soybean in the production systems of argentina -...

Soybean in the production systems of Argentina

Agustín BianchiniAapresid

Argentinean No‐Till Farmers Association

Outline

‐ Overview of crops in Argentina.‐ New production environment.‐ The no‐tillage system.‐ Good agricultural practices.‐ Sustainable agriculture certification.

CertifiedAgriculture

The evolution of NT

No‐tillage expansion

Latin America = 47 million ha

World Total = 95 million ha

Argentina = 20 million ha

Source: Derpsch – AAPRESID (2006)


The evolution of NT

No‐till area evolution as a percentage of the total agricultural areaSource: Aapresid

Area

und

er No‐Till (%

)

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%


The evolution of NT

No‐till area evolution: 1977 to 2009 Source: Aapresid

0

5000000

10000000

15000000

20000000

25000000

30000000

Soybean Corn

Wheat Sorghum

Sunflower Total

Area

(hectares)


The evolution of NT

East to WestaSoil: Silt-clay loam to sandy

aRainfall: 1000 to 500 mm

aOM: 5% to less 1.5%

aGrowing season: 270 days (N) 180 days (S)

aNo snow or frozen soils


The evolution of NT

Soybean management

FALLOW PLANTING DEVELOPMENT HARVEST

Crop protection

Herbicide + fertilizer (PS)

Seed + inoculant + fertilizer (PS)


The evolution of NT

TRADITIONAL AGRICULTURE

SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE

Modification of the environment

(soil)

PlantYield

potential

Adaptation of the plant and the technology

EnvironmentSustainable production

potential

Source: Gil (2005)

Farmers are managing an offer of environmental resources:

water, light, CO2, nutrients, etc.

New approach


The evolution of NT

New environment

‐ More crops per unit of time (intensification)

‐ Reduction / elimination of chemical fallow

‐ High soil residue cover, with higher soil moisture

‐ Partial replacement of chemical Nitrogen by biological Nitrogen (use of legumes)


The evolution of NT

II– The no‐till system Concept

New agricultural paradigm

Productive system based on the absence of tillage and the presence of permanent soil

cover with crops and residues


The evolution of NT

II– The no‐till system Positive impacts

‐ 90% less soil erosion.‐ 40% less fuel use.‐Maintenance or improvement of the soil organic matter.‐ Increase in soil fertility (chemical, physical and biological).‐ Higher water use efficiency.‐ Lower production costs.‐ Higher production stability and yield potential.

TANGIBLE BENEFITS FOR THE FARMER


The evolution of NT

II– The no‐till system Benefits, beyond the farmer

‐ Better soils, higher capability to produce food and energy.‐ Less competition for drinkable water (strategic resource).‐ Higher water quality (lower erosion and contamination risk).‐ GHG emissions reduction, positive impact on climate change.‐ Less pressure on HCV and fragile areas (by production increase).‐ Possibility of producing in degraded and/or fragile lands without the known risks of conventional tillage.

BENEFITS TANGIBLE FOR THE SOCIETY (EXTERNALITY)


The evolution of NT

III– Productive and environmental quality management system in CA

Objectives:

- To provide tools for a professional agronomical management, by the ordered registry of information and the analysis of the soil quality and efficiency indicators.

- To show to the rest of the society how are the production processes and its impact on the environment, allowing to capture the value of the positive externality that the CA makes in it.


The evolution of NT

Why?

Because there are scientific fundamentals that correlate soil health indicator values with

agronomical practices


Good Agricultural Practices (GAP)


The evolution of NT

NO-TILLAGE is a synonym of crop residue

GAP 1: No Tillage (residue cover)

Coronel Suarez , Buenos Aires, ArgentinaFederico Roveda (2007)

GAP 2: Crop rotation: Diversity and intensity

GAP 3: Balanced crop nutrition

Control

+ Nitrogen

+ Phosphorus

+ Sulphur

GAP 4: Integrated pest, weed and disease management.

Including the correct agrochemical management and its containers

GAP 5: Efficient and responsible management of agrochemicals

It is the production alternative thatbetter combines the interests – many timesconfronted – of reaching a production:‐ Economically viable for farmers.‐ Environmentally sustainable.‐ Socially accepted.‐ Energetically efficient.

Certified Agriculture


The evolution of NT

0

20

40

60

80

100

Plan

ted area

(%)

1990 199519851980 2000

Adoption of GM varieties

Agro‐chemicaluse

No‐tillage

Precision Agriculture

Source: Viglizzo, 2006; adapted from Satorre, 2005

Introduction and adoption of technologies in agriculture in Argentina (1980‐2000)

Aplication in more than 50.000 ha. in

Argentina.

Validation and search process for biological indicators

(BIOSPAS).

Participation in international events to position CA and

capture the value(RTRS, RSB, ISGA, FAO)

Agreement with SGS for external audit and certification

Elaboration of a Protocol and GAPs

Manual

Alliances with province

governments

Agreement with AGROECOINDEX

Agrolimpio Agreement (CASAFE).

Agreement with BCR Soil Testing Laboratory

Agreement with Wageningen University /

Dutch EmbassyAlliance with the Agribusiness Program for strategic planning

(UBA)

No‐Till evolution in Argentina (1977‐2005)

Source: AAPRESID (2005)

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

20

1977/78 1986/87 1988/89 1990/91 1992/93 1994/95 1996/97 1998/99 2000/01 2002/03 2004/05

AAPRESID

GMO

Are

a (M

illio

n he

ctar

es)

Roundup Ready Corn in Argentina

The channel for GM corn does not require segregation, unless there is a “GM‐free” requirement by the customer.

Main international actions‐ Participation in ISGA (International Soybean Growers Alliance)

‐ Participation in RTRS (Round Table on Responsible Soy Association)

‐ Participation in RSB (Round Table of Sustainable Biofuels)

‐ CA presentation in FAO workshop (July 2008, Rome)

‐ Presentation at the DG TREN for the Renewable Energy Directive

‐ Presentation in international events (EU, China, United States, Australia, Brazil, Mexico, Uruguay, etc.).


The evolution of NT

No-tillageCrop rotationTechnology

BiotechnologyBalanced fertilizationMonitoring, diagnosis and efficient nutrient applicationIntegrated Pest ManagementWeather forecasts managementProfessional calibration of equipment

New production system

No-till is basically more knowledge integrated in a production system

I – Context analysis: Demand vs. Offer: At which cost?

The case of agriculture

Intensive tillage destroys the biological and ecological integrity of the soil system (Reicosky, 2004).

Wind and water erosion, are a consequence of conventional tillage and cause contamination of the water resources.

A higher CO2 emission due to tillage increases the greenhouse effect (Adapted from Moraes Sá, 2004).


The evolution of NT

Components:

- Principles & Criteria:- RTRS, RSB, ISGA, RTSPO, FSC, FAO

- Management indicators:- in the soil - resource use efficiency

- Good Agricultural Practices Protocol (GAP’s)



The evolution of NT

1. Associated to the agronomical management:‐ Decision making in ag management (crop rotation, fertilization, etc).‐ Analysis of the evolution of the impact management in the system (time).

2. Associated to existing business or easily accessible:‐ Credit evaluation (environmental and production balance).‐ Carbon trading markets.

3. Associated to new businesses:‐ Business by contract. Ex: food, biofuels.‐ Added value, access to preferential markets.‐ Traceability, ID preserved, segregation, mass balance, book & claim.‐ Country brands (sustainability).‐ GHG emissions, deforestation, social and labor rights


Potential uses


The evolution of NT

•How did argentine farmers grow corn before the introduction of RR hybrids?•Is RR corn in Argentina adopted only in bigger farms or also in the smaller one’s•How does a typical RR corn weed control program looks like?•Did the introduction of RR corn led to more corn monoculture?•Do farmers pro-actively implement glyphosate weed resistance management?•What are the farmer benefits (including non-tangible benefits)?•How does RR corn lead farmer to go for conservation tillage? did they need to invest in equipment or had it already?•Highlight benefit of Conservation tillage for sustainable agriculture.•Details about the management of harvested RR corn at grain handler / elevator level. Is there a different channeling for gm / non gm products?

Aplication in more than 50.000 ha. in

Argentina.

Validation and search process for biological indicators (BIOSPAS).

Participation in international events to position CA and

capture the value(RTRS, RSB, ISGA, FAO)

Agreement with SGS for external audit and

certification

Elaboration of a Protocol and GAPs

Manual

Alliances with province

governments

Agreement with AGROECOINDEX

Agrolimpio Agreement (CASAFE).

Agreement with BCR Soil Testing Laboratory

Agreement with Wageningen University /

Dutch Embassy

Alliance with the Agribusiness Program for strategic planning (UBA)

An improvement in soil porosity, increases water use efficiency, by improving water infiltration,

decreasing runoff and evaporation losses, and improving the water retention

I – Context analysis: The demand

‐ It is estimated that in the next 50 years, the population that today exceeds 6 billion people will increase by 50%.

‐ In 2050 there will be between 9 billion people (Solbrig, 2002) and 11 billion people (Izquierdo, 1998).


The evolution of NT

I – Context analysis: The offer

“In global terms, the humanity has responded to the increase in the global demand of food and energy (we are aware that distribution is a opened issue)”


The evolution of NT


Living Planet Report, 2008

Ecological Footprint: Area of land biologically productive and water needs to provide ecological resources and services (Demand)


The evolution of NT


Living Planet Report, 2008Certified

Agriculture

The evolution of NT

In NT the function of the roots and the fauna plays an important role in the soil porosity regeneration

‐ Because they allow to access confident management information, with scientific basis.

‐ To be able to observe quanti and qualitative recent changes in the management and its impact in the system.

‐ To allow to integrate physical, chemical and biological properties and to interpret complex processes.

‐ Because they allow to clarify processes: “ecological traceability”(Viglizzo).

‐ Because they are tools to certify products and processes, and also to create brands (Viglizzo).


Indicators: why?


The evolution of NT

Sources Used:

• FAO, ISGA, FCAA, USB, RTRS, RSB, RSPO, Rain Forest Alliance• National & international research studies

Peer review:

J.L. Arzeno (INTA Salta), N. Darwich (Consultor Privado), M. Díaz‐Zorita (FAUBA‐Nitragin), M. Ferrari (INTA Pergamino), J. Galantini (UN del Sur), V. Gudelj (INTA Marcos Juárez), E. Jobbagy (UN San Luis), M. Puente (Lab. GEA San Luis), C. Quintero (UN Entre Ríos).

Agronomical Management Indicators


The evolution of NT

A commitment that Aapresid, asorganization assumes, to contribute to theincrease of the wellbeing of the local andglobal society, in the conflict solutionProductivity vs. Environment.



The evolution of NT

PHYSICAL (R. Gil/A.M. Lupi)– Texture– Bulk Density– Total Porosity– Aireation Porosity– Water Infiltration– Crop Residue Cover


1.a. Direct Indicators:

CHEMICAL (F. García/A. Bianchini)– Phosphorus– Sulphur– Salinity/Sodicity(CE/PSI)– pH

CARBON (R. Gil/A.M. Lupi)– Soil Carbon Dynamics


The evolution of NT

1.b. Indirect indicators:‐ Crop rotation diversity and intensity.‐ Nutrient balance (N, P, S).‐ Fosil energy use (Agro‐Eco‐Index).‐Water use (Agro‐Eco‐Index).

1.c. Resource use efficiency: ‐Water use efficiency (Agro‐Eco‐Index).‐ Energy use efficiency (Agro‐Eco‐Index).



The evolution of NT

I – Context analysisGlobalization: BIG(Berlin, Internet, Gatt)

‐Winners / losers syndrome (increase in gaps): However, this doesn’t mean that when somebody wins, others necessarily must loose.

‐ An economy with competition sum zero must be replaced by an economy with creation of values (win‐win)

The concept is also applicable to the compatibility between development and environment: Together with the “environment right” we should institutionalize in the international community a “development right” (di Castri, 2002).

‐ 4E paradigm (Economy, Energy, Ethics and Environment)Certified

Agriculture

The evolution of NT

I – Context analysisSociety of the Information

‐ That of the services and knowledge and the organization in networks(Castells, 1996).

‐ That in which the traditional production factors: capital, land, machinery, and labor are minimized in the economic importance, by the fast appearance of the sciences and the new technologies and that advances fast due to the explosion of communications (Palom Izquierdo, 2004).

‐ Importance of the Human Resources (di Castri, 2002)Certified

Agriculture

The evolution of NT

I – Context analysis: The future offer

‐ Future scenarios (Solbrig, 2002):

1) The technology goes together, it is produced at the rhythm of the demand. Environment?

2) Abandoned of the technological agriculture, no response to the demand. Hunger/Wars?

3) Part of the world that produces food with technology, part without technology and more price. Unstable equilibrium?

However, Solbrig (2003) says that the damage to the environment is not inevitable.

‐ New opportunity of solution not so conflictive of the dilemma. ‐ New opportunity of business.


The evolution of NT

I – Context analysis: Searching for solutions

‐ Do we respond to the increase in demand? Yes.

‐What strategies do we know? Increase by productivity and area expansion.

‐ Is the environmental damage inevitable? No. There is an opportunity from agriculture.Clean technologies (scientifically proven).

‐ Is the economic development compatible with the environmental sustainability?Necessarily, we need to work for that.

The No‐Till certification is thought from this point of viewCertified

Agriculture

The evolution of NT

GAP 6: Cattle production


It allows to show to the society how are the production processes for food and energy, giving the possibility to capture the value of the positive externality that this production system generates

on the environment.


The evolution of NT

‐ Certification of productive processes in no‐till. Innovative and original proposal.

‐ General principles and standards with local adaptation, based on GAP’s and soil quality indicators (scientific basis).

‐ Network structure, coordinated by NGO (Aapresid, key aspect in the implementation, with global projection).

‐ Independent consultation and certification companies.

‐ Focus on agronomical and environmental management.

‐ Differentiation of the process and not the product

‐ Capture of the value by improving the agronomic management, possibility of new businesses, and better price or access to preferential markets.

IV– Conclusions of the QMS/CA


The evolution of NT

‐ Changes in pest populations (new pests)

‐ Higher soil biological activity, and pressure of soil fungi (stalk and root diseases)

‐ New weed population patterns (diversity and abundance)

‐ High pressure of annual grasses (importance of RR technology), but lower broadleaf pressure

‐Medium presence of other species with small seeds

‐ Eventual appearance of glyphosate tolerant (Viola, Commelina, Conyza, Cyperus, etc.)

Agro‐ecosystem biological changes


The evolution of NT

‐ Seed quality (energy, vigor, purity, calibration)

‐ Seed treatments

‐ Tools for managing soil diseases (biotechnology?)

‐ Selective residual herbicides for high residue cover

‐ Better control of RR crops, when they act as weeds (volunteer RR corn, farmers need and have other options)

‐ Resistance prevention in weeds by application of integrated weed management programs

Specific needs


The evolution of NT

• Diversification of productive risks• Nutrient and water balance of crops• Composition and density of soil residue cover• Biological activity and diversity

• Interruption of weed and insect cycles• Competition alternation for light, water and nutrients, for weeds• Variation in the “application timing ” of herbicides• Variation of the selective herbicides that are applied in each crop of

the rotation

• Improvement in soil physical conditions (structure and porosity)• Intensification: use the stored water in NT

Crop rotation advantages: why corn in no‐till?


The evolution of NT


‐ RR technology allowed to grow corn in weedy fields.‐ In high weed pressure areas, grain yields were increased.‐ RR corn has the same tolerance to selective herbicides as conventional corn.


‐ Adopted by small (< 500 ha), medium, and large farmers (> 5000 ha), since 2004.

‐ 70% of the crops in Argentina are under no‐till.‐ 47% of the corn is RR (mainly NK‐603, and the rest is GA‐21), offered by around 10 seed companies.

Roundup Ready Corn in Argentina‐ Typical Roundup Ready corn weed control program:

‐ Residual selective herbicide at pre‐plant or pre‐emergence (atrazine, acetochlor), at low application rate, to guarantee a good initial control, and to reduce the selection pressure of glyphosate resistant biotypes.

‐ Post‐emergence glyphosate at V4‐V5 growth stage.

V4-V5

Roundup Ready corn weed control program

FALLOW PLANTING DEVELOPMENT HARVEST

Glyphosate

Residual herbicide

(atrazine, acetochlor)


The evolution of NT


‐ Farmers must rotate crops and herbicides (2+ a.i.) to reduce weed resistance risk.

‐ Use other herbicides (in combination with glyphosate) with the lowest application rate and the appropriate timing, to make them effective and avoid crop damage.

I – Context AnalysisThe dilemma

“The humanity faces today a dilemma with no apparent solution, between the ghost of the lack of

food for an increasing demand in quantity and quality, or a destruction of the natural resources

needed to produce them”.


The evolution of NT

Thank you!!!!

[email protected]

www.ac.org.ar/english


The evolution of NT

soybean in the production systems of argentina -...

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