Roundup on Roundup

Glyphosate is a toxic ingredient in Monsanto’s chemical herbicide, Roundup and is used on corn and soya crops. A Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) senior researcher (Dr. Seneff) has strongly correlated its use to the epidemic we’re seeing in autism, Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, infertility, celiac disease, and other intestinal disorders.

Glyphosate interferes with biological pathways and as a result kills our beneficial gut bacteria. Plants are killed through the action of glyphosate by interfering with the synthesis of aromatic amino acids through the shikimate pathway. Although our cells don’t have the shikimate pathway, bacteria and other microorganisms like fungi and parasites do possess it, therefore bacteria within our microbiota are disrupted; explaining the correlation between its use and epidemic disease.

In fact, Dr. Seneff is suggesting that Monsanto’s pesticides are the most likely cause to the current estimation that one in every two US children will be autistic in 2025.

Glyphosate-tolerant soyabean is the most widespread GM (genetically modified) crop and has been linked to diseases in farm pigs. A Danish pig farmer (Ib Borup Perderson) has described how his pigs suffered from chronic diarrhoea, birth defects, fertility problems, stomach ulcers and weaker, smaller piglets. After switching to a diet free from GM-soyabean he saw drastic improvements in the overall health of his herd and also farm profitability.

These findings highlight the growing concerns associated with chemical herbicides and GM crops threatening public and animal health. We can avoid this through supporting real farms and not the animal factories which call for industrial use of toxic chemicals and practices.

Read more at The Open Mind and Dr. Seneffs’ presentation, ‘Is Roundup the Toxic Chemical That’s Making Us All Sick?’

For further scientific information on glyphosate and its role within agriculture see the Danish Centre for Food and Agricultures memorandum. Finally, you can read Ib Borup Perdersons’ story here.