Journal or Publishing Institution: Revista del Centro de Investigaciones Económicas, Administrativas y Sociales del Instituto Politécnico Nacional
Study: https://web.archive.org/web/20180825172219/http://repositorio.flacsoandes.edu.ec/handle/10469/7000
Author(s): Ritterman, J.
Article Type: Report
Record ID: 2076
Abstract: Latin America is a key area for the expansion of genetically modified agriculture. Monsanto’s herbicide, Roundup, with glyphosate as its active ingredient, is heavily sprayed as an essential part of the GM model. Since half of Monsanto’s revenue comes from its Roundup products, the company has a significant investment in promoting glyphosate’s safety, as well as its effectiveness. Throughout Latin America, communities have suffered increases in birth defects, cancer, and other serious illnesses as a direct result of glyphosate spraying. An Argentine scientist, Dr. Andrés Carrasco, reproduced in the laboratory the identical glyphosate-induced birth defects that doctors report from agricultural areas. Beyond conclusively establishing causality, he was able to demonstrate exactly how the glyphosate causes the birth defects. The herbicide disturbs an important enzyme pathway that is present in all vertebrates, making all animals with backbones vulnerable to birth defects from glyphosate exposure during embryonic development. Glyphosate also damages DNA, and is closely linked to cancer. A number of chronic illnesses are associated with glyphosate. There is also good reason to believe that glyphosate may be the root cause of a fatal kidney epidemic ravaging much of Central America. Monsanto and its main backer, the United States government, continue to maintain that glyphosate is safe, despite the overwhelming amount of scientific evidence proving otherwise.
Keywords: Monsanto, Glyphosate, Birth Defects, Chronic Kidney Disease, Genetic Engineering, Biotechnology, Latin America, Agriculture, Genetically Modified Agriculture, Roundup, Herbicide, Argentina, Enzyme Disruption, Embryonic Development, DNA Damage
Citation: Ritterman, J., 2015. América Latina y Monsanto (Fundamentos y Debate). Revista del Centro de Investigaciones Económicas, Administrativas y Sociales del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, 10(35), pp.5-20.
