Facing the black bean crisis, all eyes are on the mung bean: A Salta-based company expects high demand.

SurFood is a Salta-based company belonging to the Familia Crestón group, which produces, processes, and exports "special" crops, among which black beans and mung beans stand out. The latter is more commonly known in Argentina for giving rise to "soy sprouts". The production of this bean takes place in northern Argentina and more particularly in eastern Salta, although the distance to the ports poses a major logistical challenge due to the high transportation costs. The company's executives told Bichos de Campo that this obstacle - undoubtedly very serious - could be circumvented "somewhat with the improvements in the railway, but there is still much infrastructure development needed at the national level". The company's strategy, then, is to develop specialties or niche crops, such as beans, chickpeas, pisingallo corn, or sesame seeds, focusing on products in which they can add value to compete in international markets. In Argentina, approximately 50,000 hectares are dedicated to ...