Campaigners Demand UK Ban on Glyphosate as Pre-Harvest Crop Desiccant Amid Health Concerns

A coalition of campaigners, led by the Soil Association, is urging the UK government to outlaw the use of glyphosate as a pre-harvest desiccant. This chemical, commonly found in weedkillers, is sprayed on crops to dry them, a practice which campaigners argue leaves harmful residues in everyday foods such as bread, breakfast cereals, and beer.

Concerns Over Health and Residues

Scientific studies have suggested potential links between glyphosate exposure and various illnesses, including cancer. The International Agency for Research on Cancer, a World Health Organisation body, concluded in 2015 that the chemical was “probably carcinogenic to humans.” More recently, in March, a group of international scientists reviewed new data, asserting that glyphosate and glyphosate-based herbicides (GBHs) “harm human health and can cause cancer,” advocating for immediate regulatory action.

This campaign precedes a forthcoming consultation by the government’s Health and Safety Executive (HSE) on whether to extend the chemical’s licence beyond December 2026. The European Union banned glyphosate’s use as a pre-harvest drying agent in 2023, though it remains licensed for other applications across the continent. Guy Singh-Watson, founder of Riverford Organic Farmers, emphasised that the campaign targets only the pre-harvest drying application, not a complete ban, stating this practice is a “relatively modern” and non-essential farming technique.

Industry and Government Position

Bayer, which now owns Monsanto, the original developer of Roundup (a glyphosate-based weedkiller), maintains that no regulatory authority has definitively found glyphosate to be carcinogenic. The UK government affirms that glyphosate is “strictly regulated” and only approved where evidence demonstrates its safety. However, critics point to past instances where chemicals, once deemed safe, were subsequently banned.

Farming organisations, including the National Farmers Union (NFU), defend glyphosate as an “essential tool” for weed control, disease reduction, and harvest efficiency, contributing to “sustainable and affordable food.” Farmers like Dave Bell contend that without glyphosate for crop ripening, greater reliance on diesel for drying would increase carbon footprints. The government’s national action plan for pesticides aims to minimise pesticide use and promote integrated pest management, yet glyphosate’s current approval in Great Britain was extended to allow regulators to review new data.