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Monsanto Co., producer of Roundup® herbicide, has reportedly seen its third-quarter net in-come drop 45 percent. Consumer preference for generic versions of the controversial herbicide is thought to be the cause, and Monsanto is shifting its focus to genetically-altered seeds. Monsanto is already the world's largest seed producer.

This still leaves glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup®, as the most-used herbicide in the world and red flags continue to unfurl as to its dangers.

Don Huber and G.S Johal, scientists from the Botany Department of Purdue University, have published a paper outlining the agricultural impact of widespread glyphosate use.

At this juncture, it is important to understand how glyphosate works. The chemical does not "kill" weeds. It simply works to deprive the targeted plant of essential nutrients, thus shutting down its immune system. This leaves the plant open to attack by ever-present diseases and pathogens. The "killing" is done by naturally occurring organisms.

Huber has been studying glyphosate for 20 years, and has found evidence that the chemical stimulates the growth of fungi that are toxic to plants. He also found that suppressing the natural defenses of plants is making diseases stronger and more virulent. And since glyphosate works by denying nutrients to plants, there are troubling indications that the herbicide may be reducing the nutritional value of food crops by lowering levels of such essential minerals as manganese, zinc and copper. Huber cites the example of a potato crop that could not be used for seed due to excessive levels of glyphosate in the tubers. The crop that had previously occupied the soil was Roundup®-resistant soybeans.

Homeowners and backyard gardeners have organic alternatives to these questionable chemi-cals.

As for our food crops, the response would seem to be to buy as locally and organically as possible.

For more information, visit www.organicconsumers.org.

-Steve Kilbride

Glyphosate, created and marketed by chemical giant Monsanto under the brand name Roun-dup®, is the most- used herbicide worldwide. Monsanto has also developed genetically engineered crops that are impervious to the effects of glyphosate. Ninety percent of our soy and canola crops now fit this description and Monsanto is working on glyphosate-resistant grass seed. There are now reports of "superweeds" that have developed their own resistance to the chemical.

Studies on the toxicity of glyphosate are at an early stage, but some suggest a link to birth de-fects, attention deficit disorder and hormone disruption. Roundup® also contains surfactants and pene-trating agents that have been shown to be toxic to wildlife. The attorney general of New York recently won a judgment against Monsanto for claiming its product was "environmentally safe." Several cities in Canada have banned the "cosmetic use" of Roundup® as it has been shown that up to 25 percent of the chemical can run off the concrete surfaces on which it has been applied.

Thankfully, there are safer alternatives for battling weeds. Organic-based herbicides use a combination of salt, acetic acid (vinegar) and plant and citrus oils to accomplish the task. Since these preparations are "non-selective," care must be taken to keep them away from desirable plants. Salt is especially harmful to plant roots. An organic herbicide for lawns that is growing in popularity is corn gluten meal. Applied in the fall, corn gluten meal acts as a pre-emergent weed killer by inhibiting root formation. It is, however, expensive.

Local organic gardening shop Farmer D's offers a number of organic herbicides. Nature's Avenger® is citrus-oil based and is registered and approved by the Environmental Protection Agency. St.

Gabriel Organics Burn Out 2® contains clove and lemon oils and is another popular choice.

You can visit Farmer D on the Web at: www.farmerd.com, Phone: 404-325-0128.

-Steve Kilbride/i>