Argentina researcher faces inquiry over pesticide study

Virginia Aparicio, an agronomist and researcher at Argentina’s National Institute of Agricultural Technology (INTA) and CONICET, is facing an administrative inquiry that could lead to her dismissal. The investigation is linked to her role as the Argentine coordinator for the SPRINT (Sustainable Plant Protection Transition) project, an international research initiative funded by the European Union and coordinated by Wageningen University in the Netherlands.

Launched in 2020 with institutional support from INTA, the SPRINT project aimed to assess the risks of pesticides and identify sustainable alternatives for plant protection. Argentina was the only participating country in the Americas. The study involved collecting samples from soil, water, animals, plants, and humans to measure pesticide exposure.

Research findings indicated significant presence of chemicals in the study area; specifically, glyphosate was detected in 86.1% of the blood samples and 100% of the fecal samples from the Argentine participant group. Following the dissemination of these results, INTA reportedly halted the distribution of findings and withdrew Argentina from the international consortium. Scientific, environmental, and human rights organizations have expressed concern regarding the administrative actions taken against Aparicio.