BASF discusses transformation at the 2024 CDA Argentina

BASF led a significant debate on the future of input distributors during the 2024 Agri-Distributors Congress (CDA) held in Buenos Aires, Argentina, with special coverage by AgroPages.

The agrochemical multinational hosted a panel to discuss "disruption and transformation in agriculture driven by digitalization under the theme "The Channel Speaks to the Channel." In this second edition of the congress, BASF's booth welcomed its distributors, referred to by the company as "ambassadors."

The event also featured the participation of Gustavo Portis, Director of Agricultural Solutions for Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, and Bolivia, as a speaker at the conference "The Future of Agricultural Businesses and the Distribution Channel."

The topics discussed included disruption in agriculture and the need for transformation towards distribution models that add more value to farmers.

With vast experience in the agricultural sector, Gustavo Portis contributed his insights: "Disruptions are defined by two axes: digitalization and sustainability, which are affecting agriculture as key factors in the production process."

The panel discussed local and global trends, understanding that many external regulations defined in recent months will impact our country's ability to produce and export.

"Today, we wonder what role Argentina, or even Mercosur, will play in the world. I firmly believe that we in South America have the opportunity to transform the region into a sustainable food production hub," the speaker stated.

"We have innovative solutions and a network of professionals in the sector, and, although some structural frameworks regarding digitalization are missing, I am sure that this will come in the years ahead allowing us to position Mercosur positively," he added.

Regarding sustainability as a crucial axis of transformation, the Director of Agricultural Solutions envisioned "a production model that allows the farmer, based on traceability and good agricultural practices, to automatically obtain a carbon credit certification after harvesting, which is tradable worldwide."

"On our side, this is one of the practices where we want and can help, allowing farmers to monetize sustainability," he assured.

Furthermore, Gustavo Portis emphasized the importance of distributors as business partners and key players in bringing solutions closer to farmers. He highlighted the value their deep knowledge of agricultural environments and farmers provides. He encouraged them to enhance their capabilities by incorporating data technologies to generate more and better information for decision-making. "In companies like ours, we have the opportunity to contribute with innovation, with an open knowledge network, with digitalization tools that not only accelerate, certify, and improve processes, but also achieve cost reduction," he pointed out.

He mentioned that BASF must contribute to the contribution of connected offerings and production form models. "We do everything possible to make agriculture more sustainable, connecting innovation with distribution networks, to transform agriculture and meet society's expectations."

Silvia Sánchez, Agronomist Engineer, president of AGL S.A., and BASF "ambassador," spoke about the needs and challenges of farmers in her region. "Farmers have started a path to convert their production into a business, and the big challenge they face today is learning to manage a modern company that can adapt to changes (economic, climatic, technological) and also incorporate digitalization, which, due to fear or lack of knowledge, has not yet seen the benefits," she stated.

She also gave her perspective on the distributor's role today: "The value we deliver to the farmer is accompanying them daily, trying to help them solve their problems, providing technological and economic solutions. In this way, the farmer has the best BASF product and the proximity that our distributor's location implies."

Commenting on the future of distribution, Fabricio Salvetti Mock, Sales Coordinator at AgroAlarcia, said, "Technology has been advancing rapidly and exponentially. Although I don't imagine it will be like in the United States, where everything is 100% e-commerce, I believe we will tend digital."

"Our responsibility today as distributors is to seek financing tools so that the farmer can plant and make long-term decisions," he said in conclusion.

(Editing by Leonardo Gottems, reporter for AgroPages)