Farmers’ use of glyphosate has “spiralled out of control”

The toxic herbicide is linked to life-threatening diseases, as well as harming wildlife, as campaigners urge government to phase it out before imposing ban

Glyphosate use in UK farming has risen 1,000%, from 200 metric tonnes in 1990, to over 2,200 tonnes in 2024, PAN UK analysis has revealed. The toxic herbicide is also being spread over a greater area, rising tenfold to over 2.6 million hectares in 2024, despite the emergence of weed resistance attributed to its overapplication.

Additionally, 60 tonnes of glyphosate-based products were used in public places like parks and playgrounds in 2020, rising to at least 543 tonnes in 2024, official government statistics reveal.

Nick Mole, Policy Officer at PAN UK said the figures reveal the UK’s glyphosate “addiction has spiralled out of control…overuse of this toxic chemical is leading to a whole host of problems, yet we continue to spray it on the food we eat and places where our children play.”  

Evidence suggests glyphosate – best known by the brand name, Roundup – could cause irreversible harm to human health with the chemical linked to several cancers and other life-threatening diseases. It also contaminates water and harms wildlife, such as amphibians, bees and other pollinators.

Cathy Cliff, Soil Association Campaign Coordinator, said it is alarming that use of glyphosate is rising in the UK. “The government must act to support farmers to find practical, nature-friendly alternatives that do not pose such a risk to human health. This should start ending glyphosate use as a pre-harvest desiccant, where the chemical is sprayed on the crop just days before its harvested, leaving residues in our food.”

“The government urgently needs to commit to phase out – and ultimately ban – glyphosate...Otherwise, we will all continue to pay the price.”

Mole added, “The government urgently needs to commit to phase out – and ultimately ban – glyphosate...Otherwise, we will all continue to pay the price.”

Martin Lines, CEO of the Nature Friendly Farming Network and an arable farmer said a rise of this scale should be a wake-up call that we are too reliant on one chemical. “We need to drive down use of glyphosate, and…move away from multiple applications on the same field in the same season."

Lines agrees that farmers need “practical alternatives, good advice, and proper incentives from government and the supply chain to drive down pesticide use. And we must avoid simply pushing farmers towards another product, or into excessive cultivation systems that lead to poor outcomes for nature and our soils.”

PAN UK is urging the government not to renew the license for glyphosate when it is due for renewal in mid-December this year. If renewed, the charity argues for restrictions to cut glyphosate use and limit risks to human health and the environment including banning sales to non-professional users like amateur gardeners, and a ban on use in public spaces and in pre-harvest desiccation, which could help the government meet its target to reduce pesticide use and harms in the arable sector by 10% by 2030.

However, Paul Tompkins, NFU Deputy President, expects the license to be renewed for the full 15 year-term. “The NFU has always argued for the regulation of glyphosate to be led by science and evidence…Glyphosate remains an essential tool and is used safely and responsibly by UK farmers to control weeds before planting and is vital due to the popularity of a regenerative, no-till or minimum till approach, practices which are good for climate change mitigation and soil conservation.

“Britain’s farmers will continue to use all the tools available to control weeds in the production of the nation’s high-quality, affordable food.”