EPA Approves Herbicide for GMO Crops

The EPA gave final approval to a herbicide from Dow AgroSciences on Oct. 15, 2014. The herbicide is called Enlist Duo and will be used with new genetically modified crops from Dow AgroSciences, a unit of Dow Chemical.

Enlist Duo combines the herbicides 2,4-D and glyphosate. It is intended to eliminate severe weed resistance that might otherwise hinder optimal crop production.

Seeds used to grow genetically modified crops approved by the Agriculture Department are engineered to be resistant to Enlist Duo.

At present 2,4-D is the most popular herbicide in the world, and ranks third in the United States where atrazine and glyphosate take first and second place.

Enlist Duo has triggered more than 400,000 comments to the EPA.

Critics of Enlist Duo say that 2,4-D is linked with reproductive problems, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, Parkinson's disease, and other serious health problems.

It's feared that it may be possible for Enlist Duo to drift over into other farmers' fields, contaminating crops. The ultimate result could be even greater weed resistance for farmers to contend with.

Opponents are concerned about what might happen with an increase of 2,4-D -- of possibly anywhere from 200-600 percent by 2020, according to the USDA -- and want to see more study done.

The nonprofit advocacy organization Environmental Working Group sent the EPA a letter with a list of more than 77,000 names of people who are against approval of Enlist Duo.

Enlist Duo contains both herbicides 2,4-D and glyphosate. Use of Enlist Duo will increase the use of 2,4-D anywhere from two to seven times, according to an estimation from the Center for Food Safety using the USDA's figures.

The Center for Food Safety said that Enlist Duo will create an even bigger problem with weeds that will become impervious to 2,4-D and glyphosate.

Advocacy groups Center for Food Safety and Earthjustice may file lawsuits.

Enlist Duo was designed as competition for Monsanto Co.'s Roundup Ready system. The Roundup Ready system was designed to use glyphosate to kill weeds without harming crops.

But Roundup herbicide use has left farmers with super weeds that are resistant to the herbicide, and which are choking out crops. Many weeds are resistant to glyphosate, which till now has been used on genetically modified corn and soybeans.

The EPA has ordered restrictions as a provision of the approval of Enlist Duo. This is the first time such restrictions have been put in place.

The EPA will require that Dow report to the agency to evaluate whether or not weeds become resistant to Enlist Duo. Dow is obligated to monitor closely for resistant weeds. Any that are found must be reported to the EPA.

There must be a 30-foot in-field "no spray" buffer zone as protection around areas where the herbicide is applied. When wind speeds are moving faster than 15 miles per hour, the herbicide can not be sprayed.

Dow will be required to file a separate application to be able to use Enlist Duo on its cotton which has become tolerant of 2,4-D.

The EPA can require that farmers rotate their crops or make use of other chemicals. These will be future requirements for weed-killing chemicals targeting crops that have become tolerant of herbicides.

To begin with, only Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin will be allowed to use Enlist Duo. Public comments will be heard until Nov. 14, 2014 on possible approval for Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Nebraska Oklahoma, Tennessee and North Dakota.

Review for a product is usually performed after 15 years but for Enlist Duo, a review will be conducted after only six years.

A month ago the U.S. Department of Agriculture gave final approval to Enlist soybeans and corn, crops which have been altered to be able to handle being sprayed with Enlist Duo.

Enlist soybeans and corn and Enlist Duo will be sold as the "Enlist Weed Control System". When used together, Dow and the EPA say, weeds will be killed while crops will survive.

Some farmers faced with increasing problems with weeds, say that they need the tools to prevent weeds from crowding out and starving crops.

The EPA stated that they have reviewed Enlist Duo safety for the third time. The agency said that its scientists have been conservative and cautious in their evaluation of the potential risks, after drawing on a large body of science.

The EPA assures the public that restrictions in place will secure adequate protection for workers, for the public and for endangered species.

Sources:

EPA Approves Dow's Enlist Herbicide for GMOs
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/epa-approves-dow-s-enlist-herb...

EPA Approves 2,4-D Weed Killer Enlist Duo For Engineered Crops
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/10/15/epa-enlist-duo-weed-killer_n_59...

Dow Chemical Enlist Weed Killer Approved for GMO Crops
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-10-15/dow-chemical-enlist-weed-killer...

Visit Jody's website at http://www.ncubator.ca

Reviewed October 17, 2014
by Michele Blacksberg RN

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