Agrotóxicos e resistência no campo: desafios socioambientais no Assentamento Santa Helena de São Carlos-SP

Extended abstract presented at the 10th Conference on Studies of Rural Settlements, held in July 2025 at the University of Campinas (Unicamp), Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil.

This case study examines socio-environmental conflicts in the Santa Helena Sustainable Development Project (PDS), located in São Carlos, São Paulo, with a focus on the impacts of pesticide spraying on family health and production. A qualitative methodology was employed, including bibliographic and documentary review, laboratory analysis of fruit samples, and a semi-structured interview with a woman farmer. The samples analyzed did not show quantifiable residues of glyphosate; however, the high detection limit does not rule out lower levels of contamination.

The interview revealed losses caused by uncoordinated public policies, economic damages, health problems associated with pesticide exposure, and difficulties marketing products through institutional programs. It also highlighted the active role of women, the challenges faced by rural youth, and the solidarity networks among farmers. The study concludes that the impacts of large-scale conventional agriculture on the settlement underscore the urgency of public policies aligned with local realities, as well as the need for more rigorous monitoring of environmental contamination in rural areas.