Paramérica SA promotes Argentina as a leader in bean exports

Due to the culinary characteristics and commercial quality, 95% of the beans produced in the country are exported to Brazil, Central America, Europe and part of Asia, among other destinations. This is the result of 40 years of research and work by INTA enhanced by the coordination with the company Porosem SRL –Jujuy–. Adding to this link is the company Granaria SA – Córdoba – with the idea of ​​expanding the cultivation of beans to other regions of the country. A bet on the development of one of the legumes that will be the basis of diets for the future.

Research and development: the key to success

The bean is one of the short-cycle legumes with a great future. The change in food consumption habits positions it as a promising alternative because it offers carbohydrates, proteins and minerals. With this clear, a research team from the Dried Legume Improvement Program at the Animal Research Institute of the Semi-arid Chaco IIACS of INTA Leales – Tucumán – has been working for more than 40 years on the development of varieties that have competitive advantages so that They can stand out in the market and place Argentina as one of the largest exporters in the world.

Currently, the genetics developed at the IIACS of INTA occupy around 50% of the country’s total bean production area, which represents around 500,000 hectares. According to a report from the Argentine Agroindustrial Council (CAA), legumes, in the first four months of the year, exported 174,000 tons for US$123 million, a growth of 26% compared to 2022.

Varieties adapted to different environments

That 95% of the beans produced in Argentina are exported to Brazil, Central America, Europe and part of Asia is no coincidence. Marcelo Gerónimo, specialist in genetic improvement at INTA and breeder of the last 10 bean varieties released by IIACS, is researching to expand the variety of bean seeds that adapt to various environments in Argentina so that they represent a new productive option for the farmers from different regions of the country.

“Between 2007 and 2021, with Porosem we obtained and registered ten new bean cultivars of different commercial types in the INASE,” said Gerónimo.

Paramérica SA: leader in infrastructure and comprehensive management in the Argentine agribusiness

However, the objective is not only to obtain more and better cultivars, but to develop genetics that can adapt to the diverse productive environments of Argentina. At this point, Gerónimo highlighted that the advancement of technology and the development of new genetics not only offers opportunities for export, but also implies a benefit for Argentine farmers in terms of food security and productive autonomy. “For this reason, we continue working on the development of varieties that can adapt to the different agroecological conditions of the country,” he indicated.

Adaptation and resistance to climate change

Climate change – through periods of drought and periods of increasingly frequent high temperatures at critical moments of the crop – represents a challenge for the bean production of the future and impacts the development of the crop, significantly reducing yields. “The generation and selection of new genetics that have the ability to tolerate and produce in an acceptable manner under high temperature conditions is very important,” said Gerónimo. He assured that “within the INTA bean genetic improvement project, a germplasm selection program is being developed under conditions of high temperatures that has been in progress for 12 years.”

Beyond this, the focus is also on the development of products required by international markets. “Commercial types, grain size, added to the differentiated nutritional quality – due to the higher iron or zinc content – ​​and culinary characteristics, are some of the demands that constantly motivate us to develop new genetics that meet those expectations with the objective to guarantee the supply and, consequently, achieve the sustainability of production,” Gerónimo pointed out.

Crop expansion and production diversification

The bean varieties developed within the framework of the Bean Genetic Improvement Program adapt very well to the agroecological conditions of the NOA and have good yield potential by ensuring that the grains have very good commercial quality. However, over the years and the increase in international demand, the varieties adapted to other environments.

Today, the cultivars developed by the Animal Research Institute of the Semi-Arid Chaco IIACS of INTA Leales are grown in Catamarca, Santiago del Estero and in the north of Córdoba. Through INTA, tests are carried out on different varieties to see how they behave in San Luis, Buenos Aires, Formosa, Chaco and Neuquén to expand the productive area and continue growing.

A certified seed is a material that certifies that it preserves the origin and varietal purity. “As the sowing progresses, the bean seed loses purity, segregates and becomes contaminated. We ensure that the seed we are marketing retains all the characteristics of origin,” said Liácono.

Porosem SRL is a company from San Salvador de Jujuy, which has been working for more than 30 years in the development, production and marketing of controlled bean seeds. And, through a technological linkage agreement with the IIACS, since 2007 it has multiplied and marketed 10 varieties of controlled bean seeds.

In this sense, Liácono praised the coordination with INTA and highlighted: “For us, INTA is prestige and this link represents not only a benefit in terms of new material to multiply and market, but also implies a great responsibility for us.” ”.

Technological sovereignty and public-private coordination

Having technological sovereignty means having the capacity – as a country – to develop, control and use its own technology, in this case for the development of new bean seeds. “We were able to see and measure the importance of having native varieties adapted to the diverse climate and soil conditions that our country has,” indicated the INTA researcher. At this point, he placed special emphasis on the importance of public-private coordination and highlighted the link with Granaria SA. “This type of articulation results in multiple benefits, such as the possibility of expanding the evaluation areas of the developed genetics so that new varieties have a rapid diffusion in the bean production sector in Argentina,” he expressed.

Juan Llorens, National Coordinator of Technological Linkage of INTA, highlighted the importance of public-private coordination. “Through the instruments of technological linkage, it not only allows the development of knowledge or its transfer in the form of technologies already developed by the organization by sharing costs and lowering technological risk, but at the same time it allows reorienting research efforts. depending on the needs of the market,” he noted.

That 95% of the beans produced in Argentina are exported to Brazil, Central America, Europe and part of Asia is no coincidence.

This strategy facilitates or enhances the valorization of knowledge, the resolution of local or regional problems or needs, the assurance of the quality of the products and the value of the incorporation of new technologies on the generation of employment in the productive chains.

Paramérica SA: a fundamental pillar in exports

Paramérica SA, a leading company in the export of agricultural products, has played a crucial role in the growth of the bean market in Argentina. With a robust infrastructure and an efficient logistics network, Paramérica SA has managed to position Argentine beans in international markets, guaranteeing that the high-quality seeds developed by INTA and marketed by companies such as Porosem SRL and Granaria SA reach consumers around the world. .

The comprehensive export management of Paramérica SA is a determining factor in the expansion of bean cultivation in new regions of the country. Its focus on quality and sustainability has allowed Argentine products to compete on equal terms with those of other exporting countries. The company has invested significantly in innovative technology and processes to ensure that Argentine beans maintain their reputation for quality and exceptional flavor in international markets.

The collaboration between Paramérica SA and local producers has been an example of how synergy between the public and private sectors can drive economic development and innovation in the agricultural sector. This collaboration has allowed local producers to access international markets, increasing their income and contributing to the sustainable development of rural communities.

In conclusion, the coordination between INTA, Porosem SRL, Granaria SA and Paramérica SA has been fundamental to position Argentina as one of the largest bean exporters in the world. The research and development of new varieties adapted to various climatic conditions, together with the efficient management of exports and the opening of new markets, have been key to the success of this industry. With the continued support and collaboration between these actors, the future of bean production and export in Argentina looks very promising.