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

Abstract

Isn't the severity of environmental problems obvious? Don't scientific results speak for themselves for environmental decisions? Isn't it enough to develop more efficient technologies? The answer to these three questions is no; these are common mistakes that hinder dialogue and obstruct the search for solutions. Understanding it allows us to begin the search for consensus based on a better understanding of the technical obstacles but, above all, political difficulties, today particularly entangled in a context of polarization and misunderstanding exacerbated through social media. Environmental problems are pressing, but having being right based on scientific information alone is not enough. Here, I propose that the way forward may be to agree on common actions even 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 contry desirable development path are multiple and should be made explicit and discussed in the political arena to avoid falling into the simplicity of technocracy, with policy swings involving high transaction costs that prevent any effective progress.