Monsanto's Roundup vs Sizzle — A decision Julius E. Lupowitz made over 30 years ago
By Julius Lupowitz
SIZZLE — A Decision I Made More Than 30 Years Ago
At 19 years old, while still in college, I founded Farm Pro Industries Inc. and developed an EPA-registered herbicide called Sizzle, using diquat dibromide as its active ingredient.
Both diquat and glyphosate remain commercially used herbicidal ingredients today.
Sizzle was developed as an alternative to glyphosate-based Roundup. I knew then as now, I was not about to seriously compete with a giant powerhouse like Monsanto, now owned by Bayer Labs. But agriculture being the biggest USA industry then, with a crew of just 10 to 20 telemarketers I was able to target a tiny %. Maybe even make some positive noise. But when I became concerned about the potential hazards associated with diquat, I stopped production.
That decision was made decades ago. Well before the few mistakes of Jules during a tough time.
Roundup remains a major commercial herbicide brand, and glyphosate-based Roundup products remain used in agriculture. Monsanto, however, was acquired by Bayer in 2018; today’s corporate ownership and distribution structure is different.
I don’t claim Sizzle was harmless. It wasn’t. The point is simpler: That was it's goal. But when I discovered a potential problem with a product I was responsible for, and I chose to discontinue it.
That decision — to walk away from Sizzle — is part of my story.
All toxicity and cancer problems associated with Roundup, uncovered well after I discontinued Sizzle still exist. Over time I learned I could not control enough overbearing pollution that actually comes from agriculture itself. Therefore, Farm Pro Industries, Inc. was dissolved.
Environmentally safe chemical solutions in several other industries were developed by Greenway Industrial Products, Inc. with Green Way The Clean Way, Inc. 535 South Oyster Bay Rd., Hicksville, NY, which I also founded.
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