The Rise of the Superweeds

the rise of the SUPERWEEDS As of last year, 92% of America's corn, cotton & soybean crops have been genetically modified to resist Roundup, a highly lethal pest control product developed by Monsanto. To increase Roundup's profitability, Monsanto has discouraged the use of alternating diverse pesticides. This unprecedented reliance on a single herbicide has led to the evolution of a new strain of defiantly chemical-resistant species known as superweeds. Superweeds did not exist before genetic engineering began in 1997. Today, there are 14 known species, spread over 32 states. Kochia Johnsongrass Hairy Fleabane Junglerice Annual Bluegrass Goosegrass Spiny Amaranth 93% of SOYBEANS ADOPTION OF GENETICALLY Common Waterhemp Palmer Amaranth - 93% herbicide-resistant Giant Ragweed Common Ragweed Italian Ryegrass ENGINEERED CROPS 94% of COTTON Horseweed -63% mixed varietals first - 17% herbicide-resistant appearance of 14% insect-resistant Rigid Ryegrass 88% of CORN -52% mixed varietals 21% herbicide-resistant 15% insect-resistant 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 today INVASION OF SUPERWEEDS O STATES O SPECIES 2 STATES 2 SPECIES 9 STATES 2 SPECIES 14 STATES 5 SPECIES 20 STATES 8 SPECIES 25 STATES 11 SPECIES 29 STATES 13 SPECIES 32 STATES 14 SPECIES 1 STATES 1 SPECIES