It has been doing so because it is now possible to equip crops with new defence mechanisms against diseases, insects and other pests. Wild relatives of commonly cultivated crops usually produce chemicals to protect themselves against enemies like pests and diseases. For this reason, most wild species are not fit for human consumption. This is also why, when cultivated crops are re-equipped with these defence mechanisms using genetic engineering, safety investigations are an absolute must and required by law. Genetic engineering is therefore helping to control weeds.
Crops have to be protected from competition from weeds.
This can be achieved both mechanically and with chemicals. Experts agree that farmers will not be able to do without chemical weed control for at least the next 10 - 20 years. It is therefore necessary to replace old chemical agents with new and ecologically better agents wherever possible. AgrEvo has been producing the herbicide glufosinate for more than 10 years. Therefore the aim of AgrEvo's first biotechnological development programme was to widen the area of use of glufosinate.