Glyphosate-resistant weeds have evolved in the UK for the first time, researchers have confirmed. 

Scientists at ADAS confirmed this month that they have identified a field containing a population of glyphosate-resistant Italian ryegrass on a farm in Kent. 

ADAS said the discovered case was “in a high risk scenario” where large weeds were surviving high rates of glyphosate application at what they described as “appropriate” doses. 

ADAS principal consultant and weed specialist John Cussans commented: “We have come across several high risk cases before where we could rule out resistance following resampling and retesting. However, this is the first time we can confirm, after vigorous testing and multiple samples taken, that glyphosate resistance is present in a UK Italian ryegrass population.” 

Paul Neve, a professor of crop science at the University of Copenhagen, says the discovery is very significant. He told The Guardian: “Globally, we lose more crop yield to weeds than we do to both insect pests and pathogens. Herbicides are the most effective tools we have, and glyphosate is one of the most effective of those.”

Glyphosate is used widely in some forms of ‘regenerative’ agriculture, mainly to kill weeds ands cover crops and as an alternative to soil-disturbing ploughing. The former environment secretary environment secretary Therese Coffey insisted, controversially that (glyphosate) “is critical to regenerative farming”. 

The discovery of glyphosate weeds on a UK farm was “a warning sign”, Helen Metcalfe, an agricultural ecologist at Rothamsted Research, said.