Corteva, a leading US agricultural chemical company, has announced that it will stop producing Enlist Duo, a herbicide that has faced considerable criticism from environmentalists and public health advocates. The compound has been described as a 'toxic cocktail' due to its combination of glyphosate and 2,4-D, a derivative of Agent Orange, a herbicide used during the Vietnam War. These ingredients have been linked to serious health issues, including cancer, and their environmental impacts have raised alarms among scientists and activists alike.

Enlist Duo has been a contentious topic in the United States, especially as it is approved for use on food crops, despite being banned or heavily restricted in numerous other countries. The fact that the US Environmental Protection Agency has authorized the use of this herbicide on millions of acres of farmland—principally in the cultivation of corn, soybeans, and genetically engineered cotton—has further fueled public outcry. Environmental organizations have continuously advocated against the use of such chemicals, arguing that they pose significant risks to human health and biodiversity.

Corteva's decision to discontinue Enlist Duo marks a significant moment amid ongoing litigation and increasing scrutiny from consumers focused on sustainable farming practices. Although applauded by critics of the herbicide, this move underscores the ongoing debate surrounding agricultural chemicals in the US and sets a precedent that could influence future regulations and the development of safer alternatives in the agriculture sector.