Department of Agriculture Secretary Perdue Stands Behind the Science and Safety of Roundup®
On April 9, 2019, Department of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue defended the safety and science of Roundup® products during a U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations hearing. Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD) also emphasized the importance of Roundup® products, which has been a critical tool in agriculture.
Secretary Perdue stated that the loss of Roundup® would be “devastating” to American agriculture and productivity worldwide.
“I think much of the productivity increases you’ve seen over the last 25 years, since these types of crop protection chemicals have been out, have been almost exponential in that way. If we are going to feed 9 to 10 billion people by 2050, we’re going to need all of the tools at our disposal,” he said.
Secretary Perdue also emphasized that the Department of Agriculture tries to advocate for sound science and good scientific discovery, and that the National Institutes of Health and others have indicated that there is no health risk from glyphosate. Additionally, he said that Roundup® works on the product not wanted – the weeds – rather than the crop that is produced.
“We are concerned. All we can do is continue to communicate with what we think the truth of the science does. The EPA certainly has the ultimate responsibility of approving or disproving these chemicals. We work with them in helping them to have the research they need to make the best decisions in that regard.”