Cultivating Greener Growing

In an attempt to recognize Argentine farmers who cultivate crops in ecologically sustainable ways, a farmers’ association in Argentina started a certification system. The program could be good for the biotech seed industry in Argentina if farmers view cultivation of genetically engineered crops as a way to meet the requirements for certification. Argentina is already the second largest producer of biotech crops in the world, behind the U.S.

The program, called Agricultura Certificada, was designed by the national farmers’ association Aapresid, or Asociación Argentina de Productores de Siembra Directa. To get certified, farmers must prove that they minimized the environmental damage of farming, including water, air and soil contamination. They must also use Good Agricultural Practices, as defined in the program guidelines, such as monitoring beneficial and damaging insects, using agrochemicals responsibly and practicing no-till, a method of farming without plowing the soil.

Executives at Monsanto, an American biotech seed maker with an Argentine market, are betting that their products will help farmers meet the criteria. The company supports the program with funding and publicity. “We believe all the Good Agricultural Practices included in Agricultura Certificada encourage farmers to use biotech crops,” says Pablo Vaquero, head of corporate affairs at Monsanto’s Argentine headquarters in Buenos Aires. Aapresid president Gastón Fernandez Palma agrees, but notes that farmers who choose not to use biotechnology can still meet the criteria.

The beginnings of agriculture certification systems are popping up globally, but none come from the same perspective as Argentina’s, says Vaquero. “Most of the time, certification schemes have been imposed on farmers by consumers or industry. This is the first time farmers are acting proactively,” he says.

So far, 25 Argentine farmers representing about 70,000 hectares are seeking certification. Their hope is that being certified will make their crops more attractive to consumers, most of whom are overseas. But to get the majority of Argentina’s farmers involved, the program must provide “huge incentives,” such as access to the best markets and better prices for crops, says Palma, who is also a farmer.

Whether the program will lead to more sales of biotech seeds in Argentina is unclear. Many Argentine farmers publicly object to genetically modified crops. Those who use the technology do so quietly, says Palma, and many of those farmers buy their seeds on the black market. In fact, about half of all the biotech soybeans grown in Argentina are traded illegally between farmers, according to a 2009 report from the Foreign Agricultural Service, part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Only 20 percent of soybeans are bought from seed companies or authorized dealers. The rest are saved by farmers for their personal use, which is legal in Argentina.