**1. Introduction**

364 Soybean Physiology and Biochemistry

Yashima, H., Fujikake, H., Yamazaki, A., Ito, S., Sato, T., Tewari, K., Ohtake, N., Sueyoshi,

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K., Takahashi, Y. & Ohyama, T. (2005). Long-term effect of nitrate application from lower part of roots on nodulation and N2 fixation in upper part of roots of soybean (*Glycine max* (L.) Merr.) in two-layered pot experiment. *Soil Sci. Plant Nutr.,* 21, 981-

> Soybean production in Argentina started in the seventies "as a productive option to provide proteins for animal feeding. This was fostered by the National Institute of Agricultural Technology (INTA) at a national level and by the Argentine Institute for the Oilseeds Development (IADO) , currently closed" (ACSOJA, 2009). In spite of this, the soybean development was very slow until the mid 90s, when two technological milestones occurred: no-till farming and the inclusion of transgenic seeds.

> The development of this chain is shown in its growing competitive power. Indeed, Argentina has kept and increased its presence in the world market, being the third exporting country of soybean (13% of the total exports). It is also the first world exporting country of soybean oil and meal (55% and 50% share of the total exported). Finally, the export goods of the soybean chain represent the first exportation item of the Argentine economy (2010/2011).

> This may be explained by four factors: a) the agro ecologic suitability, b) the constant improvement and technological innovation, c) the most modern and of major scope crushing facilities for soybean of the world, d) the high exportable surplus due to low domestic consumption.

> In the last ten years, the development of this chain not only has favored the members of the chain –producers, manufacturers, exporters, merchants- but also the National State, which by means of the implementation of export duties1 obtains strong revenues.

> In spite of the favorable setting in which the soybean chain appears both, at a national and international level, this crop is questioned by several agents who analize how the soybean spreading is shifting the agricultural frontier. This expansion in turn is causing the substitution of agricultural and stockbreeding products, the use of not suitable lands for agriculture, the extinction of small-size producers and environmental damage among other consequences.

> Therefore, the goal of this work is to describe and analize the evolution of the soybean chain in Argentina through indicators and explicative factors2 referred to the primary, industrial

<sup>1</sup> Up to March 2010, they amount to 35% for grain and 32% for soybean oil and meal.

and exporta sectors, since the mid seventies up to the present time, with special emphasis on the last thirty years. The aim is to outline the probable future context that the direct and indirect agents connected to the soybean complex will face.
