NSW Farmers has welcomed the Federal Court’s ruling that key agricultural chemical glyphosate (Roundup) is safe to use as directed.
NSW Farmers Ag Science Committee Chair Alan Brown welcomed the decision and said glyphosate had been rigorously tested by the scientific community, with the Court’s decision consistent with international regulatory assessments such as that of the APVMA.
“The use of glyphosate in accordance with the instructions on chemical labels has been scientifically proven to be safe, and it has not been found to cause cancer,” Mr Brown said.
“More than 800 scientific studies and reviews, including numerous independent regulatory safety assessments, are in support of this fact, and Australian farmers are well aware of how to use this chemical correctly to protect the health of their families and communities.”
As a key ingredient in over 500 chemical products including popular weed killer Roundup, Mr Brown said the continued use of glyphosate was critical to the agricultural industry’s ability to sustainably produce food.
“Glyphosate was almost as big a game changer for farmers as the invention of the wheel was to man – it is such a critical component of modern and sustainable agricultural production,” Mr Brown said.
“Without access to the chemical, farmers would have to resort to cultivation to manage weeds – degrading our landscape and making it harder than ever to maintain productivity.
“Australian farmers need every tool they’ve got in the toolbox to continue to produce healthy plants and healthy animals at a rate that matches rapidly increasing global demand, or else our industry will lose its ability to stay competitive on an international scale.”
