Argentina yerba mate governance and glyphosate regulation

The yerba mate sector in Argentina is navigating internal governance challenges and evolving pesticide regulations. The National Institute of Yerba Mate (INYM) recently experienced a leadership deadlock when a board meeting failed to reach a quorum, preventing the appointment of a General Manager after several directors walked out of the session.

Parallel to these administrative issues, the use of glyphosate in yerba mate cultivation has become a point of debate. While officials clarify that the chemical is used for targeted weed control rather than direct application to the plants, regulatory frameworks are shifting. In the Misiones Province, specific prohibitions on glyphosate have been removed, bringing its use under the general regulatory framework for phytosanitary products. This remains subject to SENASA registration and environmental requirements.

Public health concerns persist, fueled by the International Agency for Research on Cancer’s classification of glyphosate as ‘probably carcinogenic to humans’. Additionally, research involving INTA and CONICET reported that glyphosate was detected in 100% of human fecal samples analyzed at a specific study site.