Farmers and environmental campaigners have clashed over the future of pre-harvest glyphosate – and whether it should be used on crops for human consumption
Commonly used as pre-harvest desiccant on cereals and oilseed rape crops, glyphosate has been found to be safe by multiple regulatory reports. But some scientific studies have suggested possible links between glyphosate use and cancer.
Call for action
The Soil Association has called for action on glyphosate residues found in breakfast foods and cereals. In a report published last month, the charity said: “No one wants a chemical linked to cancer in their breakfast.”
Farmer-owned cooperative United Oilseeds responded by releasing data from 767 growers across Great Britain arguing that a ban on pre-harvest use would have economic and environmental consequences.
The clash comes ahead of a consultation by the Health and Safety Executive which will take place later this year before a government decision due by the end of 2026 on whether glyphosate approval should be renewed. The Soil Association says that glyphosate has become embedded in intensive food production. It argues that farming policy should reduce dependence on chemical inputs and accelerate alternative approaches to weed control and crop management.
Complex reality
It points to a study by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, which classified glyphosate as “probably carcinogenic” in 2015. But other regulators – including the HSE – say glyphosate is unlikely to pose a cancer risk when used correctly.
United Oilseeds says the on-farm reality is complex, especially in Britain’s maritime climate where short harvest windows make even crop ripening difficult. Some 76 per cent of growers say they rely on glyphosate to desiccate oilseed rape before harvest. Two-thirds of rape growers say they would suffer greater crop losses without glyphosate losses – reducing domestic production and increasing reliance on imported food produced to lower standards.
Colin McGregor, a Scottish farmer and director at United Oilseeds, said: “If pre-harvest glyphosate is removed and harvests are pushed later, the whole system starts to break down. It means higher costs, more fuel use, more drying, and ultimately higher food prices. In some areas, it could make crops like oilseed rape unviable.”
Farmers also argue removing glyphosate could increase ploughing and cultivation, potentially undermining gains in soil health and carbon reduction linked to reduced tillage systems.
Country Land and Business Association president Gavin Lane said: “Its future should continue to be guided by UK authorities, informed by independent science and engagement with industry and other stakeholders.”