Monsanto, Dow to begin pushing dangerous 2,4-D herbicide as 'solution' to superweeds

It is something that many farmers of genetically-modified (GM) crops are already trying to do and failing to succeed in, but that the chemical companies responsible for the problem may soon be pushing as an alleged "solution." The Dow Chemical Company has sponsored a study that aims to position the 2,4-D herbicide, a popular commercial herbicide, as the solution to Roundup-resistant "superweeds." But 2,4-D-resistant "superweeds" have already begun emerging as well, which suggests that increased chemical interventions of any kind will only make the superweed problem worse, not better.

Year after year, GM crop farmers have to battle mutant superweeds that continue to grow stronger and more resistant to the toxic pesticides and herbicides used in GM crop cultivation. But the practice is polluting the environment, contaminating the food supply, and spurring the rampant growth of harmful superweeds.

Rather than admit they are responsible for the problem, agri-giants like Dow and Monsanto say that using different pesticides and herbicides will help solve the problem. But such a suggestion could not be further from the truth. Treating plants with increasingly higher levels and more potent concoctions of toxic chemicals is a recipe for disaster, and one that will only make the superweed problem worse.

Dow, of course, found in its own study that using 2,4-D is a successful intervention to help prevent the growth of superweeds, But a review by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service, which tends to be conservative in its estimation of the environmental harm caused by pesticides and herbicides, says 2,4-D leads to "risk quotients that exceed the level of concern." In other words, Dow's "solution" is highly problematic in terms of environmental and human health.

The report found that if 2,4-D is used the way Dow suggests, humans will be exposed to dangerously high levels of the toxin, which in turn causes autoimmune disorders, cell destruction (apoptosis), nerve damage, metabolic dysfunction, and other serious problems.

The only real way to stop the spread of superweeds, if it is even still possible, is to stop planting and cultivating GM crops. Organic, sustainable growing methods do not require toxic chemical applications, which in turn do not create superweeds. They also do not pollute the food supply and the environment with extremely toxic chemicals like GM crop cultivation methods do.