Glyphosate is the most widely applied herbicide in agriculture and is often used in conjunction with crops that are genetically modified. Farmers’ dependency on glyphosate has grown steeply in recent years as it is easy to apply and relatively inexpensive. However, glyphosate is also increasingly controversial, with accumulating evidence that it can lead to a wide range of health and environmental impacts. Two countries have already banned glyphosate and others are considering to do the same. This Foresight Brief shows that there are alternative methods which can help to avoid the use of glyphosate as well as other harmful chemicals to kill weeds. The alternative methods offer the benefits of restoring soil fertility and increasing biodiversity in the environment.