Regulaciones, políticas y conflictos por agroquímicos en Salta, Argentina

  The consolidation of agribusiness in Argentina since the end of the 20th century can be analyzed in its multiple and diverse consequences: environmental impacts due to the deforestation of native forests; social conflict over the forcing out and destruction of rural and indigenous production and reproduction methods; health effects since exposure to pesticides, among the main ones. Based on secondary information sources and in-depth interviews, the article aims to contribute to the understanding of the environmental and sanitary impacts linked to fumigation with agrochemicals in Salta, a province of northern Argentina which in recent years has incorporated large areas into agricultural production and presents ecological and social characteristics that differ from the Pampas region. This research focuses on a critical characterization and analysis of the regulatory frameworks and public policies on that matter, as well as in a survey related to conflicts. The main findings show that in Salta different legal frameworks regulate the use of agrochemicals, while state agencies are meant to implement and monitor such regulations. However, the study compiles numerous situations that illustrate the emergence and path of certain conflicts that, with varying levels of visibility and intensity, problematize the effects on human health and ecosystems at the local levels.La consolidación del agronegocio en Argentina, desde finales del siglo XX, puede analizarse en sus múltiples y diversas consecuencias: impactos ambientales por la deforestación de bosques nativos; conflictividad social por la expulsión y destrucción de los modos de producción y reproducción de la vida campesina e indígena; efectos en la salud por la exposición a plaguicidas, entre los principales. A partir de fuentes de datos secundarias y de entrevistas en profundidad, el artículo busca aportar al entendimiento de las consecuencias ambientales y sanitarias ligadas al uso de agroquímicos en Salta, provincia del norte argentino que en años recientes incorporó amplias superficies a la producción agroindustrial. Se realiza una caracterización y análisis crítico de las normativas y políticas públicas en la materia, así como de las situaciones de conflicto. Los principales hallazgos muestran que en Salta existen leyes específicas que regulan el uso de agroquímicos y cierta institucionalidad destinada a su implementación y control. No obstante, el estudio releva una multiplicidad de situaciones que dan cuenta de la emergencia y trayectoria de conflictos que, con diverso grado de visibilidad e intensidad, problematizan los efectos en la salud humana y en los ecosistemas en las escalas locales.   Abstract The consolidation of agribusiness in Argentina since the end of the 20th century can be analyzed in its multiple and diverse consequences: environmental impacts due to the deforestation of native forests; social conflict over the forcing out and destruction of rural and indigenous production and reproduction methods; health effects since exposure to pesticides, among the main ones. Based on secondary information sources and in-depth interviews, the article aims to contribute to the understanding of the environmental and sanitary impacts linked to fumigation with agrochemicals in Salta, a province of northern Argentina which in recent years has incorporated large areas into agricultural production and presents ecological and social characteristics that differ from the Pampas region. This research focuses on a critical characterization and analysis of the regulatory frameworks and public policies on that matter, as well as in a survey related to conflicts. The main findings show that in Salta different legal frameworks regulate the use of agrochemicals, while state agencies are meant to implement and monitor such regulations. However, the study compiles numerous situations that illustrate the emergence and path of certain conflicts that, with varying levels of visibility and intensity, problematize the effects on human health and ecosystems at the local levels