GRG leads panel discussion at the International Grains Council Conference

The Glyphosate Renewal Group (GRG) participated in the International Grains Council Conference (IGC) in London on 10 June, bringing together representatives from across the grains supply chain to discuss the GB renewal of glyphosate and its role in international trade, food security, and sustainable agricultural production.

The session featured representatives from the GRG, alongside Joe Brennan, Head of Technical and Regulatory Affairs at UK Flour Millers. During the panel, they explored the importance of regulatory stability to trade, science-based decision-making, and the practical role of glyphosate throughout the global grain value chain.

The panel explored the role of glyphosate in international grain markets, particularly in relation to Maximum Residue Levels (MRLs). MRLs provide the internationally recognised framework that enables agricultural commodities to move confidently through global supply chains. Given the widespread use of glyphosate across major grain-producing countries, science-based and internationally aligned MRLs are essential to maintaining predictability and avoiding unnecessary trade disruption. Large divergences in MRLs between markets could create uncertainty and increase barriers to trade.

Tighter restrictions on glyphosate in GB would bring a series of practical implications for supply chains. Glyphosate plays an important role in supporting productive farming systems, helping farmers manage weeds efficiently, facilitate harvest operations, and adopt conservation agriculture practices. Glyphosate makes a substantial contribution to reduced tillage systems, which help improve soil health, reduce erosion, lower fuel consumption, and decrease greenhouse gas emissions associated with mechanical cultivation.

The conference also provided an opportunity to discuss the findings of the recent ECAF and University of Gloucestershire study, “Seeding the Future through Conservation and Regenerative Agriculture to Meet the UK’s Agricultural and Climate Challenges”. The study highlights the role that glyphosate plays in enabling conservation and regenerative agriculture systems, supporting farmers in minimising soil disturbance, maintaining soil cover, and improving crop diversification.

The GRG remains committed to supporting a science-based renewal process for glyphosate in Great Britain and to providing transparent access to information throughout the regulatory review. As the renewal process progresses, the Group will continue engaging with stakeholders across agriculture, trade, food production, and policymaking to ensure that decisions are informed by the latest scientific evidence and the practical realities of modern farming and food production.