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“It is not a privileged segment, I am surprised as a Spaniard by the use of the landowner concept”

The global CEO of the phytosanitary company Adama, Ignacio Domínguez, visited Argentina after four years. It was for an annual meeting organized by the firm, as it has been for 5 years, where elite clients (called BLACK Adama) gathered to share 3 days of experiences, business visions and the agricultural market, generating a space for exchange and enrichment.

And it leads Adama at a global level, which markets products in more than 100 countries and invoices over US$ 4,000 million per year.

As global CEO of a multinational company that works in Argentina. How do you see the political-economic situation of the country?

Argentina is one of the great pillars of world agricultural production. Not only from the point of view for Adama’s business, but for production in general. Today, the planet has great challenges that are related to the field. One is food production and the other has to do with the weather. Argentina plays a fundamental role for both challenges. It has the capacity to produce and grow and, in turn, has the capacity to accept new solutions that translate into possible solutions to the great challenges facing the planet in relation to climate change. It would be interesting if all the political, legislative and economic actors understood that there is a great opportunity here to generate wealth. It’s not always perception. It is a magnificent opportunity to generate employment, wealth and economic activity that in the long run will really improve conditions in Argentina.

And why do you think that Argentina does not see that opportunity?

There are economic and cultural aspects. The economic ones have to do with the short and long term. There is an opportunity in the generation of greater economic activity, but the possibility of looking at the long term is lacking. It’s time to invest. When I talk to governments, obviously I tell them that you can grow if you raise taxes but you can grow much more if you collect more volume. And when it comes to cultural aspects, it is to think that we are talking about segments of the population committed to the economy and production. It is not a privileged segment, I am surprised as a Spaniard by the use of the landowner concept. He has the land but he worked from dawn to dusk, he generates employment. This perception that the field is full of privileged people is a cultural expression that should be rethought.

-How are you getting around the difficulties to import phytosanitary products due to the lack of dollars?

The economic conditions in which we operate are not unique to Adama. It is for the entire sector and we adapt to the extent that we can. We do not limit our activity because of it. If tomorrow Argentina were a power in agriculture, being the breadbasket of the world, it would be a great way to capture dollars. You can relieve your debt position. There are many consequences if you have a global vision.

Managers at the end of the “Black Adama” event.


In this context, what is Adama’s vision for Argentina?

Where growth arises, there we are. Objectively, if it happens in Argentina, of course we will bet. But if that historic opportunity is lost, growth will be elsewhere and we will support that growth in another territory. One of the big disruptive factors right now is the war in Eastern Europe. For example, Ukraine and Russia export 30% of wheat and barley, 25% of corn, 78% of sunflower oil. There is no one as prepared to be the substitute as Argentina, not even Brazil. But it will compete with the United States and Europe. If Argentina doesn’t take advantage of that opportunity, the opportunity will go elsewhere. And we are going to support growth elsewhere. If it were in Argentina, we would be delighted.

In any case, despite the current context, Adama’s commitment to Argentina remains firm…

Of course. Our investment commitment is related to the size of the business. If it is the one I know today, it will carry our continuity as it is now. We invest in product development, growing in the organization, we are committed to making it easier for our customers to produce more. We are investing around 120 million dollars every year in the development of our product portfolio. In Argentina, 10 million dollars were invested in the last year. But we also invest in the supply chain and in the manufacturing of raw materials and we invest close to 450 million dollars each year.

-During the event organized by the company this week, you mentioned that Adama is not ashamed in the segment where he is. Why did he say it?

I see that there are activities or companies that are more committed to economic activity than to actually providing solutions on the ground. Of course we are aware that there is a global impact on food production, on climate change. But our concern is that the Argentine producer can combat its weeds, diseases or pests. Being able to be by their side and not bore them with the big issues on the planet, which are important, but not at the producer level.

-How are you dealing with the problem of resistant weeds, one of the main scourges of agriculture?

There are two ways to control weeds. One is with the introduction of new products in such a way that the resistances can be changed towards new molecules. For example, today we have product A that generates resistance, we launch product B and so on. We have a line of very powerful products for the coming years. But there is also another possibility: that the products have a higher efficacy, it is more complicated for these resistances to develop. That is why our focus is towards formulations that are more efficient and differentiated.

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