In 1990, my brother, a friend and I decided to establish a new farming company in Argentina, drawing on our expertise in crop management – as we are agronomists. I also have a family-owned farming background.

We farm 2250ha of arable land that we rent (average rent of 28% of our output) and our company is now a successful agricultural enterprise. Our main business is the production of soybeans, sorghum, maize and wheat, using no-till system techniques and GM crops.

A distinguishing feature of our production business compared with other farming companies is that all the work of planting, spraying and harvesting is carried out with our own machines and employees to minimise third-party service contracts. Much of Argentina’s arable crops are farmed with dedicated contractors.

Currently, 33% of our rented farms (750ha) are in the large arable region of the Pampas in the Departments of Belgrano and Caseros, 70 miles west of Rosario city, the heart of domestic production of soybeans. The other 67% of leased areas (1500ha) are near Bandera, a town in the southeast province of Santiago del Estero, 280 miles from the city of Rosario.

Although the farms are in the Pampas of Argentina, the history of colonisation here is different from other areas of the Pampa, which have a history of livestock. This area, Pampa Gringa, was colonised mainly by Italian settlers with a highly mechanised farming background.

Our key to success is to maximise the gross margin per hectare. The payment of rent depends on the production level as a percentage of our yields are under typical contracts of three to five years. Typically, rent would be 20% to 36% of our output.

We have a long-term vision in our business to continue to build what we enjoy doing – sowing crops.

* Frederico Rolle farms 2250ha of rented arable land in the Pampas area of Argentina. He grows soybeans, sorghum, maize and wheat using no-till techniques and GM crops. The farm is unique in having its own machinery and labour.