Yield reduction
The reason why glyphosate is so widely used is because it is equally safe, when used in accordance with the label instructions, and effective in managing invasive weeds. While alternatives to glyphosate exist, glyphosate’s efficacy remains a critical factor to maintain crops’ good health and productivity.
Weeds compete with planted crops for nutrients, water, oxygen and sunlight and can also be vector for other crop enemies such as insects and diseases. This battle for life between weeds and crops slows down or impedes crops’ growth, therefore threatening a good outcome of the harvest and farmers’ revenues. Glyphosate operates in a very targeted manner to control invasive weeds and preserve farmers’ yields.
For some crops, the effect of a glyphosate phase-out has been estimated. For some key crops in Europe, the impact on harvests would be severe: