General Information

INTRODUCTORY INFORMATION

With nearly 4 million ha, Argentina is at present one the largest alfalfa producers in the world. Approximately 80% of the total alfalfa area is cultivated under rain-fed conditions for dairy, beef and hay production in the Pampas Region, while the remaining 20% is devoted to hay and seed production under irrigation in the Northwestern, Western and Patagonia regions. During the 2015/16 growing season, about 1 million ha were cut for hay, an industry that is becoming increasingly important for both domestic and international markets. The country has large areas with very favorable environmental conditions for producing high alfalfa yields of very good quality. It has decades of experience and a great deal of knowledge on the crop, as well as very active breeding programs and quick access to updated technology. Overall, Argentina is likely the only country in the world that can easily increase the planting area of alfalfa in the near future for producing high quality alfalfa hay.

Just in the Central-Eastern part of Córdoba Province, adjacent to the proposed location for the World Alfalfa Congress, there are about 40,000 ha devoted exclusively to the production of high quality alfalfa hay under rain-fed conditions. Average yields are 12-14 t DM ha^-1 year^-1 (5.35 to 6.25 ton ac^-1) under a 6-cut system. Several companies in the region produce and/or buy alfalfa for making large square bales (400 kg), re-compacted (800 kg) bales, and pellets. Bales are for both domestic use and for export, mostly to United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia (SA), and more recently China. Similarly, pellets are produced for the internal market as well as for export, primarily to Latin America. The incorporation of strategic, supplemental irrigation can be useful for increasing and stabilizing alfalfa yields in the rain-fed area. In addition, there is a company that is presently building a dehydration plant to stabilize quality.

The proposed program for the World Alfalfa Congress includes a tour through this highly productive Córdoba area in order to enjoy the opportunity to take a direct look on the alfalfa hay production in Argentina and its great potential.

Congress Structure

A three-day program, in which the first 2 days are devoted to scientific/technical presentations and the third to a field tour through alfalfa hay production farms and industrial plants (bales and pellets) located in Central Córdoba (about a 1-h drive from the congress venue). There will also be opportunities to hold private business meetings in reserved rooms within the convention center.

All presentations will be in English with simultaneous translation to Spanish, French, Chinese and Italian. Since this will be a “green event”, printed material will be minimal, such as the general program and commercial information from the sponsors. Proceedings will be available in flash drivers and at the congress website. Detailed program information will also be available through cell phone applications.

There will be differential registration-fee scales for visitors and residents, each one including significant advantages for early-bird registration compared to on-site registration. Registration fee includes entrance to sessions, proceedings, coffee breaks, banquet (one), translation and field tour. There will also be a special program for the attendees’ companions.

General Objetives

Promote updated international scientific exchange on alfalfa crop
Discuss the main issues that affect alfalfa production worldwide
Facilitate commercial exchange of alfalfa products among countries
Contribute to improved understanding of alfalfa importance by the public at a global level
Promote international cooperation for alfalfa research
Become acquainted with the alfalfa production in Argentina

Official Language

The official language of the congress is English. Simultaneous translations into
Spanish, Italian, French and Mandarin will be available.

Certificates of Assistance

Certificates of attendance, abstracts and participation in the scientific program will be available on-line on the congress website after the end of the Congress.

Credentials

All participants will receive a credential with their name in situ along with the Congress documentation.
The use of the credential to enter the scientific sessions is mandatory.

No smoking policy

The congress will be smoke-free. The smoke is prejudicial to the health.

Insurance

The organizers of the Congress will not accept responsibility for any damage, loss or theft that exhibitors, participants and their companions may have, during the congress or during social activities. It is recommended that all participants have their own health insurance, accidents and travel insurance.