FRANKENSOY REQUIRES MORE HERBICIDES

(ENS)-Reliance on the Monsanto herbicide Roundup to kill weeds infields of genetically engineered Roundup Ready soybeans has led toincreased herbicide use because the weeds have become herbicideresistant, according to a recent study. The report, “Troubled TimesAmid Commercial Success for Roundup Ready Soybeans,” relies on datafrom the Department of Agriculture that says that on average 11.4percent more herbicides are used on Monsanto’s Roundup Ready (RR)soybean crops, than on conventional soybeans. In some cases, 30percent more herbicides were used.

Dr. Charles Benbrook of the Northwest Science and Environmental PolicyCenter in Sandpoint, Idaho, says that contrary to the promises ofMonsanto that growing its genetically engineered variety of RoundupReady soybeans would put fewer pesticides into the environment,farmers are applying more herbicides to Roundup Ready soybean plantsto combat weeds. Roundup Ready crops allow farmers to spray a singlebroad spectrum herbicide active ingredient, glyphosate, on top ofgrowing soybeans, killing most weeds but leaving the Roundup Readysoybeans largely unharmed. American farmers have planted 60 percent ofthis year’s soybean crop, roughly 40 million acres, with bioengineeredRoundup Ready seeds, according to Monsanto. “This study confirms thatgenetic engineering of farm crops means more chemicals in ourenvironment,” says Greenpeace genetic engineering campaigner GeertRitsema. The report, “Troubled Times Amid Commercial Success forRoundup Ready Soybeans,” is at www.biotech-info.net/troubled times.html.