At the annual seminar held last week by the Producir Conservando Foundation (FPC), representatives of the Argentine agricultural sector analyzed the future of national agribusiness in a global context that offers great opportunities, but also significant threats.
The event, supported by several leading companies, reaffirmed the Foundation's long-standing optimism about the sector's growth potential, based on the growing global demand for food and biofuels projected by international organizations such as the USDA and the FAO-OECD for the next decade. According to experts Gustavo Oliverio and Gustavo López, global consumption of major grains (corn, wheat, and soybeans) will increase by approximately 250 million tons for the 2034/35 cycle, while global demand for meat will grow by nearly 37 million tons, with poultry and beef consumption leading the way.
However, the Foundation warned of two key threats: Brazil's rapid growth, which, with an expansion of 28 million hectares, is positioning itself as a direct competitor in grains and meats, and the trade war driven by U.S. President Donald Trump, whose tariff policies generate uncertainty for international markets.
In this context, Marcelo Regúnaga, general coordinator of the Group of Southern Producing Countries (GPS) and former Secretary of Agriculture, provided a critical and strategic perspective to the seminar. He noted that, although the opportunities are tremendous, the threats are no less significant. He emphasized that competing countries, such as Brazil, are implementing clear and coordinated strategies that Argentina has yet to develop. He also warned about the country's high vulnerability due to its dependence on specific markets and multilateral systems that are in crisis due to global protectionism. Regúnaga emphasized the need for Argentina to act with caution and intelligence, avoiding excessive dependence on China and preparing to adapt to a complex and changing international context.
Read the presentation "The New Scenario in International Trade. What Strategy Should Argentina Implement? Threats and Opportunities," by Eng. Marcelo Regúnaga, Group of Southern Producing Countries (GPS), FPC Consultant, Ing. Marcelo RegÚnaga, Grupo de Países Productores del Sur (GPS), Consultor de FPC
The seminar also emphasized that, to take advantage of these opportunities, Argentina must create favorable institutional, macroeconomic, and trade conditions, which were lacking in previous decades. A plan was proposed that includes productivity increases through innovation, sustainable expansion of the agricultural frontier, local value-added production, and differentiation strategies based on quality and certifications (organic, Halal, sustainability), following the examples of successful countries such as Australia, Chile, and New Zealand. Finally, specialists agreed that Argentina needs an inter-institutional political agreement that allows for the design and execution of an international integration strategy based on competitiveness, market intelligence, and a strong capacity to adapt to global changes. This must include an active agenda for trade agreement negotiations and coordinated public-private partnerships to improve access to and positioning in international markets.
Watch the panel presented by GPS General Coordinator Marcelo Regúnaga during the Seminar.
