Glyphosate: The much-criticised herbicide that's still used in Europe

Glyphosate is a herbicide used for getting rid of weeds. It first hit the market in 1974, and at the time its effects on health were unknown. But its use has since sparked fierce debate around the dangers of what has become the most widely-used pesticide in the world.

In November, the European Union renewed its authorisation for ten years.

Quiberon in northwest France, is home to Ludovic Maugé, a 52-year-old former landscaper. His life was destroyed when he was diagnosed with cancer from working with glyphosate.

Since 2020, Ludovic's life has become a daily struggle. He spent six months in intensive care and had to undergo 12 successive chemotherapies.

"It goes back 20 years. We found [glyphosate] almost everywhere. We simply worked with a sprayer on our back, wearing a t-shirt with nothing underneath."

"Weedkillers are so powerful that they attack the seal of the sprayer so it automatically causes leaks. In fact, our backs are often soaked," Ludovic explained, adding, "When I got sick I didn't really make the connection with glyphosate. Until the moment, of course, when the blood tests revealed that my blood was poisoned with it.

Two-thirds of Europeans are calling for a total ban on pesticides such as glyphosate, according to a recent survey. NGOs and hundreds of citizens took to the streets of Brussels recently to make their voices heard. Among the demonstrators was João Camargo, an agribusiness researcher.

"We must continue to fight against glyphosate because the decision to approve and continue to promote this poison for another ten years is inadmissible.

"It's a health issue, an agricultural issue and a future issue". We must prevent this poison from continuing to be spread," he said.

Ludovic no longer has the strength to