Monsanto’s glyphosate, the active ingredient in the world’s most ubiquitous herbicide, is entwined in one of agriculture’s most controversial battles. On one side, independent and peer-reviewed science compiled by the World Health Organization lists glyphosate as a probable carcinogen. On the other, Monsanto ...
Even though 5.6 billion pounds of pesticides are used worldwide every year, less than 1% of reach their intended target. Once sprayed over crops, synthetic pesticides frequently contaminate the surrounding environment, including the water, air, and soil. The social and environmental costs of pesticide use in the ...
Pesticides have been around for thousands of years, starting with sulfur, which was used to control bacteria and mold, around 1000 BC. Then, arsenic, not known at the time for its severe health impacts to humans, was used as a herbicide in the 1800s. These first-generation pesticides were often highly toxic compounds, ...
