Argentina: McCain drives regenerative agriculture practices

In Argentina, McCain brought together growers and agribusiness companies at its Regen Summit to show how its regenerative agriculture program is progressing and to accelerate the transition toward more sustainable potato production across the entire value chain.

McCain emphasized that, in addition to producing high-quality potatoes, the goal is to advance toward increasingly sustainable systems through a comprehensive regenerative agriculture program.
 

McCain’s Regen Summit in Argentina

Pablo Bisio, Growers, Agronomy and Sustainability Manager at McCain Argentina:

"McCain has been in Argentina for 30 years and came to change the way potatoes are produced. The need for quality to make the best fries drives a different production system, which includes joint work and training with growers."

The Regen Summit is part of McCain’s global regenerative agriculture program, which aims to implement these practices on 100% of the potato acreage supplying the company by 2030.
 

Pillars of regenerative agriculture in potatoes

Potato production under regenerative agriculture focuses on several key pillars:

 

• Protected soils: reducing erosion and increasing organic carbon through greater soil cover.
• Crop diversity: rotations with a greater number of species to improve soil biodiversity.
• Reduced tillage: less erosion and compaction, while maintaining soil structure.
• Reduced pesticide use: optimizing crop protection products to lower risks and support natural functions.
• Biodiversity: protecting habitats and promoting beneficial organisms.
• Resource efficiency: using decision-support systems to reduce inputs and optimize water and nutrients.
• Organic matter: improving fertility, water retention, and soil resilience.

Industry participation and technology

The event included talks and field demonstrations with more than 10 agribusiness companies. Arcos Dorados presented its Regenerative Agriculture Challenge, while FENDT showcased smart tillage solutions.

Companies such as Corteva, Summit Agro, Syngenta, Brometan, and Yara shared strategies aimed at improving production efficiency and reducing environmental impact. Drakar highlighted the role of genetics in productivity and sustainability, and representatives from Arcor, Bimbo, Bunge, and PepsiCo discussed how to regenerate the value chain.
 

Progress of the regenerative program

Juan Máximo Magnoni, CEO of EDRA Global:

"Today we are working with approximately 70% of McCain’s growers and monitoring close to 90% of the acreage."

The program has accelerated its implementation, with 1,550 trials carried out in the 2025/26 season compared to 240 in the previous season.

Among the highlighted cases, Potato Growers is applying regenerative practices on 450 hectares in the southeast of Buenos Aires province, improving yields, quality, and sustainability.
 

Looking ahead

Diego Peña, Managing Director of McCain Southern Cone:

"With this first Regen Summit, we brought partners together and shared practices that are shaping the future of production. We aim to scale regenerative agriculture to strengthen the sector’s competitiveness and resilience."

The Regen Summit is positioning itself as a key platform to accelerate the adoption of sustainable practices in potato production in Argentina.