GM Crops Lose Weed War

Introduction

Crops such as cotton, soybean and corn have been genetically modified to be resistant to herbicides. Farmers can thus use herbicides to kill weeds while the crop remains unaffected and thrives. But an analysis of the use of herbicides on GM crops shows that the weeds too are becoming herbicide-resistant, requiring increasing amounts of the chemical.

The volume of herbicide, especially glyphosate, needed each year in the US has increased by about 25 percent, driving up the cost of farming.

Source

Down To Earth, October 2012