Member Article

Glyphosate - seeking an alternative solution

Thomson Habitats, sister company to leading ecology consultancy Thomson Ecology is testing out new environmentally friendly alternatives to glyphosate following concerns about the carcinogenic properties of the chemical.

Powerful weed killers, such as Monsanto’s Roundup, are widely used as an efficient and practical solution for the treatment of invasive plant species, including the notorious Japanese knotweed. The active ingredient in Roundup is glyphosate, which has been used extensively in farming, and in towns and cities to control grass and weeds for years. It is also widely available in every garden centre for anyone to buy and to use in their own back gardens.

However, several countries, including Holland, Denmark, Sweden and Sri Lanka have banned or restricted the use of glyphosate herbicides because of alleged links with a variety of health problems, including cancer, birth defects and kidney failure, amongst others.

However, over 30 studies have concluded that there is “no validated or significant relationship” between glyphosate and cancer among humans. But, world-leading experts at the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC, an arm of the World Health Organisation), concluded last year that glyphosate was “probably” carcinogenic.

Thomson Habitats has effectively used glyphosate-based herbicides as part of Japanese knotweed treatment programmes on many sites in the UK over the past few years. Japanese knotweed, described by the Environment Agency as “indisputably the UK’s most aggressive, destructive and invasive plant”, responds particularly well to repeated spraying with glyphosate.

David Grimmond, Project Manager at Thomson Habitats said:

“With uncertainty growing as to the safety of glyphosate, we are now looking into alternative treatments, including a herbicide-free hot foam. We hope that we can find a safer alternative, that is just as effective.”

Glyphosate-free weed killers are still in the early stages of development however, and some are rather more outlandish than others. It has been reported recently that one City Council is trialling the use of vinegar for killing weeds, but some residents have complained about the smell. “With that in mind”, says Dave, “Thomson Habitats may skip that particular option, but we will observe the results with interest, and look forward to sharing the results of their own research over the coming months.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Thomson Ecology .