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Glyphosate (N-(phosphonomethyl) glycine, C₃H₈NO₅P) is a non-selective herbicide to kill weeds, especially perennials.

Glyphosate kills plants by inhibiting their ability to make aromatic amino acids. This particular target is specific for plants and some microorganisms. Glyphosate is the primary ingredient in Monsanto's popular herbicide Roundup. Many crops have been genetically engineered to be resistant to it.

There are concerns about the effects of glyphosate (and Roundup) on non-plant species. For more information, see the Roundup article.

In 1991, soybeans, a plant naturally very susceptible to nearly all herbicides existing at the time, were genetically modified to tolerate the herbicide. This greatly improved the ability to control weeds in soybean fields since glyphosate could be sprayed on fields without hurting the crop. As of 2004, glyphosate is used on 80% of U.S. soybean fields to eliminate weeds.

Glyphosate is an aminophosphonic analogue of the natural amino acid glycine and the name is a contraction of glycine, phospho-, and -ate: Chemical structure of glyphosate.

It was first sold by Monsanto under the tradename Roundup but is no longer under patent so is now marketed under various names.

Glyphosate is one of a number of herbicides used by the United States government to spray Colombian coca fields through Plan Colombia. Its health effects, effects on legal crops, and effectiveness in fighting the war on drugs have been widely disputed.

External Links

• US weighs costs of Plan Colombia
• Study Showing Glyphosate to Be Dangerous
• Website of the SynBioC research group, working on different types of aminophosphonates

• Herbicides