Instituto Nacional de Tecnologia Agropecuaria – Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Oliveros (INTA) The National Agricultural Technology Institute, commonly known as INTA, is an Argentine federal extension agency in charge of the generation, adaptation and diffusion of technologies, knowledge and learning procedures for the agriculture, forest and agro-industrial activities within an ecologically clean environment.
INTA is a decentralized state agency under the Ministry of Agroindustry for research and extension activities on agriculture. It is composed by 52 EEA (Agricultural Experimental Station) along the country among many Centers, Institutes and Units.
EEA Oliveros (32.34 S- 60.51W) is located in the core area of commodities grain production of Pampas Region, specifically at the central-east side of the country, near the last third of Paraná River. It organizes its activities through two areas: Research in Agronomy and Rural Development, however most of the projects (of national and/or regional scope) complement both of them. Research main topics: crop rotation, integrated pest management, seed quality, soil-crop fertilization, environmental evaluation, systemic approach, agro ecological approaches. Large experience on working on field trials, farmers’ field, urban agriculture and flea-market/door to door market (urban agriculture is a program that have been carrying on along the country since around 1990). Also have a close contact with items supplier companies (seeds, agrochemicals, etc). EEA Oliveros has also around 400 ha for agricultural commercial production following parameters for soil conservation and biodiversity.
EEA Oliveros is strategically located at 20-50 km of a main grain and oil exporter harbour where large industries are located (Dreyfus, Cargill, etc.), as well as it has close relationships with surrounding Agricultural Cooperatives, and farmers as individuals or gathered in Cooperatives (2nd grade Cooperative) or Federation (1st grade Cooperative) and local provincial administration.