13. Esa Bestia llamada Glifosato (Parte 1)

Patented in 1964 as a metal descaling agent for boilers and pipes, glyphosate was only used massively as a herbicide starting in 1996 with the advent of genetically modified corn and soy crops. It became the best-selling agrochemical in human history. Glyphosate revolutionized the agricultural industry, popularizing no-till farming like never before and relegating the plow to a museum rather than a field. It drastically reduced mechanical soil erosion and fuel consumption by tractors. It lowered production costs, driving cereal, oilseed, and forage production volumes to record highs. It dramatically reduced production costs and the amount of labor required for tillage. However, it also triggered a series of environmental and health problems that are under constant review and spark fierce debates among regulatory agencies, manufacturers, and independent scientists trying to expose these harmful effects. In this first installment, we also describe glyphosate's herbicidal mechanism of action through the inhibition of the shikimate pathway. We detail its detrimental effects on soils, through mineral depletion and soil dysbiosis. Finally, we describe the different routes of entry into the human body and lay the groundwork for discussing its tremendous effects on our health.