The sunflower in Argentina: situation and challenges

Yields of sunflower, the fourth most important crop in Argentina, have rece ntly reached 6 million tons. Argentina has, thus, become the world's leadin g sunflower producer. High rates of oil-protein industrialization have also made the country an export leader of by-products such as oil and meal pell ets. The main reason supporting the idea that the sunflower area should keep on developing is that, as this crop strives through cold and dry climate, it w ill soon stretch to lands beyond the Humid Pampa reaching the southwestern part of Buenos Aires Province. Hybrid earlier grains exhibiting better yiel ds and transgenic groins would be used together, but the potential expansio n of their utilization will depend on the development of new varieties, and the improvement of by-product qualities and strategical means of commercia lization and exportation.