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Published online 12 November 2009 | Nature | doi:10.1038/news.2009.1080
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Environmental impact of cocaine strategy assessed
Studies measure effects of glyphosate-based herbicide on wildlife and human health.
A controversial herbicide-spraying programme to tackle cocaine production in Colombia has few adverse environmental impacts. That's the conclusion of a suite of studies that marks the latest chapter in a bitter environmental debate over its benefits and risks — yet the studies' findings are already being challenged.
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I gotta tell you these Solomon studies reek of Monsanto propaganda. Despite all the studies in the past that has found ill effects of glyphosate on humans and amphibians they find no problems.
I also found this part is revealing: "A summary paper of the work highlights the conclusion reached by Solomon and his colleagues — that glyphosate is the lesser evil compared with the bigger impact of coca farming, including deforestation and the use of pesticides". This sounds like they are making a political value judgement and not an objective scientific finding, thus showing their bias. Perhaps this is repayment for Monsanto Canada's sponsorship of the University of Guelph.
Additionally the aerial apraying of defoliant is, as was Monsanto's product Agent Orange, itself driving the deforestation.
I'm always amazed at Monsanto's ability to infiltrate both the scientific community and environmental regulatory bodies.
The greater evil is the continuing demand for cocaine as a drug of abuse. It's is symptom of so much that's wrong in many societies. Growing coca for indigenous traditional and local use is not a problem. "Developed" countries like the USA which have so much cocaine abuse are being bullies by not committing to cleaning up their own populations.
The controversy over the threat to amphibians from glyphosate-based formulations has been on-going for a decade. Ten years of research by several authors has only reinforced one simple fact – polyoxyethylene amine (POEA), the surfactant incorporated into the majority of commercial formulations is moderately toxic to aquatic life, including frog larvae, whether they are South American, North American or Australian frogs. The controversy, at least in regard to amphibians, will likely go away if manufacturers stop using POEA. There are alternatives to POEA that have much lower toxicities.