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Enlist Weed Control System

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The Enlist Weed Control System is an agricultural system that includes seeds for genetically modified crops that are resistant to Enlist (a herbicide with two active agents, 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and glyphosate) and the Enlist herbicide; spraying the herbicide will kill weeds but not the resulting crop.[1][2] The system was developed by Dow AgroSciences, part of Dow Chemical Company.[1] In October 2014 the system was registered for restricted use in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin by the US Environmental Protection Agency.[3] In 2013, the system was approved by Canada for the same uses[4]

The Enlist approach was developed to replace the "Roundup-Ready system that was introduced in 1996 by Monsanto and which has become less useful with the rise of glyphosate-resistant "superweeds".[1]

Enlist Duo

Enlist Duo is an herbicide that contains the choline form of 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and glyphosate plus an unknown number of unlisted ingredients. Dow added chemicals to the mixture in what it termed "Colex-D technology" intended to reduce physical drift, ultraviolet volatility and odor and to improve handling.[5]

2,4-D is one of the most widely used herbicides in the world.[6][7] 2,4-D is volatile and by EPA assessment is a hazardous air pollutant that is difficult to contain. The possibility of herbicide drift is why Dow developed the Colex-D technology, which according to their experiments, significantly reduces drift and damage from evaporation.[8][9] As of 2013 glyphosate was the world's largest-selling herbicide, with sales driven by glyphosate-resistant genetically modified crops.[10]

Other countries assessing the system include Brazil, Argentina and various food importing countries.[11]

Enlist crops

As of April 2014 maize and soybeans resistant to 2,4-D and glyphosate had been approved in Canada,[11] and in September 2014 the USDA approved the same two crops.[12][13]

Criticism

2,4-D was one of the main ingredients of Agent Orange, the defoliant used during the Vietnam War that was blamed for many health problems. The health problems arose from dioxin contamination, not from 2,4,-D, but the association nonetheless caused alarm.[14]

General criticism is aimed at the concept of using herbicides with herbicide-resistant crops as it is likely that herbicide-resistant weeds will develop naturally in response. Thus agriculture moves from substance to substance in an ongoing "chemical arms race".[8][14] Critics point out that the process never ends and is not sustainable.[8] Instead, they reject herbicides and pesticides in favor of the use of non-toxic, sustainable methods to control pests and enrich the soil.[8]

References

  1. ^ a b c Carey Gilliam (March 10, 2014). "As Dow seeks growth, new Enlist crop/chemicals seen as key". Reuters. Retrieved May 3, 2014.
  2. ^ "USDA Releases Draft Environmental Impact Statement on Dow's Enlist". American Agriculturist. January 3, 2014. Retrieved May 3, 2014.
  3. ^ "Enlist Duo approved in six states, with restrictions". Delta Farm Press. October 15, 2014. Retrieved October 17, 2014.
  4. ^ EPA (October 2014). "Registration of Enlist Duo". EPA. Environmental Protection Agency. Retrieved October 17, 2014.
  5. ^ "EPA to Consider Comments on Registration of Enlist Duo Herbicide". Farm Futures. May 1, 2014. Retrieved May 3, 2014.
  6. ^ von Stackelberg K. A Systematic Review of Carcinogenic Outcomes and Potential Mechanisms from Exposure to 2,4-D and MCPA in the Environment. J Toxicol. 2013;2013:371610. PMID 23533401 PMC 3600329
  7. ^ Andrew Pollack for the New York Times. April 9, 2012 E.P.A. Denies an Environmental Group’s Request to Ban a Widely Used Weed Killer
  8. ^ a b c d Bill Freese. ""Agent Orange" Crops: The Next Stage in the Chemical Arms Race" (PDF). Center for Food Safety. Retrieved May 3, 2014.
  9. ^ Josh Flint for Prairie Farmer. August 31, 2011 Dow AgroSciences Names Its Newest Herbicide Offering Enlist Duo
  10. ^ China Research & Intelligence, June 5, 2013. Research Report on Global and China Glyphosate Industry, 2013-2017
  11. ^ a b Donna Fleury (April 2014). "Enlist weed control system in Canada. A new tool for managing hard to control and resistant weeds". AG Annex. Retrieved May 3, 2014.
  12. ^ Brandon Keim (25 September 2014). "New Generation of GM Crops Puts Agriculture in a 'Crisis Situation'". Wired. Condé Nast. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
  13. ^ ISAAA GM Approval Database GM Approval Database Genes List, Gene: aad1. International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA), n.d. accessed February 27, 2015
  14. ^ a b Carey Gillam (January 28, 2013). "Dow's Controversial New GMO Corn Delayed Amid Protests". The Cornucopia Institute. Retrieved May 3, 2014.
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