ByeGly

Updated November 11, 2026

A history of glyphosate

Glyphosate went from a shelved lab compound to a farm herbicide at the center of U.S. court cases, state laws and bills in Congress. This page sets out that history by date. Each entry links to a primary source, a peer-reviewed paper or a major news outlet. Court verdicts and settlements are legal outcomes, not scientific findings. ByeGly makes no health claims.

For what the agencies have concluded, see Where agencies stand. For the lobbying, label laws and court cases in more depth, see How the money and the rules work.

1950 to 1995: from lab shelf to Roundup

  • 1950. Henri Martin, a Swiss chemist at the drug company Cilag, first made glyphosate. No drug use was found for it.1
  • 1970. Monsanto chemist John Franz identified glyphosate's herbicidal activity.1
  • 1971 to 1974. Monsanto's U.S. patent 3,799,758, with John E. Franz as inventor, has a priority date of August 9, 1971 and was issued March 26, 1974.2
  • 1974. Glyphosate was first registered in the U.S., according to EPA.3 Monsanto first sold Roundup commercially that year.1
  • 1992. Canada first registered glyphosate for pre-harvest use on wheat, barley, soybeans, peas, lentils, canola and flax.4

1996 to 2014: Roundup Ready crops and harvest-time spraying

  • 1996. Roundup Ready soybean, corn and cotton varieties, engineered to tolerate glyphosate, were approved for planting in the U.S.1 USDA's Economic Research Service counts herbicide-tolerant soybeans at 7.4% of U.S. soybean acres in 1996 and 96% in 2024.5
  • Mid-2000s on. A 2016 peer-reviewed analysis by Charles Benbrook says harvest-aid uses of glyphosate "have become increasingly common since the mid-2000s" in northern-tier U.S. states on wheat, barley, edible beans and a few other crops.1 For what pre-harvest spraying is and where it's allowed, see Pre-harvest spraying.
  • 2009. EPA opened its registration review of glyphosate, the periodic re-evaluation every registered pesticide goes through.3

2015 to 2019: a global split, a merger and the first verdicts

  • March 2015. An international classification of glyphosate drew wide attention and set U.S. and international agencies apart. What each agency concluded, and why they differ: Where agencies stand.
  • December 2016. EPA consulted its FIFRA Scientific Advisory Panel on glyphosate.3
  • December 2017. EPA published its human health and ecological risk assessments for public comment. EPA's conclusions, in its own words, are on Where agencies stand.3
  • June 7, 2018. Bayer completed its acquisition of Monsanto.6
  • 2018. In Johnson v. Monsanto, a San Francisco jury awarded $289 million. The award was later cut to about $20.5 million in total.7
  • 2019. In Hardeman v. Monsanto, a federal jury awarded about $80.3 million, later reduced to about $25.3 million in total. In Pilliod v. Monsanto, an Alameda County jury awarded more than $2 billion, later reduced to about $86.7 million in total.89
  • May 2019. EPA published its Proposed Interim Registration Review Decision for glyphosate.3

2020 to 2023: settlements, a court loss for EPA, and a new residential Roundup

  • February 2020. EPA issued its Interim Registration Review Decision. EPA says it "found no human health risks when used as directed."3
  • June 24, 2020. Bayer announced agreements it described as "a total payment of $10.1 billion to $10.9 billion" to resolve current and address potential future Roundup litigation. Bayer said the agreements "contain no admission of liability or wrongdoing."10
  • July 29, 2021. Bayer said it would "replace its glyphosate-based products in the U.S. residential Lawn & Garden market with new formulations that rely on alternative active ingredients beginning in 2023." Bayer said the move was "exclusively to manage litigation risk," and that there would be "no change in the availability of the company's glyphosate formulations in the U.S. professional and agricultural markets."11
  • June 17, 2022. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit vacated the human health portion of EPA's interim decision.123
  • June 21, 2022. The U.S. Supreme Court declined to review the Hardeman verdict.13
  • September 2022. EPA withdrew the glyphosate interim decision.3 The withdrawal notice is dated September 23, 2022 in the federal docket.14
  • 2023 on. Bayer now says it is "no longer producing glyphosate-based Roundup products for the U.S. residential lawn and garden market."15

2024 to 2026: courts, statehouses, Congress and the White House

  • 2024. In McKivison (Philadelphia), a jury awarded $2.25 billion. The trial judge cut it to $400 million, as reported June 6, 2024.16
  • August 15, 2024. In Schaffner v. Monsanto, the Third Circuit held that federal pesticide law blocks a Pennsylvania failure-to-warn claim, splitting the federal appeals courts.17
  • April 24, 2025. North Dakota's governor signed HB 1318, a pesticide labeling law.18
  • May 9, 2025. Georgia's governor signed SB 144, which AP reports covers "any pesticide manufacturer that follows federal labeling requirements."19
  • May 2025. The White House MAHA Report was released. It mentions glyphosate.20
  • November 2025. Monsanto settled the Barnes case (Cobb County, Georgia, $2.1 billion verdict as reported by Bayer) on confidential terms.2122
  • December 1, 2025. The U.S. Solicitor General urged the Supreme Court to take Monsanto v. Durnell.23
  • January 16, 2026. The Supreme Court agreed to hear Durnell.24
  • February 17, 2026. Bayer announced a proposed nationwide class settlement of up to $7.25 billion over up to 21 years. Final approval had not been reported as of November 10, 2026.2526
  • February 18, 2026. Executive Order 14387, "Promoting the National Defense by Ensuring an Adequate Supply of Elemental Phosphorus and Glyphosate-Based Herbicides," was signed. Its text invokes the Defense Production Act.2728
  • February 20, 2026. Rep. Thomas Massie introduced H.R. 7601, the No Immunity for Glyphosate Act. It was referred to the House Judiciary Committee.29
  • March 31 and April 1, 2026. Kentucky's governor vetoed SB 199, a pesticide labeling bill. The Senate overrode the veto 24-12 on March 31 and the House 56-32 on April 1.30
  • April 28, 2026. Sen. Martin Heinrich introduced S. 4425, the Senate's No Immunity for Glyphosate Act.31
  • April 30, 2026. The House voted 280-142 to strike the pesticide labeling uniformity sections from the farm bill, H.R. 7567, then passed the bill 224-200.3233
  • June 25, 2026. In Monsanto v. Durnell, the Supreme Court held 7-2 that federal pesticide law preempts a state failure-to-warn claim that would require a cancer warning on Roundup's label. The Court did not rule on glyphosate's health effects.34
  • June 29, 2026. Rep. Chellie Pingree introduced H.R. 9528, the People Over Poison Act, to protect state-law tort claims about pesticide labeling.35
  • August 25, 2026. EPA released its open literature search for public comment, to inform an updated human health risk assessment.336
  • August 26, 2026. EPA's glyphosate page, updated that day, says the updated human health risk assessment has "completion anticipated in late 2026." A check on November 11, 2026 found the page still last updated August 26, 2026, with the same wording.3
  • September 23, 2026. An EPA and HHS news release says EPA is updating its human health risk assessment and cancer evaluation "with completion anticipated in early 2027." A check on November 11, 2026 found the same wording (page last updated October 22, 2026).37
  • September 28, 2026. The Federal Register extended the comment period "from September 24, 2026, to November 23, 2026" (document 2026-19775, docket EPA-HQ-OPP-2009-0361).38
  • October 29, 2026. A St. Louis jury returned a defense verdict in Aretino et al. v. Monsanto, which Bayer calls the first Roundup trial since Durnell.39

EPA's position over time

Year What EPA did or said
1974 First registered glyphosate in the U.S.3
2009 Opened registration review3
2017 Published draft human health and ecological risk assessments; EPA's conclusions are quoted on Where agencies stand.3
2020 Issued the Interim Registration Review Decision3
2022 Ninth Circuit vacated the decision's human health portion; EPA withdrew the interim decision in September123
2026 Updating its human health risk assessment. As of November 11, 2026, EPA's glyphosate page (last updated August 26, 2026) says "completion anticipated in late 2026"; the EPA and HHS news release of September 23, 2026 (page last updated October 22, 2026) says "completion anticipated in early 2027."337

To act on the open comment period, see Ban glyphosate: what you can do.

Sources

Footnotes

  1. Charles M. Benbrook, Trends in glyphosate herbicide use in the United States and globally, Environmental Sciences Europe 28:3 (February 2, 2016): https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12302-016-0070-0 ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5

  2. Google Patents, US3799758A, John E. Franz, Monsanto Co. (priority August 9, 1971; issued March 26, 1974): https://patents.google.com/patent/US3799758A/en ↩

  3. U.S. EPA, Glyphosate (last updated August 26, 2026; checked November 11, 2026): https://www.epa.gov/ingredients-used-pesticide-products/glyphosate ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8 ↩9 ↩10 ↩11 ↩12 ↩13 ↩14 ↩15 ↩16

  4. Agriculture Canada / Health Canada PMRA, Decision Document E92-02, Glyphosate, Preharvest Use (1992): https://publications.gc.ca/collections/Collection/H113-4-92-02E.pdf ↩

  5. USDA Economic Research Service, Adoption of genetically engineered crops in the United States, 1996-2024 (chart description): https://ers.usda.gov/sites/default/files/_laserfiche/Charts/58020/biotechcrops2024_d.html ↩

  6. Bayer, Bayer closes Monsanto acquisition (June 7, 2018): https://www.bayer.com/media/en-us/bayer-closes-monsanto-acquisition/ ↩

  7. California Court of Appeal, docket A155940 (opinion filed July 20, 2020): https://appellatecases.courtinfo.ca.gov/search/case/dockets.cfm?dist=1&doc_id=2272822&doc_no=A155940 ↩

  8. Hardeman v. Monsanto, 9th Cir. No. 19-16636 (May 14, 2021): https://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/opinions/2021/05/14/19-16636.pdf ↩

  9. Pilliod v. Monsanto Co., A158228 (Cal. Ct. App., August 9, 2021): https://law.justia.com/cases/california/court-of-appeal/2021/a158228.html ↩

  10. Bayer, Bayer announces agreements to resolve major legacy Monsanto litigation (June 24, 2020): https://www.bayer.com/media/en-us/bayer-announces-agreements-to-resolve-major-legacy-monsanto-litigation/ ↩

  11. Bayer, Bayer Provides Update on Path to Closure of Roundup Litigation (July 29, 2021): https://www.bayer.com/media/en-us/bayer-provides-update-on-path-to-closure-of-rounduptm-litigation/ ↩

  12. NRDC v. U.S. EPA, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, No. 20-70787 (June 17, 2022): https://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/opinions/2022/06/17/20-70787.pdf ↩ ↩2

  13. Courthouse News, High court declines to wade into appeal of Roundup verdict (June 21, 2022): https://web.archive.org/web/20240805092955/https://www.courthousenews.com/high-court-declines-to-wade-into-appeal-of-roundup-verdict/ ↩

  14. Regulations.gov, docket EPA-HQ-OPP-2009-0361, Withdrawal of the Glyphosate Interim Registration Review Decision (posted September 23, 2022): https://www.regulations.gov/document/EPA-HQ-OPP-2009-0361-14447 ↩

  15. Bayer, Roundup Lawn & Garden ingredient statement (checked November 10, 2026): https://www.bayer.com/en/litigation-statement/roundup-ingredient-safety ↩

  16. Philadelphia Inquirer (June 6, 2024): https://www.inquirer.com/news/philadelphia/monsanto-roundup-weed-killer-verdict-reducted-philadelphia-20240606.html ↩

  17. Schaffner v. Monsanto, 3d Cir. No. 22-3075 (August 15, 2024): https://www2.ca3.uscourts.gov/opinarch/223075p.pdf ↩

  18. North Dakota Legislature, HB 1318 (2025): https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/69-2025/regular/bill-overview/bo1318.html ↩

  19. AP via WSB-TV, Georgia becomes second US state to shield maker of Roundup weed killer from some cancer claims (May 12, 2025): https://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/atlanta/georgia-become-second-us-state-shield-maker-roundup-weed-killer-some-cancer-claims/KFJHXDC3L5BQTHLE7VBFUXX6RI/ ↩

  20. The White House, The MAHA Report (May 2025): https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/WH-The-MAHA-Report-Assessment.pdf ↩

  21. Bayer, Statement on Barnes (March 2025): https://www.bayer.com/en/litigation-statement/statement-on-barnes ↩

  22. Atlanta Journal-Constitution (November 14, 2025): https://www.ajc.com/news/2025/11/monsanto-settles-2b-case-about-georgia-mans-roundup-use/ ↩

  23. Brief for the United States as amicus curiae, No. 24-1068 (December 1, 2025): https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/24/24-1068/386073/20251201170732560_24-1068%20--%20Monsanto%20v.%20Durnell.pdf ↩

  24. SCOTUSblog, Monsanto Company v. Durnell (case page): https://www.scotusblog.com/cases/monsanto-company-v-durnell/ ↩

  25. Bayer, Monsanto announces Roundup class settlement agreement (February 17, 2026): https://www.bayer.com/media/en-us/monsanto-announces-roundup-class-settlement-agreement-to-resolve-current-and-future-claims/ ↩

  26. Bayer, Statement on class final approval hearing (September 2026): https://www.bayer.com/en/litigation-statement/statement-on-class-final-approval-hearing ↩

  27. The White House, Executive Order text (February 18, 2026): https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2026/02/promoting-the-national-defense-by-ensuring-an-adequate-supply-of-elemental-phosphorus-and-glyphosate-based-herbicides/ ↩

  28. GovInfo, DCPD-202600117: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/DCPD-202600117/html/DCPD-202600117.htm ↩

  29. Congress.gov, H.R. 7601, No Immunity for Glyphosate Act (checked November 10, 2026): https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/7601/all-actions-without-amendments ↩

  30. Kentucky Legislature, SB 199 (2026): https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/RECORD/26rs/sb199.html ↩

  31. Congress.gov, S. 4425, No Immunity for Glyphosate Act (checked November 10, 2026): https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/4425/all-info ↩

  32. Office of the Clerk, U.S. House, Roll Call 148 (April 30, 2026): https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2026148 ↩

  33. Office of the Clerk, U.S. House, Roll Call 154 (April 30, 2026): https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2026154 ↩

  34. Monsanto Co. v. Durnell, No. 24-1068, slip opinion (June 25, 2026): https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/24-1068_n7ip.pdf ↩

  35. Congress.gov, H.R. 9528, People Over Poison Act (checked November 10, 2026): https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/9528/all-info ↩

  36. Regulations.gov, Glyphosate Open Literature Search to Inform Human Health Risk Assessment, EPA-HQ-OPP-2009-0361-14449 (posted August 25, 2026): https://www.regulations.gov/document/EPA-HQ-OPP-2009-0361-14449 ↩

  37. U.S. EPA, EPA and HHS Announce New Scientific Partnership to Strengthen Glyphosate Review (September 23, 2026; page last updated October 22, 2026; checked November 11, 2026): https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-and-hhs-announce-new-scientific-partnership-strengthen-glyphosate-review ↩ ↩2

  38. Federal Register, Glyphosate Open Literature Search To Inform Human Health Risk Assessment; Extension of Comment Period (September 28, 2026): https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/09/28/2026-19775/glyphosate-open-literature-search-to-inform-human-health-risk-assessment-extension-of-comment-period ↩

  39. Bayer, Monsanto unanimously wins first Roundup trial since U.S. Supreme Court decision (October 29, 2026): https://www.bayer.com/media/en-us/monsanto-unanimously-wins-first-roundup-trial-since-us-supreme-court-decision/ ↩