The NFU has warned that decisions on the future of glyphosate must remain firmly grounded in science, as pressure mounts from campaigners to ban its use at harvest.
The union has come out strongly in defence of the herbicide, widely used across arable systems, following renewed calls for restrictions on pre-harvest applications.
NFU Deputy President Paul Tompkins said it remains an "essential tool" for farmers and growers.
“Regulatory bodies around the world have consistently assessed the full weight of scientific evidence and found that glyphosate is safe when used responsibly," he said.
“Extensive independent reviews, including thousands of pages of independent expert review, have concluded glyphosate’s safety and any residues found in food are well within strict safety limits. We therefore fully expect a UK review process later this year to renew its approval for a full 15 years.
“Glyphosate remains an essential tool for our farmers and growers and, with the UK’s maritime climate and increasingly unpredictable weather, is used on cereals to make harvesting easier, to control weeds, and reduce disease, and help produce sustainable and affordable food for all.”
His comments came as environmental groups intensify calls for the UK Government to follow the European Union in banning glyphosate as a pre-harvest desiccant – a move already implemented across EU member states in 2023.
A coalition of organisations – including the Soil Association, Greenpeace and the Nature Friendly Farming Network – has called on ministers to end the use of glyphosate as a pre-harvest drying agent, arguing that the practice risks leaving residues in food.
The Soil Association claims that testing of UK cereals has found glyphosate residues in a significant proportion of samples, raising concerns about its presence in staple foods such as bread, breakfast cereals and beer.
Campaigners also point to ongoing scientific debate around the chemical’s safety. Glyphosate was classified as a ‘probable carcinogen’ by the World Health Organisation in 2015, and a recent international review has renewed calls for tighter regulation.
Guy Singh-Watson, founder of organic food business Riverford, said the use of glyphosate close to harvest created a ‘direct route from field to plate’ and called for a transition away from chemical reliance, supported by Government.
However, farming organisations argue that the debate must remain evidence-led and grounded in practical realities on farm.
Without glyphosate, industry representatives warn that farmers could be forced into more intensive cultivation or increased mechanical drying – both of which carry cost and environmental penalties.
Glyphosate is currently approved for use in Great Britain until December, with the Health and Safety Executive expected to undertake a full public consultation as part of the renewal process.
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The review will consider an extensive body of scientific evidence submitted by industry alongside input from farmers, stakeholders and campaign groups.
A UK Government spokesperson said pesticides are only authorised where there is clear evidence that they do not pose unacceptable risks to human health or the environment.
At the same time, ministers have signalled a continued push towards reducing pesticide reliance through integrated pest management.
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