The Farmer's Daughter USA

Hi, I'm Amanda! My family farms corn and soybeans in Southwest Michigan. I'm also a practicing attorney.

  • Home
  • Blog
  • Work with Me
    • Speaking
    • Giveaways
    • Social Media Consulting
    • Sponsored and Guest Posts
  • About Me
    • Media
    • Terms of Use

Scientists have developed a “simple” method for detecting glyphosate in food. But do we need it?

June 11, 2020

German scientists have developed a “quick and simple” way to test food and water for glyphosate residues. The researchers from Leipzig University wanted to develop a method of testing that was easier than the costly laboratory methods currently used. So they developed a method that uses the natural reaction of glyphosate in plants, making it highly specific, as well as quick and simple.

The university is currently seeking a patent for the detection method, and is courting companies to take it to the market. The method’s scientific basis will be published in the October 2020 edition of Biosensors and Bioelectronics.

Why do we need this? The answer is: we don’t.

Glyphosate, the active ingredient in Round-Up, has long been a boogeyman for activists. It’s association with genetically modified crops (the first GMOs were resistant to the herbicide) made it a convenient target for those with an agenda against biotechnology. And so they’ve spent years convincing the general public that glyphosate is dangerous.

And to a large extent they succeeded. The first major win was IARC’s–highly questionable–designation of glyphosate as a probable carcinogen. Despite numerous scientific bodies around the world disputing that decision, the designation launched thousands of lawsuits against Monsanto, Round-Up’s original manufacturer. No doubt we’ve all seen advertisements on television and online recruiting new plaintiffs to file suit.

The anti-glyphosate campaigns didn’t end there. There are regularly “reports” from groups like the Environmental Working Group warning consumers about the presence of glyphosate in their food (and asking for a donation). From coffee creamers to breast milk, there’s always another headline.

Of course, what those reports and headlines don’t tell us is that there’s nothing to be worried about. Glyphosate is harmless to humans. More importantly, any glyphosate residue found in foods is so small it’s insignificant. The boogeyman has no teeth!

But soon we’ll have a simple and quick method of testing everything under the sun for glyphosate residue. The results will be meaningless. The harm will be fake. Yet I’m confident there are companies and activist groups prepared to cash in.

So congratulations to the scientists who developed this test. Unfortunately, your time and research has been wasted on something that won’t do anything to improve the lives of millions of people. In fact, it will likely do the opposite.

signature
Share this:
«
»

Filed Under: Production Methods Tagged With: glyphosate, pesticides, science

Comments

  1. Dave says

    June 11, 2020 at 5:07 pm

    Have any organizations looked for residues from other pesticides? For example, do they look for pesticides used in organic farming or is glyphosate pretty much the only one they’re looking for?

    • Amanda says

      June 11, 2020 at 8:38 pm

      Good question! Steve Savage, a food scientist, has done some work on this and written about it in the past. Here’s one of his articles.

  2. Tom Younker says

    June 26, 2020 at 1:28 pm

    My comments never seem to be approved, but at least someone will be made aware — the shikimate pathway is found in gut microbes which are essential and integral to human health. Disrupt them, and the health of the human is disrupted.

    • Amanda says

      June 26, 2020 at 1:41 pm

      I’ve never seen a comment by you before. But when you spew bs like you did here, I’m not going to give your comment my platform.

Hi, I'm Amanda. My family farms corn and soybeans in Southwest Michigan. I'm an attorney and I'm passionate about agriculture!

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Subscribe via Email

Archives

Latest on Facebook

The Farmer's Daughter

4 days ago

The Farmer's Daughter

When you just make 💩 up, it makes it hard to keep things straight. 🙄

... See MoreSee Less

RFK Jr. promoted a food company he says will make Americans healthy. Their meals are ultraprocessed

apnews.com

Health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. raved in social media posts on Monday about the $7-a-pop meals that are delivered directly to the homes of Medicaid and Medicare enrollees.

View on Facebook

·
Share



Share on Facebook



Share on Twitter



Share on Linked In



Share by Email

The Farmer's Daughter

3 weeks ago

The Farmer's Daughter

My latest for AGDAILY is an early take on how Brookes Rollins work at the helm of USDA.

... See MoreSee Less

Is Rollins delivering for family farmers? A report card on her USDA work | AGDAILY

www.agdaily.com

Brooke Rollins is off to a mixed start: she moved quickly to address the avian flu crisis, but she has failed to stand up for farmers against the MAHA movement.

View on Facebook

·
Share



Share on Facebook



Share on Twitter



Share on Linked In



Share by Email

The Farmer's Daughter

2 months ago

The Farmer's Daughter

You can't and won't make America healthy by blaming and hindering our family farmers.

... See MoreSee Less

MAHA Report delivers scathing assessment of farm pesticides | AGDAILY

www.agdaily.com

The new MAHA report, led by Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., links pesticides to rising childhood illness, already drawing criticism from farm groups.

View on Facebook

·
Share



Share on Facebook



Share on Twitter



Share on Linked In



Share by Email

The Farmer's Daughter

2 months ago

The Farmer's Daughter

Do you a plan for your estate? My latest for AGDAILY focuses on potential changes to the federal estate tax.

... See MoreSee Less

Perspective: A farmer's legacy shouldn't be a tax nightmare for their kin

www.agdaily.com

For farm families, estate taxes aren’t just an abstract policy debate -- they’re a very real threat to generational farms and the livelihoods they support.

View on Facebook

·
Share



Share on Facebook



Share on Twitter



Share on Linked In



Share by Email

The Farmer's Daughter

2 months ago

The Farmer's Daughter

If nothing else, this should keep you up at night. Every snake oil salesman is now in charge of HHS.

... See MoreSee Less

How RFK Jr. Is Boosting ‘Food Babe’ and Other MAHA Acolytes

www.wsj.com

The health and human services secretary has elevated lightly regulated wellness companies and allowed advisers to keep investments, after vowing to end conflicts of interest.

View on Facebook

·
Share



Share on Facebook



Share on Twitter



Share on Linked In



Share by Email

Latest on Instagram

Amanda Zaluckyj

thefarmersdaughterusa

Amanda | The Farmer's Daughter USA
I'm a proud farmer's daughter & advocate for modern agriculture. U.S. farmers are leaders in sustainability.

Perusing my photos from #Denmark and getting the i Perusing my photos from #Denmark and getting the itch to travel again.
These concepts aren't mutually exclusive. #farms # These concepts aren't mutually exclusive. #farms #farmfamily #environment #soilhealth #nutritiousfood
Stop worrying about labels and just eat them! Stop worrying about labels and just eat them!
Corn is a powerhouse! #corn #farming #growcorn # Corn is a powerhouse! 

#corn #farming #growcorn #USAGrown #usagriculture
Happy St. Patrick's Day! 🍀 Happy St. Patrick's Day! 🍀
The blood moon. 🌙 And proof I woke up at 2:15 a The blood moon. 🌙 And proof I woke up at 2:15 am to see it!
3 years. 💔 #slavaukraini #supporukraine #ukrai 3 years. 💔

#slavaukraini #supporukraine #ukraine #glorytoukraine🇺🇦
Mischa will not suffer a snowman in her yard. ❄️☃️

#dogslife #dogsofinstagram #blacklab #pittiemix #snowday #snowman
We all know RFK, Jr. is well known for vaccine dis We all know RFK, Jr. is well known for vaccine disinformation. But he's also a danger to agriculture, even promising to "weaponize" regulatory agencies against our farm families.

#rfk #farmersdaughter #farmers #conspiracytheories #puremichiganfarm #rfkjr
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Copyright © 2025 · Website Design By Jumping Jax Designs