RoundUp

Roundup is a term with several related meanings. As a noun, it refers to a collection or summary of items, events, or information gathered from various sources, such as a roundup of news stories or a roundup of sightings. As a verb, it can mean to gather people or things together or to apprehend suspects in a sweep or roundup. The word is used in contexts ranging from journalism to law enforcement, travel, and sports, where a concise compilation or gathering is intended.

In agriculture and consumer products, Roundup is a brand name for a family of glyphosate-based herbicides developed by Monsanto in the 1970s and now owned by Bayer. Roundup products are widely used to control a broad range of weeds in farming, gardens, and public areas. The active ingredient, glyphosate, inhibits the plant enzyme EPSP synthase, disrupting the production of certain essential amino acids and causing weed death. Roundup formulations are often used with or alongside crop management practices, including systems that involve herbicide-tolerant crops.

Safety, regulation, and public debate surrounding glyphosate-based products have been prominent in recent decades. Regulatory assessments vary by jurisdiction; some agencies have found exposure at typical levels to be unlikely to pose a carcinogenic risk to humans, while other evaluations and scientific reviews have linked glyphosate to potential cancer risk or noted uncertainties. This has led to ongoing regulatory reviews, restrictions in certain uses, and numerous court cases filed by plaintiffs alleging health harms. The topic remains contested in science and policy, with ongoing research and updates from regulatory agencies.

Beyond the brand, the term roundup also appears in journalism, law enforcement, and everyday language as a shorthand for a concise summary or collective gathering of items.