Argentina: Oat seeds must be controlled and this generated controversy

The authorities of the National Seed Institute (Inase) provided that as of January 1, 2025, all seeds of the species Avena sativa L. and Avena byzantina K. Koch that are marketed in Argentine territory must be of a controlled class. This measure –implemented by resolution 216/2023–, although conceptually it contributes to developing the crop, generated controversy in the seed field because, in the current situation, it could be counterproductive. Mandatory inspection will increase costs for seed companies and, therefore, will increase the prices of the product in the formal market. The point is that, if control is not increased and the illegal seed continues to swarm without problems, the control would provide a "competitive advantage" to those who operate outside the formal system, since they will be able to offer a product at a more accessible price. The immediate antecedents of this measure are ryegrass and alfalfa, two species that already have mandatory control and that ...