Therese Coffey statement on pesticide use risks environment impact of regenerative farming

Glyphosate is “absolutely fine” to use and is “critical for regenerative farming”, the environment secretary, Therese Coffey, has said.

In a statement delivered this week to the National Farmers Union on the promotion of British meat and dairy products, Therese Coffey expressed her support for use of the herbicide within regenerative agriculture.

Glyphosate is a weedkiller widely used in agriculture and horticulture. Its use has grown by 16% between 2016 and 2020, despite ongoing campaigns highlighting its damaging effects on the environment and human health.

Data indicates that the majority of farmers who keep soil disturbance to a minimum, many of whom claim to follow regenerative practices, rely on herbicides such as glyphosate as a means of weed control, says Eating Better alliance member Friends of The Earth. ?They report that this is a direct conflict on the principles of regenerative agriculture as application of herbicides such as glyphosate can damage soil health by harming the biological and chemical properties of soil which allow it to be productive.?

As laid out in Eating Better’s Sourcing Better Framework, farming should support the health and fertility of soils as part of producing ‘better’. With 95% of global food supplies directly or indirectly produced on soil, the ground beneath our feet is key to feeding us, supporting biodiversity and storing huge amounts of carbon. The potential impacts of glyphosate on soil health present significant challenges to the sustainability of food production. Regenerative agriculture, although officially undefined, is based on the principle of restoring and enhancing the health of ecosystems. The use of a herbicide with such potentially damaging impacts therefore, is contradictory.?

Eating Better alliance member, The Soil Association highlights that glyphosate, along with other herbicides and pesticides, can have negative health outcomes. In 2015, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) labelled glyphosate as “probably carcinogenic”. While no consensus has been reached on its health impacts, studies have found that glyphosate can interfere with various organs and biochemical pathways, causing a variety of acute and chronic illnesses in mammals, as explored by Pesticide Action Network UK.?

In light of Coffey’s statement, Sustainable Food Places highlights that while terms such as ‘regenerative agriculture’ remain without certification, we must ensure that the principles of the practice do not become diluted and misinterpreted. In order for our farmers to deliver on climate and health targets, such as reducing pesticide and herbicide use, support and clarity must be provided. The Eating Better ‘Better by Half’ Roadmap calls on the government to provide incentives and support farmers so they can transition to better farming practices, delivering public benefits for health and the environment.??

Sustainable Food Places , Soil Association , Pesticide Action Network UK , Friends of the Earth , Sustain: The alliance for better food and farming , IARC - International Agency for Research on Cancer / World Health Organization