How Glyphosate Cropped Up
By Philip A. Rea
The controversial herbicide, originally developed in a quest for improved water softeners, became ubiquitous in modern agriculture long before its mode of action was understood.
This Article From Issue
May-June 2022
Volume 110, Number 3
Page 170
Weeds are a major, expensive threat to crop yields and quality. The weed killer that has transformed global agriculture is glyphosate, which you likely know as Roundup. This herbicide had a fascinating scientific and industrial journey to its eventual market dominance.
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- Glyphosate, trade name Roundup, is the most important herbicide of all time, based on the billions of kilograms that have been applied to croplands worldwide.
- First came the molecule with peak herbicidal activity against weeds and other plants. Then agriculture was transformed by the development of crops the herbicide couldn’t harm.
- The emergence of glyphosate is a story of diligent research and serendipitous discovery, followed by years of unraveling how the chemical works.
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