History and perspective of herbicide use in Australia and New Zealand

Farming began in Australia and New Zealand after the arrival of European settlers, who brought with them many of the weeds that later infested their cropping systems. Herbicides have since become the dominant form of weed control in both countries. Early active ingredients, such as 2,4D, were unable to control all types of weeds, sparking the development of many other herbicides with different modes of action. While most of the land in these countries is used for pasture, many crops are also grown, with an emphasis on grains, including wheat, barley, and oats, as well as horticultural crops in New Zealand such as wine grapes, kiwifruit, and apples. An overreliance on herbicide use due to their high level of effectiveness for weed control has led to the evolution of herbicide-resistant weeds, with some weed populations developing resistance to multiple herbicide modes of action. Integrated weed management practices have been adopted by many farmers to reduce the reliance on herbicides, although widespread uptake is yet to occur. These practices use non-chemical methods in combination with herbicides to deal with hard-to-control and herbicide-resistant populations, as well as reduce the risk of resistance development. In addition to resistance, other concerns surrounding herbicide use also exist, such as the impact of herbicides on human health and the environment. This review summarizes the history of herbicides in Australia and New Zealand and discusses the issues surrounding their use as well as potential future directions for sustainable weed control.