Corn produced in Argentina has one of the lowest carbon footprints globally, according to a technical report prepared by specialists from INTA, INTI, Maizar, and the Buenos Aires Grain Exchange. The study analyzed the 2021/2022 season across 16 productive regions in the country. It highlighted the positive impact of practices such as no-till farming, efficient fertilizer application, and the use of cover crops, which largely explained the strong environmental performance of national production.
The results showed that the national average carbon footprint is 1,248 kg of CO₂ equivalent per harvested hectare and 0.178 kg of CO₂ equivalent per kilogram of corn at the farm gate. These figures position Argentina among the countries with the lowest environmental impact in corn production, with values up to 66% lower than those of other producing nations.
For example, in China, the carbon footprint can reach 0.590 kg CO₂eq/kg, in Spain 0.562 kg CO₂eq/kg, and in Brazil it is estimated at 0.366 kg CO₂eq/kg. According to the report, “all countries with published scientific data show higher values than those estimated for our country using the same methods.” In the United States, the Department of Energy’s GREET model calculates a footprint of 0.371 kg CO₂eq/kg, while in Europe, values such as 0.515 kg CO₂eq/kg for rainfed Spanish corn and 0.545 kg CO₂eq/kg in South Africa were recorded.
Comparisons with international databases like Agrifootprint and EcoInvent further reinforce this advantage: while Argentina recorded 0.178 kg CO₂eq/kg, countries like India exceeded 0.614 kg, and Vietnam reached 0.528 kg. This gap not only establishes Argentina as a leader in sustainability but also opens commercial opportunities for corn under low-carbon footprint certifications.
The report cited the widespread use of no-till farming, efficient fertilizer application, and cover crops as key reasons for Argentina’s strong environmen tal performance. “When greenhouse gas removals due to no-till farming were considered, the values dropped by 12 %, reaching 0.099 kg CO₂eq/ha and 0.157 kg CO₂eq/kg, respectively,” the report detailed. It added: “When factoring in removals from both no-till farming and cover crops, the footprints decreased by an additional 2 kg CO₂eq/ha, resulting in 1,097 kg CO₂eq/ha and 0.156 kg CO₂eq/kg”.
The researchers also analyzed differences based on planting dates. The carbon footprint was 3% lower for late-planted corn compared to early-planted corn, but this trend reversed “when removals were considered, resulting in a 1% lower footprint for early planting”. This behavior was attributed to greater soil mineralization under higher temperatures during the late planting cycle.
The study also assessed the environmental impact of transporting grain from the field to the port. When emissions from transportation and loading onto a ship under FOB conditions were added, “emissions increased by 15% compared to the baseline, reaching 0.204 kg CO₂eq per kg.”
The main “hotspot” for emissions was nitrogen fertilization, accounting for 35% of total emissions. This was followed by fertilizer production (23%), crop residue management (20%), and diesel fuel use (11%). The report noted that “the relationship between emissions per hectare and nitrogen dosage was highly correlated (R²=93%).”
The study also measured the effect of different technological levels. “High-tech systems showed a footprint 3% above the national average, intermediate systems 1% above, and low-tech systems a footprint 34% below.” It emphasized that “there is a high correlation between emissions per hectare and the nitrogen dosage used (R²=93%),” demonstrating that nitrogen fertilizer use is the primary determinant of emissions in production.
The report clarified that the values obtained represent a 22% improvement compared to those reported in 2012-2013, partly due to increased yields and technological advancements. It was estimated that 91% of national production is carried out under no-till farming, which accounts for much of the soil carbon sequestration.
The specialists emphasized that this study offers multiple benefits for the entire corn supply chain. Among them, they noted that it “provides a comprehensive environmental overview of primary production by identifying critical environmental points; enables the communication of environmental information to society and the world; highlights potential reductions in emissions and costs; and facilitates comparisons.”