Biotecnología para el desarrollo y sostenibilidad agroindustrial del Noroeste Argentino

in 1994, a group whose aims were both scientific research and technological development was set up. this team was inspired by the increasing demand of the agro-industrial sector in the north west of argentina. besides financial considerations inherent to the productive process, social and environmental issues were borne in mind when research had to be carried out. the conceptual premises of scientific work were the study, preservation and a judicious use of biodiversity; equally important was the relentless search for phytosanitary management alternatives which were friendly to both humans and the environment. thus, in 1997, the frst national program of strawberry genetic breeding in argentina started at insibio (conicet-unt), tucumán. this institute coordinated this program on a national level. thanks to an agreement between insibio and the estación experimental agroindustrial obispo colombres (eeaoc), in 2002, the eeaoc's biotechnology department, a unit associated to insibio, was founded. one of the main goals of this department was both to develop and adapt technologies to support institutional ongoing programs which intended not only to increase productivity but also to confer more sustainability to those agro-industries related to sugar and alcohol, soybean and citrus. and most importantly, a new scientific and technological team constituted by professionals working with other groups from different research centers nationwide carne into existence. their common goal has been the improvement of agro-industrial productive processes in order to help build a society which is fair and equitable for both the present and the future.