The transition towards more sustainable agricultural systems has begun to gain momentum in various Argentine regional economies. In this context, the INTA Alto Valle Experimental Station, located in Guerrico, gathered for three days producers and technicians from Río Negro, Mendoza, and Misiones to exchange experiences related to regenerative agriculture.
The meeting was part of the program “Transition towards Regenerative Agriculture”, promoted by the Banco Credicoop Foundation along with the INTA and cooperative organizations.
Additionally, producers dedicated to pears and apples, yerba mate, cassava, vineyards, and horticulture participated, sectors that seek to adapt to new environmental and commercial demands.
The initiative already involves about 300 producers distributed in different regions of the country and aims to reduce the carbon footprint through more environmentally friendly practices.
Farms with fewer emissions and greater biodiversity
In the Alto Valle of Río Negro, the project works with producers from the First Fruit Cooperative of Roca to measure the environmental impact of fruit farms. Technicians especially analyze the carbon footprint generated by activities such as fertilization, use of machinery, phytosanitary applications, and harvesting.
Based on this data, strategies are implemented to reduce emissions and increase carbon capture in soils and forest curtains. Promoted practices include reducing tractor use, lower fossil fuel consumption, using bio-inputs, and more efficient management of agricultural applications.
Additionally, several producers have begun to incorporate plant covers that improve soil structure and promote biodiversity within fruit groves. According to specialists, these actions also allow progress towards international environmental certifications increasingly demanded by export markets.
Yerba mate plantations and vineyards seek to restore ecological balance
In Misiones, the program focuses mainly on yerba mate and cassava producers distributed in 15 provincial cooperatives. There, one of the main problems identified is related to soil degradation caused by decades of conventional management and intensive mechanization.
In response to this scenario, technicians promote practices aimed at recovering organic matter, improving fertility, and reducing the use of chemical fertilizers. Additionally, many producers have begun to reduce soil disturbance and incorporate green covers to protect biodiversity and conserve moisture.
Meanwhile, in Mendoza, the project works especially with vineyards and horticultural systems through a focus on soil, water, and biodiversity.
Technical teams use environmental monitoring tools that allow them to evaluate ecological indicators and design production systems less dependent on external inputs.
The benefits of regenerative agriculture for the environment and production
Regenerative agriculture seeks to restore natural processes within production systems, improving soil health and reducing the environmental impact of agricultural activity.
One of its main benefits is the ability to increase carbon capture in soils, helping to reduce gases linked to climate change. Additionally, these practices promote biodiversity, improve water infiltration, and reduce erosion caused by the intensive use of machinery and agrochemicals.
At the same time, many producers manage to reduce costs through less dependence on synthetic fertilizers and fossil fuels. There are also commercial advantages, as environmental certifications are becoming important requirements for exporting food and regional products.
As international demands for more sustainable agricultural systems grow, different Argentine regions are beginning to experience a model change based on ecological processes and environmental recovery of productive territories.
