The first RTRS group certification achieved in Argentina
A group of producers in Córdoba, Argentina, has achieved Group certification under the RTRS Standard for Responsible Soy Production, a milestone led by Tecnocampo S.A. as Group Manager. This advancement strengthens local agricultural practices, providing producers with the tools to meet global sustainability standards and improve their competitiveness.
A group of producers in Córdoba, Argentina, has obtained Group certification under the RTRS Standard for Responsible Soy Production. This achievement, led by Tecnocampo S.A. as Group Manager, strengthens local agricultural practices and facilitates access to international markets committed to sustainability and environmental responsibility.
Argentina celebrates its first Group certification under the RTRS Responsible Soy Production Standard. This certification was attained by a group of producers from the province of Córdoba, led by Tecnocampo S.A., headquartered in Montecristo.
Tecnocampo S.A. took on the role of Group Manager in this innovative process for local agriculture, while SGS Argentina was the organization responsible for issuing the certification for the RTRS Córdoba Producers Group.
This achievement not only strengthens local agricultural practices but also reflects Tecnocampo S.A.’s commitment to supporting other producers on their path to sustainability. With multi-site certification for soy obtained since March 2014, Tecnocampo S.A. has accumulated a decade of experience that was crucial in successfully leading this first Group certification in Argentina.
The external audit was conducted at the end of May 2024. In this first year, the group consisted of three producers: El Espinillo SA, Zako SA, and Los Seis SAS. Together, they encompass six agricultural establishments totaling 4,113 hectares, of which 1,314 are dedicated to soybean cultivation and 523 to conservation.
Andrés Laxague, Production Manager at Tecnocampo S.A., stated: “The main benefit of RTRS certification is the improvement in business management within the company, the development of collaborators, and the deepening of relationships with the community, suppliers, and customers.”
“For Tecnocampo, it represented a significant achievement for two main reasons. One is the opportunity we provided other producers to implement RTRS on their fields, and the other is the development and growth of the team that carried out this project,” Laxague added.
“As a team, we took this challenge as a learning opportunity by implementing new work methodologies, such as open innovation, project management, and agile methodologies,” he continued.
He emphasized: “For the producers who joined us, it meant the chance to start a new path in managing their production system, and they are grateful for this group opportunity, as individually they probably would not have reached implementation due to the cost relative to their scale of operation.”
Tecnocampo S.A. concludes that demand-side incentives are essential to achieve a larger scale of implementation. The company also emphasized the need to develop support platforms and assist producers throughout the certification process.
Natalia Boloniati, Commercial Coordinator at SGS Argentina, the Certification Body responsible for auditing the group, emphasized that “at SGS, a certification body accredited under ISO 17065, we carried out the evaluation of the RTRS Córdoba Producers Group, ensuring transparency and rigor in the audit, and guaranteeing compliance with the highest international standards,” she added.
“In the long term, the benefits of belonging to a certification group will be reflected in the uniformity of procedures and the collective growth of the producers. This is the first group certification in Argentina, but we are confident that it will be the first of many,” she concluded.
With this first Group certification in Argentina, Tecnocampo S.A. reinforces its commitment to sustainability and responsible development in the country’s agricultural sector, demonstrating that collaboration and mutual support are key to successful implementation of sustainable practices.
This achievement not only contributes to the growth of RTRS but also represents a challenge and growth opportunity for Tecnocampo S.A. ‘s team, promoting innovation and collaboration across the value chain.
With this first RTRS Group Certification in Argentina, Tecnocampo S.A. reinforces its commitment to highlighting and differentiating sustainable production systems, contributing to the growth and development of the sector, with the conviction that the best business is for many to adopt these responsible practices.
