Banning glyphosate could facilitate “closer trade with our European neighbours”, according to anti-pesticide campaigners.
Organisations including the Soil Association, Greenpeace and Riverford Organic Farmers have called for restrictions on using the controversial herbicide during harvest in an open letter to Defra secretary Emma Reynolds.
Glyphosate has been banned in the European Union since 2023, although its use is permitted in the UK – where farmers use it to dry out crops for harvest and tackle weeds.
With the government seeking to secure an SPS deal with the bloc, campaigners said they anticipate “restrictions will be placed on use of the herbicide glyphosate as a pre-harvest desiccant, in line with restrictions in place across Europe”.
“European restrictions have been introduced in the context of scientific and consumer concerns over public health, and on the understanding that pre-harvest desiccation does not represent a ‘proper agricultural use’ of glyphosate,” the letter said. “We believe it would be prudent for the UK to follow suit.”
The letter urged government to ensure the farming roadmap and agrienvironmental schemes adequately to incentivise integrated pest management, organic farming and nature-friendly production. It has also called for more support for farmers, both from government and supply chains, so they can afford to adapt to the changes.
“No one wants a chemical linked to cancer in their sandwiches or breakfast cereal,” said Soil Association campaigns co-ordinator Cathy Cliff.
“The UK is already lagging behind Europe which takes a much tougher stance on pesticides that pose a risk to human health,” Cliff said. “The government must act to protect public health by stopping this toxic chemical from being sprayed on our food at harvest.”
The Soil Association has also launched its Cut The Chemicals campaign alongside a petition calling for urgent support for farmers to ensure their businesses “can continue to thrive” while changing practices, alongside research into alternatives. At the time of writing, the petition had 16,317 signatures.
According to data from Pesticide Action Network UK, the amount of glyphosate applied to British crops has risen by 1,000% since 1990. Anti-pesticide groups warn there is growing evidence that the chemical causes cancer.
Guy Singh-Watson, founder of organic veg box company Riverford, said glyphosate use in the food system was “poison in plain sight”.
“This is not only a public health issue, but also a farming one too. Many farmers are locked into using these chemicals by a system that leaves them with few commercially viable alternatives,” he said. “The government has a responsibility to ensure our food is produced without compromising the health of people or the planet.”
He added: “Banning glyphosate as a pre-harvest desiccant is a sensible first step, and farmers must be supported to make the transition away from chemical dependence.”
Martin Lines, CEO of letter signatory Nature Friendly Farming Network, echoed concerns that farmers would have to be supported with the transition.
“Government and the private sector must commit to investing in farming systems with considerably lower levels of pesticide use,” he said. “We also need alignment in trade standards so UK farmers doing the right thing are not undercut by imports.”
He added: “Bringing us in line with the EU, which takes a more robust approach to protecting people from harmful substances, would be a step in the right direction.”
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