Campanha Gaúcha, a core agricultural region in southern Brazil renowned for its fine wines and quality apples, is undergoing a pivotal transformation. A ruling issued by a local court in early September has brought an immediate and complete ban on the 2,4-D herbicide in the area. This move is not only a response to the long-standing appeals of local farmers' associations but also a profound reassessment of sustainable agricultural development models. Members of the farmers' associations had claimed that their vineyards and apple orchards suffered devastating damage due to the drift of 2,4-D, severely threatening their livelihoods and agricultural product quality.

According to the court's clear judgment, the use of 2,4-D herbicide will be completely prohibited in the Campanha Gaúcha region, meaning this chemical will be entirely phased out of agricultural production there. In other areas of the state of Rio Grande do Sul, while not a full ban, strict restricted zones have been established – prohibiting the spraying of 2,4-D within 50 meters of vineyards and apple orchards. This ban will remain in effect until the state government can establish a robust system for monitoring, managing, and enforcing regulations, and clearly delineate prohibited areas in high-risk agricultural zones to completely eliminate the impact of such chemicals on sensitive crops.

The court also set a clear timetable, giving local governments 120 days to complete the establishment and implementation of the new system. Failure to comply on time will result in a hefty daily fine of 10,000 Reais (approximately 2,000 US dollars), with this sum being directly allocated to the state's environmental compensation fund for environmental restoration and protection projects. Furthermore, the ruling emphasized the importance of public information, requiring the government to broadly publicize the ban and its associated regulations to farmers, agrochemical retailers, and the general public, ensuring all stakeholders are fully aware of and comply with the new rules.

Since its introduction in the 1940s, 2,4-D (2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid) has been widely used globally as an effective broad-spectrum herbicide, playing a crucial role in the cultivation of major crops such as soybeans, wheat, and corn. However, its inherent high volatility and tendency to drift have made it a long-standing point of contention between grain farmers and fruit producers in Brazil's southern agricultural regions. For vineyards and apple orchards, the harm from this chemical is particularly pronounced; even minimal drift can lead to a severe decline in fruit quality, subsequently causing significant economic damage to the wine and fruit industries that rely on high-quality agricultural products. Growers widely believe that without stricter and more effective regulatory measures, their entire harvest season would be at great risk, potentially leading to industry decline.

This ruling is not the first conflict over 2,4-D herbicide in Rio Grande do Sul. Previously, local authorities had also temporarily suspended the use of the herbicide. However, this court injunction is undoubtedly one of the most stringent restrictions on 2,4-D implemented in Brazil to date, and its impact and exemplary role cannot be underestimated. Agricultural experts generally believe that this legal case is very likely to set an important precedent for other Brazilian states to implement stricter pesticide regulatory policies in the future. It profoundly reveals the tension between two distinctly different development models within Brazilian agriculture: on one hand, the high-intensity grain farming pursuing high yields and economic efficiency, and on the other, the specialized fruit and wine industries highly dependent on product quality, brand value, and environmental safety. How to balance these two models and achieve sustainable agricultural development has become a significant challenge facing the Brazilian agricultural sector.

Although this ruling may still be subject to appeal at a higher court level, the ban on 2,4-D herbicide in the Campanha Gaúcha region will maintain its legal force until a final decision is made by a higher court. This judgment is not only a protection of the rights of local farmers but also a crucial step for Brazil in exploring green agricultural development, signaling that future pesticide use policies will place a greater emphasis on environmental friendliness and ecological balance.