Agricultural risks and policy changes in Latin America

Agricultural sectors in Mexico, Argentina, and Bolivia are navigating various biological and regulatory challenges. In Mexico, sugarcane producers in the Papaloapan Basin are managing infestations of the ‘Reynosa bug’ and mealybugs, which cause foliage drying and nutrient loss.

In Argentina, the situation involves both regulatory shifts and seasonal sanitary risks. The government has deregulated several phytosanitary norms in Salta and Jujuy, a move intended to modernize oversight through digital traceability but one that local producers fear could expose domestic banana crops to imported pests. Additionally, stone fruit producers in North Patagonia are facing increased threats from fungi and bacteria, such as torque and scab, due to unstable weather and high humidity during the transition from winter dormancy.

In Bolivia, the government is addressing agricultural vulnerability through a legislative proposal to expand insurance access. The plan seeks to reduce costs by having the state cover between 50% and 75% of premiums for medium and small-scale producers, protecting against various climate events and pests.