Killing Aspen : The Glyphosate Debate February 2020

Summary: Glyphosate is an herbicide which is marketed under the commercial name of Roundup. Originally created by the Monsanto Corporation, now owned by Bayer, it is the most widely used weed-killer in Canada. It's sprayed on major food crops like corn, soy and wheat. It's also widely used in forestry and land management, as it kills off undergrowth and larger trees like Aspen. Conifer trees however are immune to the pesticide, so they are able to thrive. That's good for Canada's lumber industry. But some experts in forest management say the killing of broadleaf trees is actually helping to spread forest fires. And one wildlife biologist in New Brunswick says glyphosate is harmful to animals and probably responsible for killing off the deer herds. Meanwhile, Health Canada says it's perfectly safe.