A tipping point for agricultural expansion? Technological changes and capital accumulation in Argentinas rural sector

Published in Journal of Agrarian Change vol. 20 pages 79-97
Authors

Cáceres, Daniel M. & Gras, Carla
 
Publication year 2019
DOI https://doi.org/10.1111/joac.12336
Affiliations
  • Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET) and Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
  • Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET) and Instituto de Altos Estudios Sociales, Universidad Nacional de San Martín, Buenos Aires, Argentina
IAI Program
  • Agencia Nacional de Promoción Científica y Técnica, Argentina, Grant/Award Number: PICT 2014/2017
  • Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Argentina, Grant/Award Number: PIP11420110100040CO
  • Universidad de Córdoba - SECYT, Argentina
  • Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research, Grant/ Award Number: SGP-HW90
IAI Project SGP-HW90
Keywords
agribusiness
business strategies
capital accumulation
technological change
technological package
PDFA tipping point for agricultural expansion.pdf

Abstract

Drawing upon a case study located in central Argentina, we analyse in what ways technology is contributing to the accumulation of capital in a context where prevailing strategies resting on farm-scale extension are no longer effective. We identify two major technological phases that go along with changes in actors' strategies aiming at re-establishing expanded capital accumulation. These phases allow a better understanding of the mediating role of technology between capital accumulation and the appropriation of nature. In a context of increasing depletion of agro-ecological conditions, the call for a new wave of innovations can be seen as an attempt to restore that mediating role. As we suggest, this entails broader changes in multiple levels.