The question is, do we ever really know what is going on? It’s a big question and generally speaking, I find myself scratching my head and asking just that question a lot these days.
But what about the stuff we are told by companies we think we can trust, stuff large corporations tell us, stuff we take for granted, stuff apparently based in unbiased science? The facts are the facts, right?
Well, it seems that this may not quite be the case.
When it comes to pesticides, we are definitely not getting the whole picture. Take Roundup for instance: A foundational study, a study referenced more than any other, a study that for 25 years has stood as testament to the safety of Glyphosate, has been retracted by the respected journal that published it.
In retracting the study last month, the journal, ‘Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology’, cited “serious ethical concerns regarding the independence and accountability of the authors.” Martin van den Berg, the journal’s editor in chief, said the paper had based its conclusions largely on unpublished studies by Monsanto.
It seems, not only is the data in question but that the “INDEPENDENT” authors of this landmark study were indeed paid by Monsanto, the then owner and manufacturer of Roundup.
Not only that but it was Monsanto’s own scientists who actually pulled together much of the information that was published in the paper, and crucially it was unpublished Monsanto trial data which was used to point to the non-carcinogenicity of the chemical, data that has never been seen.
This paper was retracted based on the lack of transparency and the conflict of interest that was demonstrated by the authors based on recently uncovered evidence.
Whether you believe Glyphosate causes cancer, or whether it is bad for the environment and our health is actually nearly irrelevant here. What is clear is that a massive global corporation actively deceived the public, to sell more of its product, for eye watering financial gain, when the profits are in the order of billions of dollars then this makes this publication and retraction extremely significant and controversial.
It is a timely unveiling as the US EPA is due to review the safety profile of glyphosate in 2026.
This same playbook of using “independent” scientists to demonstrate legitimacy and safety, has been utilised by the tobacco industry (we know how that ended) and is currently being used by big oil and fossil fuel companies to mislead and give the impression that all is well with whatever they are trying to sell. This is not ok.
So, 25 years later, this, the most sprayed pesticide in human history (estimated at approx. 17 billion kg) has changed our agricultural landscape nearly irreversibly, it has driven us towards a food system that is hinged on cheap ultra processed commodity crops, whilst over 2 billion people starve. The argument that glyphosate is needed to help us feed the world is untrue. The argument that without it we would need many more acres to feed the world is untrue, we need to simply change what we grow, and change what we eat.
As always thank you for supporting the good fight.
Kenneth