In a message dated 3/11/2012 4:56:08 P.M. Central Daylight Time,  
[log in to unmask] writes:

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2012/03/11/148290731/why-monsanto-thought-w
eeds-would-never-defeat-roundup
Why Monsanto Thought Weeds Would Never Defeat Roundup
EDITED


Why didn't Monsanto's scientists foresee that weeds would become  resistant 
to glyphosate, the weed-killing chemical in their Roundup?


In 1993, when Monsanto asked the USDA to approve RR soybeans, it  dispensed 
with the issue of potential resistant weeds. It told the agency that  
"glyphosate is considered to be a herbicide with low risk for weed  resistance."
The company also wrote that several scientists agreed "that it is highly  
unlikely that weed resistance to glyphosate will become a problem as a result 
 of the commercialization of glyphosate-tolerant soybeans."

Oops. Since then, resistance to glyphosate has emerged in 20  different 
weed species.

I called up several Monsanto [employees]. Why didn't people there think  
resistance would happen?
The company's scientists had just spent more than a decade, and many  
millions of dollars, trying to create the RR plants that they desperately  wanted 
- soybeans and cotton and corn.  Considering how hard it had been  to 
create those [Roundup-tolerant] crops, "the thinking was, it would be  really 
difficult for weeds to become tolerant" to Roundup.
- - - - - - -  - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To 
unsubscribe from the  CONS-SPST-BIOTECH-FORUM list, send any message to:  
[log in to unmask] Check out our  Listserv 
Lists support site for more information:  
http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/faq.asp To view the Sierra Club List Terms  & Conditions, see:  
http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/terms.asp



- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
To unsubscribe from the IOWA-TOPICS list, send any message to:
[log in to unmask]

Check out our Listserv Lists support site for more information:
http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/faq.asp

To view the Sierra Club List Terms & Conditions, see:
 http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/terms.asp