Source: POLITICO MORNING AGRICULTURE, 10/ 20/17

As Europe braces for two key battles over the future of glyphosate next week, the controversial weedkiller got an early setback on Thursday when the European Parliament's Environment, Public Health and Food Safety Committee voted to phase it out of the bloc within the next three years. The vote - 39 lawmakers in favor, nine opposed, with 10 abstaining - carries little legal weight, but it sends a message and increases the pressure surrounding a December 15 deadline for Brussels to renew the ubiquitous herbicide's license.

What's on tap next week: On Tuesday, the European Parliament is scheduled to vote on whether to phase out glyphosate in the next three years. The next day, the European Commission's Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed will consider and may vote on whether to renew the substance for a decade.

German ag chief backs renewal: German Agriculture Minister Christian Schmidt told POLITICO Europe that glyphosate's license should be extended on the EU market. "I haven't heard anyone so far who has really doubted the scientific evidence," Schmidt said. But there are doubts as to how Germany will vote. 

That's not how France feels: Last week, French President Emmanuel Macron said France would help farmers transition away from using glyphosate by funding research looking at alternatives. "To delay the problem of glyphosate for another 10 years is not a good idea because we need to take our responsibilities in the face of history," he said. 

Where do the countries fall? Diplomatic officials have told POLITICO that both France and Italy say they are likely to vote against renewal. Greece, Ireland and Portugal are still making up their minds. The U.K., the Netherlands, and Spain argue glyphosate is necessary for farmers because crop yields will fall dramatically without it. Denmark, Sweden, Estonia, Bulgaria and Latvia also said they planned to support renewal.

Angry farmers everywhere: Farm unions across the EU are threatening to sue the European Commission if it doesn't meet the deadline to decide on whether to renew glyphosate's license.