Prosperity, Plants, and Poison: Ambivalences over Pesticide Use in Contemporary Argentina

This project examines the dangers and opportunities of agricultural biotechnology.

Genetically modified crops have revolutionized global farming by offering solutions to weed management through herbicide-resistant traits. However, concerns raised by activists regarding herbicide exposure´s environmental and health impacts are mounting.

Despite Argentina´s smaller agricultural landmass than Brazil and USA, it ranks third globally in herbicide usage, prompting worries about long-term consequences for environmental sustainability and human health. The research seeks to answer two key questions relevant to the global agricultural community.

First, it aims to understand the complex dynamics surrounding the economic benefits of GM soybeans for farmers and their views on the potential adverse environmental and health impacts of agrochemicals.

Second, the project investigates the relationships between humans and various non-human actors, including soils, agrochemicals, weeds, pests, and the wind.

Methodologically, the project will rely on immersive fieldwork, including interviews and participant observation in rural Argentine communities.

Innovative techniques such as photovoice and interdisciplinary collaborations to measure pesticide exposure will complement the qualitative data collection. Focusing on these social actors is essential to exploring alternatives to the extensive use of pesticides.