Argentina has emerged as a major global competitor for corn export markets — and actually exceeded U.S. export totals in 2013, due to the drought-suppressed U.S. figures — but the Argentine corn sector shares important common interests in market access and biotechnology with U.S. producers.

It shares important aspirations as well: “We want to be like the United States,” said Martin Fraguio, executive director of MAIZAR, the Argentine corn and sorghum federation, during a presentation to the attendees of the U.S. Grains Council’s winter annual meeting. “We don’t want to be Venezuela.”

Modern agriculture can be, and must be, one of the foundations of Argentina’s continuing social and economic development.

Fraguio emphasized MAIZAR’s commitment to science, technology, responsiveness to market signals, exports and balanced, private-sector oriented economic development. Argentina’s rise as a corn exporter is directly attributable to productivity increases driven by biotechnology while new technology and global market access are keys to Argentina’s future.

Fraguio also expressed an admiration for the ability of the U.S. agricultural sector to organize and cooperate to achieve common goals, a strategy MAIZAR is attempting to emulate as it represents all sectors of the corn and sorghum value chain.

While proud of Argentina’s progress, Fraguio candidly acknowledged major challenges. Severe inflation, currency controls, out of control government spending, an export tax and political hostility to free markets, international trade and private enterprise are constant threats.

MAIZAR is also a founding partner in MAIZALL, the strategic alliance formed by the major corn exporting countries of the Americas. MAIZAR (Argentina), ABRAMHILO (Brazil), and National Corn Growers Association and the Council (United States) are collaborating to advance acceptance of food security through trade, market access and increased international acceptance of biotechnology.

“This would not have happened without the leadership of the United States,” Fraguio acknowledged, and he pledged MAIZAR’s continued support for initiatives that will create an improved trade environment for both producers and consumers around the world.

Click here to view photos from the Council’s winter annual meeting.