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Innovation May Be Argentina’s Greatest Agricultural Resource

By Whitney Sparks

Posted about 1 month ago

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In a recent interview with ImproveAgriculture.com, Cecilia Inciarte, head of Monsanto's sustainable agriculture efforts in Argentina, offered insight into Argentina's agricultural practices, recent growth and challenges for the future. Through her discussion of human and environmental impacts on farming, as well as the country's philosophies on conserving resources and improving lives, Inciarte explains how Argentina has great potential to become a model for sustainable agriculture.

Q: First, how would you describe the term "sustainable agriculture" to the average city dweller?

A: The average city dweller may relate to global warming and climate change, and understand the need to conserve environmental resources and minimize deforestation while maintaining biodiversity as the population grows.

Q: In South America, what role does Monsanto play in promoting this kind of sustainable approach?

A: At Monsanto, sustainable agriculture leverages the idea that Integrated Farming Systems can provide the best tools and technologies to farmers so they can meet the goals of feeding, clothing and fueling the world. A multidisciplinary sustainable agriculture team works constantly, focusing on our commitment to improve lives by helping increase global food production to meet growing demand -- while conserving natural resources and minimizing impact on climate change.

Integrated Farming Systems are key for doubling yields, using less resources, improving soil quality, enhancing water use, managing crop residues and reducing environmental impact through better fertilizer management practices.

Q: What is Monsanto doing to support and educate Argentine farmers about field variations, new production techniques and proper stewardship?

A: As part of our Sustainable agriculture commitment, through the DEKALB® System for Maximum Performance, we base our training on the three pillars: genetics, biotechnology and agronomic practices. At the DEKALB® Experimental Stations of High Performance (UEDAPS), we meet with growers to discuss the field stability of corn, the factors that create stress for the crop, and how the system works through mitigation to maximize performance in different environments.

Also, we demonstrate our product stewardship trainings for responsible management of technologies and products across seeds, traits and chemical businesses from concept to discontinuation. Product stewardship efforts at Monsanto are supported by the industry-wide effort entitled Excellence Through Stewardship^SM, an affiliate of the Biotechnology Industry Organization. This program includes third-party auditing of member product stewardship policies and practices, including Monsanto's own initiatives.

Q: South America has emerged as potentially the new breadbasket to the world. What resources-natural, human or scientific-have allowed this huge growth in production?

A: In South America, diverse resources have been developed to increase productivity. But the biggest reason is the widespread adoption of conservation agriculture in general, and no-tillage in particular. No-till farming has improved water use efficiency and allowed crop growth in areas where conventional tillage would not be feasible.

Q: What global and regional trends are driving the increased demand for corn production in Argentina?

A: The global demand for corn indicates there is an increase in international grain trading opportunities. China switched from corn exporter to importer, increased its animal and vegetable protein demands, along with biofuels. That has a major impact on Argentina.

Argentina has a great opportunity to increase corn production, considering that some predict farming could expand from 32 million to 45 million hectares in productive land and cattle exports might increase from 8% to 15% of the worldwide market.

Corn has become the principal raw material used to produce biofuels (ethanol and biogas), and is also essential for the development of new biodegradable materials, such as bioplastics. The production of biofuels from agricultural raw materials is causing developed countries to reduce the generation of grain surpluses. The international demand for corn grain and the need for products for industrial processing, meat and dairy products, farm products, wet and dry grinding as starch, biofuels, etc. has been growing steadily.

Q: What role has biotechnology played in allowing Argentine farmers to expand corn hectares into tropical and other marginal areas? What are the sustainability issues that must be considered?

A: Argentina is one of the leading countries using biotechnology, with more than 22 million hectares that contribute to the sustainable production of soybeans, corn and cotton. The first crop adopted was Roundup Ready® soybeans in 1996. Today, Argentina is one of the top ten countries that grew more than 1 million hectares of biotech crops. The stacked products, which include more than one biotech technology, are very important for the future demand trends and to meet the multiple needs of farmers and consumers.

In Argentina, there are 14 biotech corn products approved, such as insect-resistant, herbicide-tolerant, and rootworm-resistant technologies, as well as stacked products. In fact, the majority of soybeans grown in the country are biotech, and 86% of corn hectares and 99% of cotton hectares are planted with biotech traits.

It's been said biotechnology has given to Argentina a cumulative gross profit of $72.6 billion USD. That's a lot of money for farmers and the country. In the last 15 years, farmers and society have identified the benefits biotech crops contribute to sustainability and helping mitigate the effects of climate change. They contribute to more affordable food by doubling yield and creating social, economic and environmental sustainability benefits for farmers and society. In fact, biotech crops conserve biodiversity, reduce agriculture's environmental footprint, increase water-use efficiency, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

It will be very challenging for our country to develop commercial policies on export permits, export taxes and differential prices. Education will play an important role in agriculture as technologies advance and more production generates more employment and job opportunities. There will also be a need to improve basic infrastructure to go along with the production growth in Argentina, such as roads, highways and railways.

Q: What are the current projections for corn and ethanol production?

A: Argentina is the world's second-largest exporter of corn. The U.S. Department of Agriculture and Argentina's Agriculture Ministry forecast production of 27.5 million tons and 28 million tons, respectively in 2012. That's because our corn crop is benefiting from very good soil moisture, rain and optimum temperatures. In comparison, Argentina produced about 21 million tons of corn last season.

The industrial use of agricultural commodities, such as corn for bioenergy, is one of the fastest growing activities in the world. The benefits of generating electricity, biogas and biofuels for engines may have a central impact on the economy in Argentina. As for ethanol production, plans have proposed 10 million tons of corn and sorghum be used for biofuels, generating 4 million cubic meters for the international market. Considering all the projects for biofuel plants currently being evaluated for Argentina, recent estimates predict the need for 4.3 million metric tons of corn for the year 2015.

Biogas, which is rapidly developing in the EU, China, India and other countries, can be a substitute for natural gas and can be used in existing systems. It was proposed that ½ million hectares of corn or sorghum be used for biogas. This equals 10% of the natural gas demand for Argentina.