The objective of the project is to contribute to improving competitiveness, environmental sustainability, and socio-economic equity in the agricultural system of Argentina, increasing the contribution of NTA to the agricultural production of the country.

Component 1: Strengthening of strategic capacities of investigation and development
Component 2: International cooperation and technological connections
Component 3: Support to the technological transfer and extension
Component 4: Support to the investigation for small family farming
Component 5: Modernization and institutional strengthening

The executing agency will be the Instituto Nacional. The total cost of the project is estimated at US$ 180 million. The IDB will finance US$ 150 million.

UPDATE:

7 October 2010

Civil works will be needed for the construction of various buildings, laboratories, and greenhouses.

Good to be procured are computers, vehicles, laboratory equipment, communication equipment, videoconference equipment, agricultural machinery, indoor IP telephony equipment, FM transmission equipment, servers, storage equipment, inputs and supplies, agricultural machinery, microscopes, breeding chambers, heavy machinery, light machinery, hand tools, incubators, software, and meteorological stations.

Consulting services will be needed for the initial study to develop indicators, preparatory work for construction, implementation of LABINTEX, design of integrated planning, system validation, and development of the PME process.

24 September 2010

This operation was approved by the Board in 21 September 2010.

According to the News Release, US$ 88 million will be set aside to build up INTA’s research and development capacity, US$ 17 million for the promotion of its contacts and integration with other public and private institutions, and US$ 43 million for the diffusion of knowledge generated by improving technology transfer and extension processes. This will also finance the construction of an INTA headquarters building.

28 July 2010

The estimated total cost of the project is US$ 213 million. IDB is expected to finance US$ 170 million through an Investment Loan.

7 July 2010

According to Ricardo Vargas del Valle, the Team Leader of the said project, they are currently working on its analysis and preparation and are expecting to negotiate it with the Argentinean authorities during the third quarter. The Bank’s approval can thus be expected by the end of September 2010.

12 May 2010

The estimated total cost of the project is now US$ 204 million. IDB is expected to finance US$ 170 million through an Ordinary Capital Fund.

25 August 2009

IDB is now expected to finance US$ 30 million through an Investment Loan. The agency in charge of implementing the project is El Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria.