It is the first exporter and is almost unknown: who are the owners and what are Viterra’s plans?

Viterra has established itself as Argentina’s largest cereal exporter and it obtained this recognition without abandoning something that remains unchanged in that sector, the classic low profile of cereal companies.

The soybeans, wheat and sunflowers it sells around the world are its main ambassadors.

By the way, the first reference to Viterra is Oleaginosa Moreno, a traditional company in the marketing of cereals that knew how to belong to the local capitals with several failures in its history until was acquired by the Swiss company Glencore.

Who was its founder?

This cereal company has had a troubled past due to its founder, the late Marc Rich. He was one of the successful commodity traders in the 70s. They called him the king of oil for creating the spot market for crude oil. But that stellar condition lasted until 1983, when they had to take refuge in Switzerland after being prosecuted in the United States. for tax evasion and illegal trade with Iran. Rich spun off Glencore in 1993

In 2020 Glencore changed its name to Viterra and last year there was another big milestone in its history. The Bunge group, with several Argentine owners and based in Saint Louis, USA, purchases Viterra in which one of the most brilliant mergers in the cereal sector takes place.

Bunge, together with the American companies ADM and Cargill, to which is added the French company Dreyfus, forms the ABCD group. those who move cereals and derivatives on the planet. A few steps further down and ahead is the Chinese company COFCO.

Viterra’s fortunes had already begun to change with Vicentin’s departure: they were partners in Renova, one of America’s largest oilseed processors. But the arrival of new management action added. Its global CEO is David Mattiske. And in Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay, Vladimir Barisic since the end of 2020.

achieved a 18% market share.three points more than in 2022 and almost three times more than in 2019.

The CEO’s plans

Barisic is a UCA graduate agricultural production engineer with a career spanning 15 years with the company, five at its headquarters in Rotterdam, Netherlands, as global director of soybeans and soybean oil. Since 2019 he has held the role of sales manager for South America.

-Where is a company like Viterra evolving?he is asked.

-Innovation is key. We have work teams of human and professional quality, we are innovative and sustainable. A few months ago we exported 100% sustainable and segregated soya flour to the European Union for the first time. This year we launched a carbon footprint measurement program with the aim of reducing carbon emissions and improving the impact of climate change, meeting our global goal of zero carbon emissions by 2050. And we inaugurated the Renova plant in Timbúes (Rosario) the railway diversion which allows the entry of up to 210 wagons per day, equal to 300 trucks, generating an advantage and a concrete solution against environmental impact.

– Are you planning to expand?

-In 2022 we acquired a factory in Ingeniero White (Bahía Blanca), which processes sunflower and soybeans and employs more than 100 people. We have also opened commercial offices in Crespo, Tostado and Villa Mercedes, and we plan to continue growing in different regions. We aim to expand the business in Paraguay, Chile, Colombia and Peru. We will continue to invest so that agribusiness maintains its growth and continues to drive the Argentine and South American economies.

-Has the price of soybeans fallen, as the international market observes?

-Large harvests are expected in South America, mainly in Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay. There remains a key month for crops and rain is essential. It is also important that the authorities adopt adequate fiscal measures for the country to grow in the export of industrialized products that generate sources of employment and more added value, the message is sent.