Biotechnology Bulletin ›› 2018, Vol. 34 ›› Issue (5): 206-218.doi: 10.13560/j.cnki.biotech.bull.1985.2018-0375

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A Case Study of“Glyphosate Safety Controversy”

YUAN Zi-qing, LI Jing-yi, ZHU Long-jiao, LUO Yun-bo, HUANG Kun-lun, XU Wen-tao   

  1. College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering,China Agricultural University,Beijing 100083
  • Received:2017-12-22 Online:2018-05-26 Published:2018-06-07

Abstract: The safety of glyphosate has been a subject of concern and debate since the release of IARC’s assessment report on the possible carcinogenic effects of glyphosate in 2015. In all kinds of cases,the “dispute over the safety of glyphosate” has become a representative event of agricultural inputs affecting food safety and ecological health because of its significance,complexity,and tortuosity. The reason why this case is so important is due to the widespread use of glyphosate and its dominance in the herbicide market. The complexity of the case is reflected in the breadth of its scope and impact with its inextricable links between economics,politics,education,and other areas. While tortuosity refers to following the carcinogenicity assessment of IARC,no risk assessment results released by the international agencies have made the fate of glyphosate runs dramatically. This article firstly reviews the development of the whole case,and states the participants of the event,then systematically introduces glyphosate from the development course,the physical,chemical properties and detection methods. Based on this,case analysis was conducted to reveal the relationship between glyphosate and GM crops. Next,combine this case with teaching methods and provide a way for the case to be integrated into the classroom. In the end,from multiple perspectives,the author develop a case study,explore the hidden social truth behind the case and give some enlightenment gained from it.

Key words: glyphosate, gene modification, case teaching, multiangle perspective