Supreme Court upholds 1,000-meter agrochemical exclusion zone in Sastre

The Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation has finalized a ruling establishing a 1,000-meter exclusion zone for terrestrial agrochemical spraying around the urban area of Sastre y Ortiz, Santa Fe. By rejecting the final appeal filed by the Municipality of Sastre, the highest court has closed an eight-year legal battle that began in 2018.

The conflict originated from a collective environmental injunction filed by residents concerned about the proximity of chemical applications to residential areas. The case gained significant public attention due to the health struggles of Zoe Giraudo, a child diagnosed with T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma during the early stages of the dispute.

The legal process involved various stakeholders, including agricultural producers, public agencies, and the Government of Santa Fe, centering on environmental protection, public health, and the precautionary principle. This decision sets a significant legal precedent regarding the distance required between agricultural spraying and urban centers.