superweeds
Unstoppable agricultural pests
Superweeds are plants that have developed resistance to herbicides, making them extremely difficult to control.
The term emerged as genetically modified crops enabled heavy use of specific weedkillers, creating evolutionary pressure for resistant strains.
Superweeds spread aggressively and require increasingly toxic chemicals or labor-intensive removal: Farmers are struggling with superweeds that Roundup no longer kills.
Capacity to withstand force
- weedkillerChemical destroying unwanted plants
- glyphosateBroad-spectrum systemic herbicide
- overuseExcessive employment of something
- broad-spectrumEffective across many varieties
Fitting to new conditions
- mutationPermanent DNA alteration
- fitnessGood physical shape
- survivalRemaining alive against odds
- hybridizationMixing distinct genetic lines
Having inserted foreign genes
- biotechnologyEngineering using living systems
- outcrossingBreeding unrelated same-species individuals
- agroindustryCommercial farming and processing
- biosafetyProtection from biological hazards
Single-crop agricultural system
- tillageSoil preparation for planting
- infestationPest takeover situation
- farmingCultivating land for food
- cultivationFostering growth through care
resistance
Capacity to withstand force
- weedkillerChemical destroying unwanted plants
- glyphosateBroad-spectrum systemic herbicide
- overuseExcessive employment of something
adaptation
Fitting to new conditions
transgenic
Having inserted foreign genes
- biotechnologyEngineering using living systems
- outcrossingBreeding unrelated same-species individuals
- agroindustryCommercial farming and processing
monoculture
Single-crop agricultural system
- tillageSoil preparation for planting
- infestationPest takeover situation
- farmingCultivating land for food
superweedscrops
Cultivated plants for harvest
cash crops · food crops · cultivars · cover crops · garden plants