by Herman Brockman

The big ag pesticide/transgenic crop companies have undying faith in the “solve a problem created by our technology with yet more of our technology” principle. An example in the news of late (see, e.g. http://bigstory.ap.org/article/decision-could-boost-use-popular-weed-killer) is Dow AgroSciences’ new transgenic corn, which when used as directed also requires the new herbicide Enlist Duo. This herbicide is a mixture of the active ingredients glyphosate (as in Monsanto’s Roundup) and 2,4-D (as in Dow’s Enlist) plus so-called inert ingredients, which they do not reveal.

I use “transgenic” rather than “genetically modified” or “genetically engineered” because it best describes what they are-strains of a species that contain one or more genes from a different species. Dow AgroSciences’ new transgenic corn is resistant to the two active herbicides in its Enlist Duo-glyphosate and 2,4-D.

Why Dow AgroSciences’ new transgenic strain and new herbicide mix now? Because Monsanto’s now about 15-year-old technological fix for weed control is failing. That fix was corn and soybean (and other crop) strains resistant to glyphosate (Roundup Ready crops) combined of course with Roundup. This fix worked for about 10 years—if one ignored the adverse environmental effects. But industrial farmers started noticing some aggressive weeds that thrived in the presence of Roundup. They had mutated to become resistant to the glyphosate in Roundup—they had become Roundup Ready! And even one such weed plant in a field produced the same kind of seed, so that each year their frequency increases. This is now a serious problem for many industrial farmers.

Any biologist would have predicted this resistance of weeds to glyphosate. It is an example of evolution by natural selection (Charles Darwin 1859 On The Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection). I am certain Monsanto’s scientists knew this, but their executives knew they would make money until the inevitable happened.

And now industrial farmers probably will embrace Dow AgroSciences new transgenic corn/herbicide technological fix. The USDA estimates a 200 to 600% increase in 2,4-D use by 2020. That is much selective pressure for the evolution of weed resistance to 2,4-D. I predict with confidence that this fix will also eventually fail due to the evolution of weeds resistant to 2,4-D as well as glyphosate.

Remember, 2,4-D is well known as a highly toxic chemical. Who is at the greatest risk? Pesticide applicators, industrial farmers, their families, and rural communities. And eventually all of the environment, meaning each of us. Humans cannot outsmart Mother Nature. But Dow AgroSciences will have reaped their profits.

Industrial farmers generally trust that the big pesticide/transgenic crop companies will always have a new technological fix for them. Indeed, these companies are developing new transgenic crop strains resistant to other herbicide combinations. Thus, industrial farmers will accelerate their pesticide treadmill with ever increasing costs for seeds and pesticides. And with even more exposure of themselves and their families to these “-cides”—i.e. poisons. And with more contamination of our environment (soil, water, air) and all of our kin – from the microbes in the soil to the plants and animals.

Industrial farmers do have a saner and safer alternative. My closest neighbor is a second-generation organic farmer. I have observed this organic farm for about 40 years. Every year my conclusion grows stronger—it works! Yes, there are some weeds, including milkweeds, but there are likely also Monarch butterflies.

Thus the alternative for industrial farmers is to move completely, or at least partially, to the philosophy and resulting practices of organic farmers.

The writer is a farmer and a geneticist.