Julio Ferrarotti: “Argentinean soybean breeders are at the top of the podium”

Julio Ferrarotti is a pioneer in the breeding of soy in Argentina. His father registered the first national cutivar of soybeans in ’60. In 1994 he founded a new seed company, named Relmó, together with four partners, including his father and brother. After the sale of the company to an investment fund around 2008, he continued his work as a breeder and headed Prosoja, a non-governmental association that brings together Argentine soy breeders.

eFarmNewsAr.com recently interviewed with Julio to know his opinion on the state of the art in the breeding of soy in the country.

How do you rate the work of soybean breeding in Argentina?

JF: Our breeders are on the global podium, without doubt, alongside their American colleagues. Genetic gain for yield exceed global standards and have a relevant participation in the national soybean productivity. In addition, an Argentine breeding company supplies its genetics to the largest soybean markets in the region and accumulates a global market share of 35%. All these is not casuality. Argentina has a public education system of excellence with a high level of training in genetics; In global forums on breeding, Argentine scientists are at the top.

What is the focus or priorities in the local improvement of soy?

JF: Productivity has been the focus since the beginning of soybean breding in Argentina. But we have a quick response when pests, biological factors or climate challenged production. Keep in mind that the country has a large territory from north to south and high climatic variability from west to east. The breeding system provided not only higher yields but also adaptation to a wide range of agroecological circumstances.

What were the most important milestones in soybean farming in the country, in your consideration?

JF: First, the development of a national system for the generation of soybean varieties, which supplies genetics not only to Argentine farmers, but also to farmers in foreign countries. Second, having reached the highest genetic gain rate in the world, and third, having reversed the paradigm on the aptitudes of different growth habits. Local breeders have been able to replace the full germplasm in two seasons when biotic factors challenged the crop.

What do you expect from gene editing technology for the next few years? Does the edition of genes close the technological gap opened during the transgenic years?

JF: There are currently some serious companies related to gene editing in a local plane. I see that the editing of genes will be a powerful tool for breeding in the next times. I do not speak for the long term, but in the next ten years, farmers will use new improved varieties with gene editing.

What role does it assign to the Chinese breeding system, considering that China is the center of origin of this crop?

JF: Manchuria is the origin of this wonderful crop. Not only are they sitting in the center of origin, but they have advanced breeding programs, with an excellent scientific level; Last but not least, they have a strategic germplasm bank. Chinese breeders are developing formidables varieties for farmers, but agricultural and own-land systems are preventing that genetic improvement from being expressed on the farm. In addition, you should consider that three of the five most important soybean breeding public programs in the US are led by Chinese professionals.

Finally, and thanks for your time, Julio, do you think that Argentine breeders have access to a similar technology (hardware) that breeders in developed countries?

FJ: The equipment is basically the same here and in the rest of the world. Perhaps it could have certain lack relationship with devices for molecular technology. But sooner or later, this technology will come. In addition, in the last 15 years, the public scientific system have been so well equipped and provides support to private companies, covering a possible technology gap.