INTA’s role in plant breeding in Argentina

Abstract This study analyzes four decades (1980–2019) of cultivar registration in Argentina and its relationship with agricultural production trends, with focus on the complementary roles of the private sector and public institutions such as INTA. During this period, 12,530 cultivars were registered in the National Cultivar Registry (RNC), reflecting major shifts in the seed system. Registrations expanded sharply in the 1990s, mainly through introduced horticultural and fruit varieties, and peaked in the 2010s. The private sector progressively concentrated on cereals and oilseeds for the Pampeana region, while INTA retained strategic influence in crops sustaining regional economies—such as industrial crops, horts, fruits, forest species, aromatics, and forages—thus complementing market-driven breeding with a federal perspective. The 1990s and 2000s were characterized by a sharp increase in soybean production, primarily driven by the expansion of cultivated area enabled by the adoption of glyphosate-resistant cultivars intrinsically linked to the widespread implementation of no-tillage systems. In contrast, the 2010s witnessed unprecedented growth in maize production, with output doubling through a combination of yield gains and area expansion. Wheat and sugarcane also contributed through yield improvements. This dynamic consolidated cereals and oilseeds as the backbone of national production, while fruits and horticultural crops remained stable in volume but central to regional development. Overall, these trends reveal a dual structure: the private sector driving productivity in staple crops of the Pampeana region, and INTA ensuring genetic improvement in crops underpinning ecological adaptation and territorial diversity. This underscores the strategic value of sustained public investment in breeding programs that balance market efficiency with resilience and equity.