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Enlist Weed Control System

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The Enlist Weed Control System is an agricultural system that includes seeds for genetically modified crops that are resistant to Enlist (a herbicide with two active agents, 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and glyphosate) and the Enlist herbicide; spraying the herbicide will kill weeds but not the resulting crop.[1][2] The system was developed by Dow AgroSciences, part of Dow Chemical Company.[1] In October 2014 the system was registered for restricted use in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin by the US Environmental Protection Agency.[3] In 2013, the system was approved by Canada for the same uses[4]

The Enlist approach was developed to replace the "Roundup-Ready" system that was introduced in 1996 by Monsanto and which has become less useful with the rise of glyphosate-resistant weeds.[1]

Enlist Duo

Enlist Duo is an herbicide that contains the choline form of 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and glyphosate plus an unknown number of unlisted ingredients. Dow added chemicals to the mixture in what it termed "Colex-D technology" intended to reduce physical drift, ultraviolet volatility and odor and to improve handling.[5]

2,4-D is one of the most widely used herbicides in the world.[6][7] 2,4-D is volatile and by EPA assessment is a hazardous air pollutant that is difficult to contain. The possibility of herbicide drift is why Dow developed the Colex-D technology, which according to their experiments, significantly reduces drift and damage from evaporation.[8] As of 2013 glyphosate was the world's largest-selling herbicide, with sales driven by glyphosate-resistant genetically modified crops.[9]

Other countries assessing the system include Brazil, Argentina and various food importing countries.[10]

Enlist crops

As of April 2014 maize and soybeans resistant to 2,4-D and glyphosate had been approved in Canada,[10] and in September 2014 the USDA approved the same two crops.[11][12]

Criticism

2,4-D was one of the main ingredients of Agent Orange, a defoliant used during the Vietnam War that was blamed for many health problems.[13] According to a Reuters article the main health problems arose from dioxin contamination created in the synthesis of the other Agent Orange component, 2,4,5-T, not only from 2,4,-D.[14]

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has moved to rescind its approval of use — in part due to conflicting claims: (1) to the EPA about the unchanged harmlessness of the combination of the two defoliants' and (2) those in the Patent application asserting the enhanced "synergistic effect."[15]

References

  1. ^ a b c Carey Gilliam (March 10, 2014). "As Dow seeks growth, new Enlist crop/chemicals seen as key". Reuters. Retrieved May 3, 2014.
  2. ^ "USDA Releases Draft Environmental Impact Statement on Dow's Enlist". American Agriculturist. January 3, 2014. Retrieved May 3, 2014.
  3. ^ "Enlist Duo approved in six states, with restrictions". Delta Farm Press. October 15, 2014. Retrieved October 17, 2014.
  4. ^ EPA (October 2014). "Registration of Enlist Duo". EPA. Environmental Protection Agency. Retrieved October 17, 2014.
  5. ^ "EPA to Consider Comments on Registration of Enlist Duo Herbicide". Farm Futures. May 1, 2014. Retrieved May 3, 2014.
  6. ^ von Stackelberg K. A Systematic Review of Carcinogenic Outcomes and Potential Mechanisms from Exposure to 2,4-D and MCPA in the Environment. J Toxicol. 2013;2013:371610. PMID 23533401 PMC 3600329
  7. ^ Andrew Pollack for the New York Times. April 9, 2012 E.P.A. Denies an Environmental Group’s Request to Ban a Widely Used Weed Killer
  8. ^ Josh Flint for Prairie Farmer. August 31, 2011 Dow AgroSciences Names Its Newest Herbicide Offering Enlist Duo
  9. ^ China Research & Intelligence, June 5, 2013. Research Report on Global and China Glyphosate Industry, 2013-2017
  10. ^ a b Donna Fleury (April 2014). "Enlist weed control system in Canada. A new tool for managing hard to control and resistant weeds". AG Annex. Retrieved May 3, 2014.
  11. ^ Brandon Keim (25 September 2014). "New Generation of GM Crops Puts Agriculture in a 'Crisis Situation'". Wired. Condé Nast. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
  12. ^ ISAAA GM Approval Database GM Approval Database Genes List, Gene: aad1. International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA), n.d. accessed February 27, 2015
  13. ^ "2,4-D General Fact Sheet". National Pesticide Information Center. Retrieved 15 December 2015.
  14. ^ "Dow's Controversial New GMO Corn Delayed Amid Protests". Reuters. 2013.
  15. ^ Charles, Dan (November 25, 2015). "Busted: EPA discovers DOW weedkiller claim; wants it off the market". National Public Radio. Retrieved November 25, 2015.
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