A local organic farmer has applauded the restriction of the sale of a popular herbicide in a number of countries.
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But a Riverina farmer says a ban in Australia could lead to people using more dangerous poisons.
Glyphosate is the active ingredient in broad-spectrum weed killers, such as Round Up, which is the most widely used knock-down herbicide for both agricultural and residential use.
France is the latest country to ban the sale of glyphosate, however, there are no plans in Australia to restrict its use.
The ban comes after the World Health Organisation released a report linking the herbicide to Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.
Eat Local Movement founder Pennie Scott said a shift in thinking is needed in the agricultural industry.
“Agriculture companies have been making these deadly ‘silver bullet’ fixes for decades with shocking consequences,” Ms Scott said.
“Massive farms growing the one type of plant creates lower biodiversity levels than a desert.
“Increasing biodiversity is the key to creating healthy farming.”
An agronomist from Maxwell, between Mangoplah and Wagga, Don Kirkpatrick said glyphosate was the most important ag chemical in broad acre farming.
“Glyphosate is as safe as it gets if used wisely with the right equipment,” Mr Kirkpatrick said.
“There are so many more chemicals out there that are much more dangerous in the ag sector.
“Farmers would be in an enormous amount of trouble (if glyphosate was banned).
“Australia has very stringent controls on the use of chemicals.”
Ms Scott said everything that grows in the ground has a purpose.
“We have capeweed – we harvest it and feed it to our pigs. Everything is used.”