SAFE FOR FOOD. WHY NOT TREES?
The current political debate targets one chemical, one industry. The chemical is commonly known as Round Up and the targeted industry is forestry which employs over 20,000 hardworking New Brunswickers. It is used a maximum of twice in 40 years in forestry on planted areas only.
96% of glyphosate used in Canada is in agriculture. It can be bought in many hardware stores and it is approved by Health Canada.
Most farmers, golf courses and homeowners don’t have to register the type or volume of chemicals used. Forestry does.
How can glyphosate be safe on over 100 food crops but not on trees? It doesn’t make sense. So why are some political parties just targeting one sector?
We would hope that public policy in New Brunswick would be guided by Health Canada recommendations.
It’s time to take the politics out of spraying and rely on science.
LET THE COMMITTEE’S WORK CONTINUE
In February of 2020 an all-party Committee of the New Brunswick Legislature - the Climate Change and Environmental Stewardship Committee – began its study of all sprays, all uses on all land (including glyphosate). Their work is transparent and includes public consultation. It just makes sense. Let’s get this right and let the committee complete its work.
Find out more about the committee below:
Study
ALL Chemical usage on
ALL New Brunswick Land
NEW BRUNSWICK LAND USE
HERBICIDE USE
UNDERSTANDING FORESTRY IN NB
CLICK HEREDIVERSE FORESTS BENEFIT ALL OF US.
New Brunswick forest composition is unchanged over the last 60 years.
Softwood dominance is a natural condition.
The diversity of our forests benefit wildlife and our industry.
Softwood seedlings are planted where softwood naturally grows.
75% of harvested areas regenerate naturally to softwood, hardwood or mixed wood.
Planted areas grow 4X more wood than naturally regenerated softwood.
MORE JOBS - MORE CO2 STORED - MORE CONSERVATION AREA
85% of New Brunswick is forested today
1.2% is harvested each year
0.3% is planted each year
<14% of crown land is planted today
At the maximum, 20% will be planted
0.5% is treated with herbicide each year
Herbicides are used to reduce competing vegetation to give planted seedlings a chance to grow.
The herbicide we commonly use is glyphosate.
Without controlling competition for planted seedlings with a herbicide like glyphosate, 70% of planted seedlings will not survive.
Herbicides are used once or twice in the 40 year life cycle.
WHO APPROVES GLYPHOSATE?
UNDERSTANDING IARC CLASSIFICATIONS IN EVERYDAY LIFE
IN MARCH, 2015 THE INTERNATIONAL AGENCY FOR RESEARCH ON CANCER (IARC) LABELED GLYPHOSATE AS “2A – PROBABLE HUMAN CARCINOGEN”.
GROUP 1: CARCINOGENIC TO HUMANS
GROUP 2A: PROBABLY CARCINOGENIC TO HUMANS
REFERENCES AND STATEMENTS
GLYPHOSATE USE IN CANADA
GLYPHOSATE IS USED ON MORE THAN 100 DIFFERENT FOOD CROPS
“...has concluded its regulatory review of glyphosate. After a thorough review of the best available science, EPA has concluded that there are no risks of concern to human health when glyphosate is used according to the label and that it is not a carcinogen.”
“Our scientists left no stone unturned in conducting this review. No pesticide agency in the world, currently considers glyphosate to be a cancer risk to humans at the level at which humans are currently exposed.”
“...glyphosate is unlikely to pose a carcinogenic risk to humans from exposure through the diet.”
EPA
HEALTH CANADA
WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION
January 30, 2020
January 11, 2019
January 30, 2020
READ MOREREAD MOREREAD MOREPESTICIDE USE IN
FORESTRY VERSUS
AGRICULTURE PER
ACRE OVER 40 YEARS
GLYPHOSATE IN FOOD
What if I eat blueberries that are sprayed in the forest?
In 2017 the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) detected glyphosate
in 29.7% of food sampled in Canada.
READ MORE
