SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH

This is one of the sectors in Argentina that shows the strongest investment policy in research in science and technology. Since mid 80s, a number of projects were developed under cooperation agreements between CAM –Argentine Peanut Chamber- and INTA, the State Universities of Rio Cuarto and Cordoba, CEPROCOR –the provincial central lab-, the Institute of Science and Technology for Food –ICTA- and private laboratories. They developed studies on issues relevant for peanut activity: new improved varieties (not GMO), irrigation systems, mycotoxins, soil management and preservation, seed health, disease control, sustainable production models, food safety, nutritional profile, product innovation, among others.

In August 2001 the Argentine Peanut Foundation was born. It is entirely financed by CAM member companies and conducted by representatives of all segments involved in peanut producing chain.

Since then, Fundacion Mani Argentino –FMA- (Argentine Peanut Foundation) is responsible for conducting and coordinating research programs in peanut sector. For this purpose, FMA subscribes different type of agreements with public and private scientific centers.

Technology transfer is other crucial task in our sustainable approach. New developments and technology are transferred by INTA extensionists, the professionals of the Center of Agricultural Engineers and the processing companies themselves. On a yearly basis, there are training conferences and workshops for farmers, technicians and students of Agricultural careers. Among these educational activities, the most important are the Peanut Tour (April or March); the In-Farm Peanut Workshop (April); the National Peanut Conference (September) and the Peanut Best Yields Contest, sponsored by BASF (August).