National Security in Focus: Trump Seeks to Safeguard Glyphosate Production for U.S. Farmers
Trump wants to secure glyphosate production for US farmers - Trump's Executive Order Shields Glyphosate as Vital to US Security
Glyphosate remains a contentious issue, with thousands of U.S. lawsuits continuing to plague its manufacturer, Bayer. Now, the White House has classified the herbicide as indispensable to national security.
The controversial weedkiller glyphosate has been granted special status in the United States to ensure adequate supply for American agriculture. On Wednesday (local time), U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order designating phosphate and glyphosate-based herbicides as critical to national security and food security. The order aims to guarantee sufficient domestic production.
Among the world's largest producers of glyphosate is the German agrochemical giant Bayer, headquartered in Leverkusen, through its U.S. subsidiary Monsanto—whose flagship glyphosate product, Roundup, has been a major revenue driver. Asian manufacturers also produce glyphosate-based herbicides.
A Bayer spokesperson stated that the order underscores "the urgent need for U.S. farmers to have access to essential, domestically produced crop protection tools like glyphosate." The company pledged to comply with the directive.
Trump's order notes that the U.S. currently has only one domestic producer of glyphosate-based herbicides—referring to Bayer's Monsanto subsidiary—leaving the nation's defense industry and food security vulnerable to "hostile foreign actors."
No Adverse Consequences for Future Producers
The order assures companies that they will face no negative repercussions from production. Specifically, it states: "Accordingly, the Secretary [of Agriculture] shall ensure that no order, rule, or regulation issued under this section undermines the business viability of a domestic producer of elemental phosphate or glyphosate-based herbicides."
Elemental phosphate is also a key raw material in the production of glyphosate-based herbicides, which play a vital role in maintaining America's agricultural advantage by enabling farmers to produce food and livestock feed efficiently and cost-effectively, the order adds.
Bayer Recently Finalized Billion-Dollar Settlement
In U.S. lawsuits, plaintiffs have linked cancer diagnoses to glyphosate exposure. Bayer recently reached a multibillion-dollar settlement to resolve current and future claims related to its glyphosate-based herbicide Roundup. The agreement could total up to $7.25 billion over a period of up to 21 years, the DAX-listed company announced. The settlement still requires approval from a court in St. Louis, Missouri, Bayer confirmed.
In 2015, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), part of the World Health Organization, classified glyphosate—the active ingredient in Roundup—as "probably carcinogenic to humans." However, other WHO bodies and European agencies have not adopted this assessment. Bayer has consistently rejected allegations that glyphosate causes cancer. "Glyphosate is a safe and important tool for farmers in the U.S. and around the world," Bayer CEO Bill Anderson said recently, asserting that scientists and regulators worldwide have confirmed this "truth."
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