History of agriculture in Argentina

Since its formal organization as a national entity in the second half of the 17th century, Argentina followed an agricultural and livestock export model of development with a large concentration of crops in the fertile Pampas, particularly in and around Buenos Aires Province, as well as in the littoral of the Paraná and Uruguay Rivers. Between 1880 and 1930, the country witnessed remarkable economic advancement largely propelled by the exportation of beef and grain. Largely limited to stock-raising activities and centered on the export of cattle hides and wool, Argentine agriculture languished during the colonial era and well into the 19th century.^[1] Argentina's historical trajectory has been significantly shaped by the evolution of its agricultural sector.

The need for intensive agriculture was recognized as early as 1776.^{[citation needed]} Aside from the yerba mate harvest in the northeast, attempts to develop it suffered setbacks due to internal strife and lack of skill and machinery. The pastoral economy was initially constructed around wool exports.