From Lawns to Lawsuits: The Expanding Fight over Glyphosate
Glyphosate, the most widely used herbicide in the world and a key ingredient in products like Roundup, is sprayed on farms, roadsides, and home lawns, with residues now being detected in soil, water, and food across the U.S. (Benbrook, 2016; USGS, 2019). For communities already overburdened by pollution and limited healthcare access, this widespread exposure raises serious concerns. Organic gardening offers a safer alternative rooted in human and soil health, biodiversity, and the precautionary principle. This planting season, ACAT urges you to avoid chemicals like glyphosate whenever possible.
President Trump recently issued an executive order invoking the Defense Production Act to prioritize domestic production of glyphosate-based herbicides, claiming they are essential to agriculture and national security and granting certain legal protections to manufacturers (White House). This is happening amid intense litigation over Roundup, the widely used glyphosate-based herbicide product originally made by Monsanto and now owned by Bayer. As of February 2026, Bayer has agreed to a proposed $7.25 billion settlement to resolve thousands of U.S. lawsuits alleging that Roundup caused non-Hodgkin lymphoma, while other plaintiffs continue to challenge the deal and pursue claims in court (Waters Kraus Paul & Siegel). These legal battles, driven by allegations of cancer links, significant jury verdicts, and debates over liability protections, have highlighted the public health concerns tied to glyphosate exposure and amplified criticism that expanding production while shielding manufacturers places chemical industry interests over community well-being.
A constantly growing body of research raises serious concerns about glyphosate’s impacts on human health. In 2015, the International Agency for Research on Cancer classified glyphosate as “probably carcinogenic to humans” (Group 2A), citing evidence of cancer in animal studies and some evidence in humans. Additional studies suggest glyphosate and its formulations may act as endocrine disruptors, interfering with hormone systems that regulate growth and reproduction, and may affect reproductive health even at low levels of exposure (Tajai, 2023; Aoun, 2025). While regulatory debate continues, these findings point to plausible biological pathways through which glyphosate exposure could harm human health and they should not be disregarded.
For home gardeners, there is no good reason to use glyphosate, especially when effective natural solutions exist. In Alaska, mulch is often the simplest and most reliable strategy for weed suppression and soil health. Leaves are the most popular mulch for vegetable gardens because they’re abundant, free, and enrich soil as they break down. Straw also works well, though it usually must be purchased. Wood chips are excellent for perennial beds and pathways but are not ideal around annual vegetables. Additionally, rather than traditional crop rotation, home gardeners can practice bed rotation (planting different crops in each bed each year) and succession planting, using a thoughtful multi-year plan to maintain soil health and manage weeds. Companion planting is another powerful tool; pairing crops that support one another (such as planting flowers to attract pollinators and beneficial insects, or combining plants with different growth habits) can reduce pest pressure, maximize space, and strengthen overall garden resilience. These organic methods protect children, pets, pollinators, and waterways from unnecessary chemical exposure while building healthier, more resilient gardens rooted in environmental justice and community well-being.
Next month, we’ll continue exploring the growing issue of glyphosate contamination and how these chemicals don’t stay put after use. Recent research shows that pesticides can hitch a ride in the atmosphere, meaning contamination can occur far from where the chemical was applied, entering soils, waterways, and food webs through the water cycle and atmospheric transport. These findings highlight the far-reaching, ecosystem-wide implications of widespread herbicide use and underscore the importance of organic practices for protecting environmental and community health (Beyond Pesticides).
By Saoirse McAdams