Glyphosate is a broad-spectrum, non-selective herbicide widely used to kill weeds, including broadleaf plants and grasses, by inhibiting a specific plant enzyme necessary for growth. It works by blocking the enzyme 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (EPSPS), which is part of the shikimate pathway responsible for producing essential aromatic amino acids in plants. This disruption prevents plants from making certain proteins needed for growth, eventually killing them

. First registered in the U.S. in 1974, glyphosate is one of the most commonly used herbicides worldwide. It is applied in agriculture, forestry, lawns, gardens, and industrial areas. It is also used as a crop desiccant to speed harvest and ripen certain crops like wheat, oats, and barley. Glyphosate is the active ingredient in many herbicide products, most notably Monsanto's Roundup

. Farmers widely use glyphosate on genetically modified crops engineered to be resistant to it, such as corn, soybeans, cotton, canola, and sugar beets. This allows them to kill weeds without harming the crops. Glyphosate is absorbed through plant leaves and transported systemically to growing parts, making it effective on actively growing plants but not on seeds

. While the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states glyphosate is not likely to cause cancer in humans, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifies it as "probably carcinogenic to humans." The debate over its health effects continues, with glyphosate residues found in some foods and environments

. In summary, glyphosate is a widely used herbicide that controls unwanted plants by inhibiting a key enzyme in plant growth, making it a crucial tool in modern agriculture and weed management