Roundup and generic versions of glyphosate are still the most widely used herbicides in the world. As of 2012, it was the top choice of New York City for killing weeds in its parks. Farmers like Roundup because "Roundup Ready" versions of crops like corn and soybeans have been modified to specifically tolerate the herbicide, allowing growers to spray Roundup widely across their fields without damaging their crops.

The United States and other international regulatory bodies have backed the safety of glyphosate when used as directed, but the WHO's International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) report cited studies that raised concerns about glyphosate and impacts on health.

"There are a number of independent, published manuscripts that clearly indicate that glyphosate ... can promote cancer and tumor growth," said Dave Schubert, head of the cellular neurobiology laboratory at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in La Jolla, California. "It should be banned."

View June 15, 2015 Newsweek article
View May 2015 The Lancet article
View March 24, 2015 Mother Jones article
View March 24, 2015 Reuters article