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Andrés Fernández Madero


Major Crops: Wheat, soybeans, corn

Farm Size: 2,750 acres (1,100 hectares)

Years Farming: 13+

First Planted Biotech Crops: 1998

Favorite Benefits: Lower costs, fewer pesticide applications, greater flexibility

Family: Married, four children

Since the fields are cleaner, we use fewer pesticides.
Since the fields are cleaner, we use fewer pesticides.
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BIOTECHNOLOGY IN ARGENTINA ENABLES MADERO TO ADOPT SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE METHODS
 Benefits Seen Across Soybean, Cotton and Corn Crops

The use of biotechnology in Argentina has increased rapidly since genetically modified (GM) crops were first introduced in 1996. For example, over the last five years, almost all soybeans grown in Argentina were biotech, and plantings of Bt (insect-protected) corn crops is on the rise. In 2005, Argentine farmers planted approximately 42 million acres (17 million hectares) of GM soybean, cotton and corn crops.

“What I would like to do the most is increase production efficiency and to keep lowering the cost. And, thanks to biotechnology, we are able to achieve this,” says Argentine farmer Andrés Fernández Madero, who has realized the benefits of genetically modified organisms in both his soybean and corn crops since 1998. Between 1996-2004, biotechnology in Argentina enabled farmers to boost their net farm income by US$10.1 billion.

The planting of GM crops also has enabled farmers like Madero to adopt sustainable agriculture methods, such as the use of no-till farming. “Direct sowing, biotechnology, rotation — all this has lowered our costs. But it’s not all about numbers. Since the fields are cleaner, we use fewer pesticides. The growth of weeds has been considerably reduced. The consumption of herbicide has been reduced to 50 percent less than what we used before,” he says.

The adoption of sustainable agriculture methods and biotechnology in Argentina has reduced the time required for harvesting and planting crops. Farmers are using this extra time to plant and harvest a second crop of soybeans within the same season. “Regarding Roundup Ready soy biotechnology, the tasks are a lot simpler. There’s almost no weed problem. The times are more flexible to work and to do the applications,” says Madero.

“Well, if starting tomorrow they told me that I can’t use biotechnology any longer, I think most of Argentine producers would have to disappear from the system because we couldn’t work in any other way,” comments Madero. “Because what we’re looking for is a profitable activity … that’s sustainable a long time.”

Editor's Notes:

  • Roundup Ready® varieties contain in-plant tolerance to Roundup® agricultural herbicides. Roundup® is a registered trademark of Monsanto Company.
  • Pesticides registered by the U.S. EPA will not cause unreasonable adverse effects on man or the environment, when used in accordance with label directions.

© 2006 Monsanto Company. All rights reserved. The copyright holder consents to the use of this material and the images in the published context only and solely for the purpose of promoting the benefits of agricultural biotechnology.

Video Transcript



My name is Andrés Fernández Madero. …

I think there’s a before and an after regarding biotechnology. Mainly Roundup Ready soy and Bt corn allow us to considerably lower the cost and, at the same time, allow us to have more free time to spend on other things. …

Regarding Roundup Ready soy biotechnology, the tasks are a lot simpler. There’s almost no weed problem. The times are more flexible to work and to do the applications. … Bt corn — and we will probably incorporate Roundup Ready corn — is also going to change our time even more. …

Since harvest times are longer, it can be expected that corn will dry more. They don’t drop. We lower commercialization costs, freight charges. And that’s a very important impact — even more now, with the fall of corn’s international prices. …

… What I would like to do the most is increase production efficiency and to keep lowering the cost. And, thanks to biotechnology, we are able to achieve this. …

Direct sowing, biotechnology, rotation — all this has lowered our costs. But it is not all about numbers. Since the fields are cleaner, we use fewer pesticides. The growth of weeds has been considerably reduced. The consumption of herbicide has been reduced to 50 percent less than what we used before.

The population of beneficial insects has increased considerably nowadays. … There are a lot of bugs that are beneficial that we’re not killing. … Because the wild life has stabilized a lot... And, there are a lot fewer weeds.

Well, if starting tomorrow they told me that I can’t use biotechnology any longer, I think most of Argentine producers would have to disappear from the system because we couldn’t work in any other way. … Because what we’re looking for is a profitable activity … that’s sustainable a long time. … In my opinion, what we’re doing is crucial. …

… It surprises me. It’s a very, very important change.

© 2006 Monsanto Company. All rights reserved. The copyright holder consents to the use of this material and the images in the published context only and solely for the purpose of promoting the benefits of agricultural biotechnology.