‘Unkillable’ weed resistant to strongest herbicide found in UK for first time
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A new ‘unkillable’ weed impervious to even the strongest herbicide has been found in the UK for the first time. Italian ryegrass has been growing in several fields on a farm in Kent. Scientists have confirmed it is resistant to glyphosate, considered to be the most effective weedkiller on the market.
![[In the wild in the meadow grows forage grass Lolium multiflorum]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/SEI_235649845-51e1.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
Weeds resistant to glyphosate have been discovered several times before – but this is the first time it has been found in Britain. Scientists are now briefing industry stakeholders about the development while biosecurity measures have been ramped up in the local area.
![[Muhlenbergia capillaris or perennail grass in qatar parks (hot zone)]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/SEI_235650533-4464.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
The discovery comes as farmers begin to prepare fields to establish spring crops for 2025. It is another headache for them as they navigate rising input costs, unfair supply chains, tightening margins, increasingly severe climate impacts and anger at the inheritance tax.
Weed science consultant John Cussans, who identified and confirmed the Kent case, said the resistant species is unlikely to spread because herbicide glyphosate resistance was probably caused by natural selection. But scientists still expect to detect more cases of randomly mutated Italian ryegrass on British farms in the short term as they increase monitoring.
Mr Cussans said the impact could be ‘massively consequential’ on a small number of farmers and their businesses, who will be forced to shift towards more costly and damaging weed control methods and face losing access to sustainability-focused subsidies.
