Scientists from the National University of Quilmes and the Conicet develop a method to decontaminate water and food that contain pesticides, particularly glyphosate. Through a technique known as bioremediation, they help to naturally degrade this input for agriculture that can be harmful to the environment and human health. The objective of the researchers is that, through the public-private association, a product is designed that can be scaled up in production and manufactured industrially to reach the largest number of people.
“We found organisms that were capable of breaking down certain pesticides, particularly glyphosate. As it is the most widely used herbicide in our country and whose impact on the environment and health is very strong, we are working on the development of enzymatic systems for the bioremediation of water and food contaminated with this chemical compound,» he points out. Lorraine Rojasdirector of the UNQ Biotechnology Degree and director of the project, in dialogue with the Scientific News Agency of the National University of Quilmes.
The designed method based on enzymes can be used on water that comes from areas contaminated with pesticides and are used for consumption. In addition, it can be applied to foods that have been exposed to glyphosate. to «clean» them of said substance.
“There are many studies that indicate that the food we eat has a fairly high level of pesticides. So, The idea is to be able to contribute to the fruit and vegetable washing processes with these enzymes that are biodegradable, safe and free all pesticides from food”, highlights Rojas. In this case, the presentation of the input is through a powder formulated to be added at the time of washing.
A natural and effective technique
In this case, bioremediation consists of enzymes (proteins generated by microorganisms) that help to naturally break down glyphosate. Although there are physical and physical-chemical remediation systems for these products, they are often expensive, they are not always as efficient, and they can generate more contamination than the original.
Instead, Biological remediation is a tool that allows the use of bacteria, fungi and plants that convert the pesticide into products that are not toxic to the environment and people..
“The microorganisms consume the pesticide and transform it into new products that remain in the water and in the soil, but are not toxic and do not affect people. Through biology, contamination is reduced and glyphosate is transformed into something new that is no longer harmful,» he told the UNQ Agency, Yamila SantillanUNQ biotechnologist and member of the project.
Sustainable and economic
Argentina is among the ten countries that invest the most in agriculture in the world. In the last 25 years, the use of chemical products such as insecticides, herbicides and fertilizers has increased steadily. Although it improved crop yields in many cases, various studies have shown that they have a degree of toxicity that contaminates the soil, air, and water. In this way, it affects the crops, the areas where they are applied, the populations that live around them and the final consumers.
For this reason, the scientists designed an input that is friendly to the air, water, soil, people and their pockets. “We look for sustainable solutions with the environment and economically viable because sometimes it’s very difficult to translate all this development into something that can be applied and that can be sustained from a cost point of view. The idea is to transfer what we are doing to the productive sector and reach society through the possibility of consuming water and healthy food.”, highlights Rojas.
In addition to the researchers, the working group is made up of scholarship holders from the University, the Scientific Research Commission and the Conicet.