A delegation from the Foreign Ministry visited the facilities of the National Agricultural Technology Institute (INTA) in Balcarce, Province of Buenos Aires, to become acquainted with the latest developments regarding silo-bags, a system for storing grain that stands out for being low-cost, easy to use and efficient, and which, with INTA’s contribution, is exported to more than 50 countries.
The delegation was headed by the Deputy Foreign Minister, Leopoldo Sahores, and the Undersecretary for the Promotion of Exports, Investment, Education, Science and Culture, Ramiro Velloso. They were joined by the President of INTA, Juan Cruz Molina Hafford. The visit included a tour of INTA’s Pilot Plant in Balcarce, where international experts focus on research and development of technologies for the storage, conditioning and processing of grain, seeds and by-products.
During the activity, Deputy Foreign Minister Sahores stressed that silo-bags are the gateway to many other technological agricultural solutions that Argentina can offer to the world. “Food safety is one of the great challenges faced today by the world population, which is projected to reach 10 billion in a few years. We need to ensure that food products are safely and sustainably maintained, stored and preserved,” he stated.
Sahores later stated: “I believe that the silo-bag is an efficient, affordable and competitive system that can be adapted to different circumstances, and it is a solution that Argentina can offer to the world.” He added that “it is necessary to raise awareness and make this technology known. INTA has a fundamental role in training future users of this technology.”
In this respect, the President of INTA, Molina Hafford, highlighted the Institute’s role in the development and contribution of technologies, in this case —regarding stored grain logistics—the silo-bag. “It was possible to apply this silo-bag technology management model in Argentina thanks to agricultural extension. So, today, we are doing research and extension and collaborating with all the companies that provide these technological solutions and with the Foreign Ministry.”
“In Argentina, nearly 40% of grain is stored in silo-bags, and producers, storage facilities and industries know how to use this technology thanks to INTA’s work,” said Molina Hafford, who further stated that “the world needs to know this is a logistics solution and that Argentina can take it to the rest of the world.”
During the tour, Ricardo Bartosik, researcher at INTA Balcarce and national coordinator of Grain Post-Harvest, mentioned that INTA has been working with the Foreign Ministry for many years to promote the silo-bag technology in the world, together with the companies that manufacture the required machinery as well.
“Argentina is one of the main suppliers of agricultural technology at global level,” Bartosik said. He further stated that “Argentine companies are known worldwide for developing and marketing technology. To achieve this, we had to work hard to develop a network of distributors, logistics support and after-sales service, and to build a public system that provides technology with support and scientific information.”
The Pilot Plant has a 600-m2 surface area and it is the only one of its kind in Latin America. It is the result of the coordinated work of INTA, the School of Agricultural Sciences of the University of Mar del Plata (UNMdP), and the National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET). It also offers product and process assessment based on the needs of the industry. This Plant makes it possible to innovate in technologies related to hermetic storage; controlled and modified atmospheres; quality control and management systems; drying systems -efficiency and quality-; pest control; segregation and traceability; assessment of the quality, health and safety standards for grain, seeds and by-products under different storage conditions; automation of post-harvest processes and primary grain transformation processes; among others.
The National Director of INTA, Ariel Pereda; the Director of the South Buenos Aires Regional Centre of INTA, Horacio Berger; and the Director of INTA Balcarce, Facundo Quiroz, as well as diplomats, regional authorities and representatives of the sector, participated in the visit.
