Glyphosate is a non-selective broad-spectrum systemic herbicide used to eliminate annual and perennial grasses, annual broadleaf weeds and woody species in agricultural, livestock, forestry and other systems. In susceptible plants, the synthesis of various metabolic intermediaries is affected, among them aromatic amino acids (AA), limiting protein synthesis. It is the herbicide with the highest sales volume worldwide, especially in developed countries, where its use has been enhanced by the use of resistant crops known as Roundup Ready or RR. In this type of crops, weed control depends almost exclusively on glyphosate, which has created resistance in some weeds, increasing the application rates. The higher application of glyphosate to weeds subjects plants to a higher selection pressure and eventually results in the creation of populations with greater resistance to the herbicide. Although only plants have the metabolic pathway of shikimic acid for the synthesis of aromatic AA, damage to microorganisms and animals has been reported, which has been attributed to the active ingredient, its metabolites or the consumption of products or derivatives of resistant crops. Minimizing the damage and risks from the use of glyphosate depends, as with other herbicides, on its management, including following the indications for use and using other herbicides with different modes of action; it is also important to use other control methods, even considering crop rotation.
