Union in warning over glyphosate fate

The union has come out strongly in defence of the herbicide, widely used across Scottish arable systems, following renewed calls for restrictions on pre-harvest applications.

NFU Scotland crops chairman Jack Stevenson said glyphosate remains a critical tool for growers, particularly in a country where weather windows are tight and harvest conditions can be unpredictable.

“Glyphosate is one of the most thoroughly reviewed herbicides in the world, and regulatory authorities continue to approve its use when applied in accordance with strict guidance,” he said.

“For Scottish growers, particularly given our wetter climate and shorter harvest windows, glyphosate remains an important tool in helping crops be harvested efficiently while maintaining quality and reducing the additional energy and fuel required for drying.”

His comments come as environmental groups intensify calls for the UK Government to follow the European Union in banning glyphosate as a pre-harvest desiccant – a move already implemented across EU member states in 2023.

But NFU Scotland has cautioned that removing glyphosate without viable alternatives would have far-reaching consequences for both farm businesses and the wider environment.

“In Scotland’s often challenging conditions, removing glyphosate without practical and scalable alternatives would create significant challenges for growers,” Mr Stevenson continued.

“It could increase fuel use, drive up production costs and, ultimately, lead to higher carbon emissions – outcomes that run counter to the ambitions being placed on agriculture.”

He also pointed to the role glyphosate plays in enabling lower-disturbance cultivation systems such as min-till and direct drilling – approaches that are increasingly central to both arable and mixed farming enterprises seeking to improve soil health and reduce emissions.

“Glyphosate supports systems that protect soils and reduce overall environmental impact across both arable and livestock sectors,” he said.

“It is important that decisions on its future continue to reflect robust scientific evidence and Scotland’s distinct agricultural conditions.”

NFU Scotland reiterated that it supports the responsible use of glyphosate as part of an integrated approach to crop management, while continuing to back research into effective alternatives.

Despite that, pressure from campaigners continues to build.

A coalition of organisations – including the Soil Association, Greenpeace and the Nature Friendly Farming Network – has called on ministers to end the use of glyphosate as a pre-harvest drying agent, arguing that the practice risks leaving residues in food.

The Soil Association claims that testing of UK cereals has found glyphosate residues in a significant proportion of samples, raising concerns about its presence in staple foods such as bread, breakfast cereals and beer.

Campaigners also point to ongoing scientific debate around the chemical’s safety. Glyphosate was classified as a ‘probable carcinogen’ by the World Health Organisation in 2015, and a recent international review has renewed calls for tighter regulation.

Guy Singh-Watson, founder of organic food business Riverford, said the use of glyphosate close to harvest created a ‘direct route from field to plate’ and called for a transition away from chemical reliance, supported by Government.

However, farming organisations argue that the debate must remain evidence-led and grounded in practical realities on farm.

For many Scottish growers, glyphosate is not simply a weedkiller but a key management tool that helps ensure crops can be harvested in narrow weather windows, particularly in northern and western regions where conditions can deteriorate rapidly.

Without it, industry representatives warn that farmers could be forced into more intensive cultivation or increased mechanical drying – both of which carry cost and environmental penalties.

Glyphosate is currently approved for use in Great Britain until December, with the Health and Safety Executive expected to undertake a full public consultation as part of the renewal process.

The review will consider an extensive body of scientific evidence submitted by industry alongside input from farmers, stakeholders and campaign groups.

A UK Government spokesperson said pesticides are only authorised where there is clear evidence that they do not pose unacceptable risks to human health or the environment.

At the same time, ministers have signalled a continued push towards reducing pesticide reliance through integrated pest management – an approach already being adopted across many Scottish farms.

With the consultation process looming, the coming months are likely to prove pivotal.