphosate and how does it work?
Glyphosate is used for more 40 years by farmers, land managers and gardeners across the globe. グリホサート It does this by blocking the enzyme that plants–in this instance, weeds that are not wanted to develop. These enzymes do not exist in mammals or humans.4 Glyphosate doesn’t pose any risk to them when it is used in a safe manner.
グリホサート Glyphosate can be utilized for many other purposes beyond agriculture. It is also used in green areas of municipal parks to shield wildlife from toxic weeds.6 The glyphosate can also be utilized on railway lines to improve the purpose of reducing fire risk and visibility.
In recent years, glyphosate has gained more attention and is being used in our daily lives. While it’s important to question the ingredients that go into our food items, it’s also important to know that more than 160 of the world’s government health regulatory agencies, including Health Canada, agree that glyphosate is safe for human consumption when utilized correctly.8
In helping Canadians understand what glyphosate is, how it’s used, and the vital role it plays in food production and sustainable farming practices can help alleviate concerns about what is just one of many methods farmers employ to ensure we all have safe, affordable and available food to eat.
Glyphosate is a chemical pesticide which can be utilized in the field of agriculture.
Glyphosate-based herbicides can be utilized in the field of agriculture, benefiting farmers, consumers, the environment, and all others. It is crucial for efficient weed suppression, sustainable food supply, and environmental sustainability. Let’s examine each of them.
グリホサート In the world, farmers lose between 30-40% to 40 percent of their crops to pests, diseases, and weeds.9 According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (UNFAO) this losses could increase by a third when crop protection methods are not used. It’s a huge loss, especially for farmers considering that these crops are the basis of their livelihood.
It is no surprise that farmers rely on their reliable equipment every year. Glyphosate is an effective way to manage destructive weeds in fields, especially when they are resistant to glyphosate.
Crops vs. Weeds: the battle for their existence
The crops of a farmer must compete with up to 30,000 species of weeds in search of space, water, nutrients and light.9 Glyphosate provides crops with a fighting chance.
Canadians as well as global consumers reap the benefits of abundant, affordable food options.
The population is growing and half of the land that is used for food production is at risk due to the degradation of land and desertification.10 This is causing increasing food security. Canadians are likely to pay 55% more if modern agriculture innovations were not implemented, including the use glyphosate.11
Additionally, our most loved foods will be more difficult to acquire. グリホサート Science-based agriculture will enable farmers to grow our favorite staple foods for many more years.
Glyphosate is more than a herbicide. It also helps keep the cost of produce low at the grocery store. It also helps farmers take care of what Cherilyn Jolly Nagle, one of the Saskatchewan farmer calls “their most important asset”, which is their land.
Make sure we have the foods that we love on the table
Farmers can thrive when they use crop protection tools, such as glyphosate to protect crops from pests and disease.
42% more grain, similar to corn and wheat
72 percent more fruit
83 12
The benefits are obvious. But is glyphosate actually safe?
It is important to remember that all pesticides need to be applied in accordance with instructions on the label. Canada’s glyphosate use regulation is controlled by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. The agency checks crops for residues of pesticides to ensure that farmers are using the product correctly. They also have the Pest Management Regulation Agency (PMRA) which offers guidelines, evaluations of submissions to the product and approvals or rejections. They also have one of the most comprehensive evaluation processes anywhere in the world.
Although the regulatory agencies are responsible for ensuring that farmers are using approved herbicides, farmers and manufacturers play an important role in making sure glyphosate has been used correctly and safely to prevent any unintended damage to animals, the environment or humans as well as other individuals.
Precision technology and agriculture has enabled farmers to take greater control over the application of glyphosate. They are also able to pinpoint exactly where and how the glyphosate is used.
Concerning pesticide residue, it is rare for glyphosate to be detected on food and, if it is detected at levels that are too low it is not likely to cause harm. The CFIA ensures farmers use herbicides properly and work within set residue limits.16 On the rare occasions that it is found in low levels (e.g. 1 part per billion), it is well lower than the limit set by the Government of Canada, and is not a health or safety concern17 as it would not cause any harm to humans or animals.18
Glyphosate usage as part of sustainable agriculture practices
Farmers use herbicides, like glyphosate, as part of an integrated pest/weed management practices–meaning they use more than just herbicides to manage the growth of weeds. Glyphosate has allowed them to adopt conservation-based tillage or non-till methods which have long-term benefits for the soil, air and environmental health.
– The reduction or elimination plowing or tilling land
– Reducing CO2 emissions
– Capturing carbon soil
Improve soil health
– Stopping erosion and water runoff
“No pesticide regulator in the world currently considers the glyphosate as a cancer risk for humans at the present levels at which they are exposed.” – Health Canada, January 11, 2019.
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations , How to feed the world by 2050
Making sure Canadian farmers have the tools, technology and resources they require to meet the ever-growing demand for food supplies of an increasing population is more crucial than ever before.
Food safety, good agricultural practices and pest control practices will ensure that farmers are able to continue protecting the food we eat. Glyphosate is one of many methods they use to ensure that Canadians and all people worldwide can access affordable and nutritious food.