Argentine agricultural production and climate change: out of the maze and upwards

Resumo

Isn't the severity of environmental problems obvious? Don't scientific results speak for themselves regarding environmental decisions? Isn't it enough to develop more efficient technologies? The answer to these three questions is no; they are common mistakes that hinder dialogue and obstruct the search for solutions. Understanding this allows us to begin the search for consensus based on the best technical knowledge available but, above all, an appreciation of the political difficulties, today particularly entangled in a context of polarization and misunderstanding exacerbated through social media. Environmental problems are pressing, but being right based on scientific information alone is not enough. Here, I propose that the way forward may be to agree on common actions despite groups having differing world views, and I exemplify this for two very important issues in agriculture: research policy and participation in international forums. The visions on our country most desirable development path are multiple and should be made explicit and discussed in the political arena to avoid falling into the simplicity of technocracy, thus avoiding policy swings involving high transaction costs that prevent any effective progress.