Agricultural shifts in Uruguay and Argentina highlight land and climate challenges

In Uruguay, agricultural land ownership is experiencing significant concentration. Agronomist Jorge Azziz reports that 20% of holdings now control 80% of the land. Data indicates that the total number of rural holdings in the country decreased by 39% between 1980 and 2024, a trend that has heavily impacted small family producers.

In Argentina, agroclimatologist Eduardo Sierra has noted a shift in weather patterns affecting production zones. Recent frosts in Cafayate suggest that polar air masses are expanding further north. Sierra attributes this trend to both the El Niño phenomenon and broader climate change, noting that since 2007, frosts have progressively reached new latitudes, forcing producers to consider new frost-combatting strategies.