Argentina

Overview

Area km²: 2,780,400

Population: 44,938,712

Capital: Buenos Aires City

ISO 3166: AR

Population density:
16.2 hab/km²

National flower:
Cockspur coral tree
(Erythrina crista-galli)

Argentina is a country markedly oriented to the export of agro-industrial products. Argentina’s main crops are soybean, maize, wheat, sunflower and barley, although there is also a strong regional production of lemon, peanut, pulses, cotton, rice, yerba mate, tea, pear and other fruits, and potato and other vegetables, among others. Regarding animal production, Argentina is a major beef producer - a product that has earned the country worldwide recognition - and also produces pork, poultry and sheep meat. Argentina shows significant development of other industries such as milk and dairy products, fisheries and forestry; and the country has earned worldwide recognition for its viticulture. The main agricultural products exported by Argentina are oilseed crops (soybean, sunflower and their byproducts), grain cereals (maize, wheat, rice, barley) and beef.

GM Crops

1Yes

Does the country plant GM crops?

1996

Since

25.7

Area with GM crops in millions hectares

Percentage of each GM crop

SAFFLOWER is planted on a small area for the production of bovine chymosin (molecular farming)

POTATO: small area with virus-resistant GM potatoes

HT: herbicide-tolerant - IR: insect-resistant - DT: drought-tolerant

Adoption of transgenic crops in the country

SOYBEAN
HT, HT/IR, DT/HT

MAIZE
HT/IR, HT

COTTON
HT/IR, HT

WHEAT
DT/HT

ALFALFA
Low lignin/HT

HT: herbicide-tolerant - IR: insect-resistant - DT: drought-tolerant

Trade

International trade of GM crops

Argentina is a net ag-exporting country. Products derived from GM crops represent more than 63% of the value of the country's agricultural exports and reach 114 countries around the world. For more information about the contribution of GM crops to world trade, from Argentina and the other Latin American countries, visit the Trade section.

Are there local developments?

Yes

Some examples of local developments

• Virus-resistant potato (PVY) developed by Tecnoplant and researchers from the Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular del Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (INGEBI-CONICET).

• Drought-tolerant soybean and wheat (HB4). Developed by a public-private sector joint endeavor between Bioceres and the Instituto de Agrobiotecnología del Litoral (IAL) which belongs to the Universidad Nacional del Litoral (UNL) and the Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET).

• Boll-weevil resistant cotton (Anthonomus grandis) developed by the Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA).

• Herbicide-tolerant sugarcane developed by the Estación Experimental Agroindustrial Obispo Colombres (EEAOC) and the Chacra Experimental Agrícola Santa Rosa.

Benefits of GM crops

The adoption of transgenic crops has resulted in higher yields, reduction of production costs, increased profitability of primary production and creation of novel direct employment. Adoption of herbicide-tolerant GM crops has favored the adoption of no-till farming (NT), a system in which the seeds of the next crop are directly sown over the previous crop residues without disturbing the soil, minimizing erosion and improving water use efficiency. By reducing the time-period between crops, NT allows for a double-cropping scheme, in which soybean is planted immediately after the wheat is harvested. The adoption of insect-resistant crops reduced the use of pesticides and therefore, of fossil fuels, thus reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Adoption of GM crops also contributed to the achievement of higher crop yields and to improve grain quality. In addition, insect-resistant maize favored the adoption of late sowing, thus allowing risk diversification and stabilization of yields, by protecting the crops even during periods of increased pest pressure.

For further information regarding benefits

• 25 años de cultivos genéticamente modificados en la agricultura argentina. Tejeda Rodríguez A., S. Rossi, N. Jorge y E. Trigo. Bolsa de Cereales (2021)

• 25 years of genetically-modified crops in argentine agriculture. Tejeda Rodríguez A., S. Rossi, N. Jorge y E. Trigo. Bolsa de Cereales (2021)

• GM crops: global socio-economic and environmental impacts 1996-2018. Brookes and Barfoot (2020a)

• GM crop technology use 1996-2018: farm income and production impacts. Brookes and Barfoot (2020c)

• Environmental impacts of genetically modified (GM) crop use 1996-2018: impacts on pesticide use and carbon emissions. Brookes and Barfoot (2020b)

• Veinte años de cultivos genéticamente modificados en la agricultura argentina. Trigo, E.J. (2016)

Regulation of GM crops

1991

Since

Brief description of the regulatory framework

The authorization for commercial use of transgenic crops is granted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, and such decision is based on the expert opinions delivered by three different agencies and their advisory committees. The Innovation and Biotechnology Office and CONABIA (National Advisory Commission on Agricultural Biotechnology) are in charge of the risk assessment of the impacts the GM crop may cause on the agro-ecosystem. The food safety assessment of the GMO (and its byproducts) is conducted by the SENASA (National Service for Agrifood Safety and Quality) and CTAUOGM (Technical Advisory Committee on GMO Use). The Directorate of Agricultural Markets of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries is in charge of the assessment of the market impacts that may arise from the market approval of the GMO. After careful analysis of the three abovementioned expert opinions, the Secretary for Food, Bioeconomy and Regional Development grants authorization for planting, food and feed use, and placement on the market of the GMO. Authorizations for contained activities (in biosafety greenhouses) and confined (field trials and counter-season seed production of unauthorized events) are also granted by the Secretary for Food, Bioeconomy and Regional Development, based on the recommendations issued by the Biotechnology Office and CONABIA.

• Regulatory framework

• List of GM events approved

GM animals

Does the country produce GM animals?

For the time being, the country does not commercially produce GM animals.

Brief description of the regulatory framework for GM animals

Argentine regulation contemplates the possibility to carry out trials with and commercially produce GM animals, and has enacted specific regulations to address these cases. Risk assessment is conducted by the same agencies and commissions that assess GM crops biosafety.

• Regulatory framework

Are there local developments?

Yes

Some examples of local developments

• Transgenic cows that produce milk containing human growth hormone. "Dinastía Pampa Mansa", developed by Biosidus.

• Transgenic cows that produce milk containing human insulin. "Dinastía Patagonia", developed by Biosidus.

• Transgenic cows that produce milk containing bovine growth hormone. "Dinastía Porteña", developed by Biosidus.

• Transgenic cow that produces milk with similar properties as human breast milk (containing human lysozyme and lactoferrin) “Rosita ISA” developed by the Grupo de Biotecnología de la Reproducción - INTA Balcarce y la Universidad Nacional de San Martín.