Corteva will stop producing Enlist Duo, a herbicide criticised as a “toxic cocktail” for combining glyphosate with 2,4-D, a component of Agent Orange. Environmental groups say both chemicals are linked to cancer and ecological harm. The decision follows more than a decade of lawsuits and public pressure challenging the product’s approval in the US.
Enlist Duo has been used on millions of acres of corn, soybeans and cotton, despite both ingredients being banned or restricted in many countries. The Environmental Protection Agency first approved the herbicide in 2014, then reapproved it in 2022 after a federal court overturned an earlier authorisation. Critics argued the EPA underestimated risks to human health, endangered species and the spread of herbicide-resistant weeds.
Campaigners welcomed Corteva’s move as a major victory. The Center for Food Safety said Enlist Duo would no longer be used in US agriculture. Corteva said the product accounted for only 1% of sales and framed the decision as portfolio streamlining.
However, Corteva will continue producing Enlist One, which still contains 2,4-D. Legal challenges to its approval remain active. Environmental groups say the decision highlights deeper flaws in pesticide regulation and accuse the EPA of prioritising market access over environmental and public health protections.
