Alternative agro-ecological production (Argentina)

• Federico Etcheverry and Nicolas Villafañe, DSM Nutritional Products, Buenos Aires
• ‘Promoting efficient and ecologically-friendly farming techniques’

There are places on Earth that are more ‘fortunate’ than the Argentinean town of Cañuelas and its surrounding areas. The rate of unemployment in Cañuelas and its surroundings is considerably high. The families (which generally tend to be large) often live in cramped houses. Many boys do not go to school, girls often become mothers at a young age, and acres of land become impoverished due to monoculture.

The Torch initiative of DSM Nutritional Products Argentina is focusing on improving the quality of life in this area by supporting the work of a non-governmental organization, the ‘Families Producers of Cañuelas City Group’, a co operative that is currently made up of 26 families from the agricultural and related sectors. Promoting knowledge of efficient and ecologically-friendly farming techniques constitutes part of the program, as does the acquisition of a tractor and other resources. The objective is to increase produce and thus also wealth, and to help more people to find jobs.