A NEW paper gathering together research into glyphosate has highlighted "the many failings of the current pesticide regulatory system" according to organic sector watchdogs, the Soil Association.

The study, by Professor Charles Benbrook, questioned why the US Environmental Protection Agency concluded that glyphosate was safe, whilst the International Agency for Research on Cancer’s work suggested that it could cause cancer. Prof Benbrook's main conclusion was that the American all-clear was derived from the pesticide industry's own studies, which were often confidential, while the IARC warning was based on open scientific work that was subject to scrutiny by the whole scientific community.

Soil Association policy director Jo Lewis said: “The paper highlights the vast difference between peer-reviewed studies into glyphosate, the majority of which suggest a link to cancer, compared to 99% of industry assays deeming it to be safe. This highlights the many failings of the current pesticide regulatory system and the need for government to help UK farming shift away from using potentially harmful chemicals.

“Alongside a stronger and more transparent pesticide regulation system that people can trust, we need a wholescale rethink of our farming systems so that nature friendly farming methods, such as organic, become the norm," said Ms Lewis. “This new research reaffirms why it is sensible for the UK government to take serious action to support farmers to manage without glyphosate, as organic farmers already do, and we continue to call for a ban on spraying this chemical on crops at harvest time and on its use in parks and gardens.

“Pesticide use in the UK has increased markedly over the past few decades despite the availability of new technologies and tested agroecological innovations, such as agroforestry, organic farming and robotics," she added. "These methods prove we can produce plentiful, healthy food while supporting wildlife and climate change mitigation – without reliance on pesticides.”