by Griselda Sanchez Vallduvi

1. SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF HEALTHY
OILSEEDS
Ing. Agr. Griselda E. Sánchez_Vallduví. Assistant Professor of the Oilseed and Regional Crops course from Faculty of
Agricultural Sciences and Forestry, La Plata National University, Buenos Aires, Argentina. gvallduv@agro.unlp.edu.ar
Working Group: Ings. Agrs. Roberto A. Barreyro, Griselda E. Sánchez_Vallduví, Rodolfo Bezus, Adriana M. Chamorro, L. Nora Tamagno, Rodolfo D. Signorio,
Viviana G. Petruccelli, Fabián de la Cruz. Oilseed and Regional Crops course cultivos@agro.unlp.edu.ar Santiago J. Sarandón, sarandon@agro.unlp.edu.ar.
Agroecology Course. Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Forestry at the La Plata National University, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Consequences of the agriculturization and simplification of agroecosystems that have occurred in
Argentina
• Reduced biodiversity. Peanut
• Agroecosystems that are less stable and less resilient.
• Displacement and reduction of livestock.
• Increasing reliance on inputs.
• Problems related to human and environmental health.
Flax
• Degradation of natural resources.
• Fewer farms.
• Less demand for rural employment. rapeseed Sunflower
• Reduced food security. Soybean
What do we do in front of this reality in the course on Oilseeds?
RESEARCH
Project: Evaluation of strategies for the design and management of sustainable agroecosystems
Objective: To promote research to understand, develop, manage and evaluate agricultural systems in the context of sustainable agriculture.
Lines of work:
• The use of mixing and consociation of species in the production of oilseeds and its role in the sustainability of extensive production systems.
• Evaluation of energy efficiency systems. Tool for the design of sustainable production strategies.
• Design and evaluation of agro-management strategies of weeds in oilseed crops.
• Weed management in flax. Evaluation of crop-weed competition in agro-ecological approach (Thesis Griselda E. Sánchez_Vallduví).
• Analysis of the impact on the sustainability of the spread of rapeseed and barley in place of wheat in the sequence wheat/soybean 2nd in the locality of
Tres Arroyos (Thesis Adriana M. Chamorro).
FLAX RAPESEED
Oil with high content (60%) Edible oil with good nutrition, high content (10%) of alpha-
of alpha-linolenic acid linolenic acid and a good proportion of omega3/omega6.
(precursor of metabolic Very important around the world with potential in
chain omega 3), very good Argentina.
industrial quality and
source for obtaining
healthy foods. A crop with
a history in Argentina and
possibilities of spreading.
Flax-clover intercropping and
weed management
agroecological
SUNFLOWER
Rapeseed cultivars.
Edible oil with good Resource usage
organoleptic and
nutritional characteristics.
Development of special
sunflowers. Second
oilseed planted in SOYBEANS
Argentina, and was The seeds are used in human and animal foods for the contribution of
displaced to marginal proteins (40%), and edible oils (18-20%). Great expansion of cultivation in
areas and adapts to Argentina leading to problems associated with the domination of
mixed systems. soybean production.
Sunflower-legume intercropping
TEACHING
TRANSFER Objectives:
Why go back to planting flax in Argentina? 2003. Griselda E. •Promote the ability to recognize, describe and characterize oilseeds and the systems that
Sánchez_Vallduví. www.cuencarural.com. they integrate.
The cultivation of flax: a productive and healthy alternative. •Display the interactions between environmental, ecological, genetic, and technological
2008. Griselda E. Sánchez_Vallduví and M. Alejandra Ouviña. factors and their effects on the oilseed crops and the agroecosystem.
www.agro.unlp.edu.ar and www.agroalternativo.com.ar. •Develop criteria for sustainable agro-ecological management.
Rapeseed a crop that deserves attention. 2004. Adriana M. •Encourage critical capacity for responsible decision-making and an awareness of their
Chamorro, L. Nora Tamagno. www.cuncarural.com. impact on production, environmental and human health in different ecological and
socioeconomic contexts.
FINAL CONSIDERATIONS
The development of sustainable farming systems should be a prime target for farmers, academic institutions, scientists and politicians. In this context it is
imperative:
- To reconsider and rethink seriously the reductionist model of agricultural production systems.
- Keep in mind the long term effects that it can have on human and environmental health.
- Reconciling productivity with economic, ecological and social aspect.
- Ensure the security of health foods from different socio-economic sectors.
There is a need for commitment and dedication by those involved in research, teaching, implementation, the productive sector and political power, to
guide efforts and resources toward a more sustainable agriculture.