Jane Goodall amplifies glyphosate fears in interview with university newspaper

The GLP aggregated and excerpted this blog/article to reflect the diversity of news, opinion and analysis.

In July 1960, Jane Goodall raveled from England to Gombe National Park in Tanzania, where she began what would become her lifelong project and passion: a 55-year study of social and family interactions of wild chimpanzees. Now 81 years old, Goodall spends most of her time speaking about conservation and humanitarian issues as a United Nations Messenger of Peace. Goodall came to College Hill to give a talk sponsored by the Brown Lecture Board. Before the lecture, Goodall spoke to The Herald about her role as a conservationist and leading chimpanzee expert.

[Editor’s note: Here is a relevant selection from the interview]

How has climate change impacted the causes you’ve fought for over your lifetime? 

Climate change is affecting everything, and soon it’s going to affect even more. The causes of climate change are so numerous and intertwined, and just in general we have to change the way we think.

The thing that I’m very passionate about right now is genetically-modified organisms. For example, Roundup is the most widely used herbicide in the world, and just recently a doctor discovered that the main ingredient of Roundup, glyphosate, causes cancer. You see, before genetically-modified crops were made to withstand Roundup, the crops were sprayed only twice a year. They couldn’t do it more because it would harm the crop you were trying to grow, and it would kill most of the weeds. But once they were able to produce a plant that you could spray with Roundup, then they used five times more — that’s five times more cancer-producing element out in the air. This is very scary to me.

Read full, original post: Q&A: Goodall reflects on memories from 55-year study

{{ reviewsTotal }}{{ options.labels.singularReviewCountLabel }}
{{ reviewsTotal }}{{ options.labels.pluralReviewCountLabel }}
{{ options.labels.newReviewButton }}
{{ userData.canReview.message }}
screenshot at  pm

Are pesticide residues on food something to worry about?

In 1962, Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring drew attention to pesticides and their possible dangers to humans, birds, mammals and the ...
glp menu logo outlined

Newsletter Subscription

* indicates required
Email Lists
glp menu logo outlined

Get news on human & agricultural genetics and biotechnology delivered to your inbox.