Photo: Cheatgrass, southwest Montana. © 2020 Delena Norris-Tull
How Research on Herbicides and Other Pesticides is Funded
Summaries and commentary by Dr. Delena Norris-Tull, Professor Emerita of Science Education, University of Montana Western, October 2020.
The US EPA is responsible for approving herbicides and pesticides for use in the United States. In order for a product to be approved, and thus registered for use, the EPA has to conclude that the product, when used according to the label instructions, is not likely to cause “unreasonable adverse effects to humans or the environment.” The chemical company is required to provide data on the product related to potential toxicity to mammals, soil residues, potential exposure in food and drinking water, any cumulative effects of the product, its safety for infants, children and adults, and its potential impacts on immune and endocrine systems.
In my 2017 interview with Slade Franklin, Wyoming Department of Agriculture Weed and Pest Coordinator:, he told me, “The EPA requires the agrochemical companies to conduct their own research to prove the safety of their chemicals. The companies give grants to university scientists to conduct the research.”
In 2017, I interviewed Dr. Scott Nissen, Colorado State University Weed Scientist. He said his current research is focused on the genetics of invasive species, and the selective pressures created by herbicides, that are changing the populations of invasive species.“Each chemical company funds the research on their own products…
“DuPont made a $1 billion dollar mistake with the label on aminocyclopentane. They labeled it for safe use on golf courses, but people were using it on shrubs and trees. It killed the shrubs and trees. DuPont had to pay to replace the trees. Pine and spruce were particularly susceptible to aminocyclopentane.
“We’re interested in looking at soil persistence of herbicides, and impacts of herbicides on non-target species. Shannon Clark Is doing research that looks on whether Indaziflam impacts native forbs, as we are particularly concerned about potential impacts on pollinators.
“Currently, I am working on research on herbicides that are effective with invasive aquatic plant species. I work with BASF [a German chemical company]. I get funding for research primarily from smaller herbicide chemical companies that have little funding for research. Almost all the herbicide research is funded by the chemical industry….
“For the past four years,… I’m now doing work on cheatgrass management…. In 2010, we were using the herbicide Alion [Indaziflam; which is formulated with 2,4-D, dicamba, mecoprop, and penoxsulam], which was developed for California vineyards and orchards. We noticed that downy brome was listed on the label as one of the grass weeds this herbicide would kill. So we did research to show that this herbicide also kills brome on rangeland and pasture land in Colorado. It provides long-term control, and has the potential to eradicate downy brome. It can eliminate the seed bank for this species in four years, possibly with only one application. The research on this is funded by the Bayer Company.”
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How Research on Herbicides and Other Pesticides is Funded
Summaries and commentary by Dr. Delena Norris-Tull, Professor Emerita of Science Education, University of Montana Western, October 2020.
The US EPA is responsible for approving herbicides and pesticides for use in the United States. In order for a product to be approved, and thus registered for use, the EPA has to conclude that the product, when used according to the label instructions, is not likely to cause “unreasonable adverse effects to humans or the environment.” The chemical company is required to provide data on the product related to potential toxicity to mammals, soil residues, potential exposure in food and drinking water, any cumulative effects of the product, its safety for infants, children and adults, and its potential impacts on immune and endocrine systems.
In my 2017 interview with Slade Franklin, Wyoming Department of Agriculture Weed and Pest Coordinator:, he told me, “The EPA requires the agrochemical companies to conduct their own research to prove the safety of their chemicals. The companies give grants to university scientists to conduct the research.”
In 2017, I interviewed Dr. Scott Nissen, Colorado State University Weed Scientist. He said his current research is focused on the genetics of invasive species, and the selective pressures created by herbicides, that are changing the populations of invasive species.“Each chemical company funds the research on their own products…
“DuPont made a $1 billion dollar mistake with the label on aminocyclopentane. They labeled it for safe use on golf courses, but people were using it on shrubs and trees. It killed the shrubs and trees. DuPont had to pay to replace the trees. Pine and spruce were particularly susceptible to aminocyclopentane.
“We’re interested in looking at soil persistence of herbicides, and impacts of herbicides on non-target species. Shannon Clark Is doing research that looks on whether Indaziflam impacts native forbs, as we are particularly concerned about potential impacts on pollinators.
“Currently, I am working on research on herbicides that are effective with invasive aquatic plant species. I work with BASF [a German chemical company]. I get funding for research primarily from smaller herbicide chemical companies that have little funding for research. Almost all the herbicide research is funded by the chemical industry….
“For the past four years,… I’m now doing work on cheatgrass management…. In 2010, we were using the herbicide Alion [Indaziflam; which is formulated with 2,4-D, dicamba, mecoprop, and penoxsulam], which was developed for California vineyards and orchards. We noticed that downy brome was listed on the label as one of the grass weeds this herbicide would kill. So we did research to show that this herbicide also kills brome on rangeland and pasture land in Colorado. It provides long-term control, and has the potential to eradicate downy brome. It can eliminate the seed bank for this species in four years, possibly with only one application. The research on this is funded by the Bayer Company.”
Next Section:
To return to previous sections on herbicides: