An informative campaign on Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) in the cultivation of pineapple, aimed at producers in the Huetar North Zone of the country, seeks to make them aware of the risks and impacts to the environment generated by pineapple crops.
The need for this type of initiatives got more obvious after a study conducted by the University of Costa Rica (UCR) and the State Phytosanitary Service (SFE) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG), showing the presence of pesticide residues in samples of surface and groundwater distributed between the districts of Pital, Aguas Zarcas, and Venecia de San Carlos, and the canton of Río Cuarto, where pineapple crops are concentrated.
The research carried out by the Center for Research in Environmental Pollution (CICA) took samples of surface water in 22 points in various streams and rivers in these places. Likewise, an analysis was made of 10 groundwater points, that is, springs and wells in the area, which were taken prior to the purification treatment.
The presence of pesticides was found in minuscule concentrations. Similarly, in groundwater, the pesticide bromacil was found in concentrations that exceed the maximum value allowed by the Drinking Water Quality Regulation n ° 39144-S (addition to regulation n ° 38924-S), of the Ministry of Health.
However, the institution clarified that the project has not analyzed water from wells and springs since mid-March 2017. All the information about these groundwater points is prior to the prohibition of the bromacil, so the project has no data to affirm if there is a presence of the pesticide after the prohibition.