Two months after the regulation of Law 27,350, which enables medical and scientific research on the medicinal use of cannabis and its derivatives, the first public-private agreement was reached between the National Institute of Agricultural Technology (INTA) and the company Pampa Hemp. The deal will aim to promote national production, the development of cultivation techniques, genetic varieties and a seed bank.
As detailed from Pampa Hemp -one of the founding companies of the Argentine Chamber of Cannabis- and INTA, the initial focus of the agreement will be on research, development and research (R&D) activities. In addition to the productive ones with the development of cannabis cultivation techniques in different genetic varieties.
In this regard, progress will be made in the design of production protocols supported by the integration and development of local traceability technologies, applied artificial intelligence, automation, sensorization and crop monitoring that will subsequently be scalable at the agronomic level.
Great challenge, Great opportunity
“It is a great challenge and an enormous opportunity both for INTA and for the professionals who will participate in the project,” said Ignacio Terrile, director of the Pergamino Experimental Station (EEA). Terrile explained that the main objective: “To initiate a process of generating knowledge of high scientific-technological value, fundamental for the development of the industry related to the production of cannabis derivatives in Argentina.”
“From the link with, we will have the opportunity to be part of the national development, research and cultivation of cannabis, generating transferable technology that empowers the industry”, underlined the director of the EEA. “For INTA it is an unprecedented experience, and we are committed to strengthening public-private integration as a strategy to stimulate the innovation that our country needs to enhance its insertion in global agro-industrial markets,” said Terrile.
“Argentina is one of the main agro-exporting countries on the planet. We have the capacity for innovation to export to the world not only our production but also agricultural scientific and technological knowledge, perfecting our own production models”, explained Sebastián Tedesco and Pablo Fazio, founding partners of Pampa Hemp.
