Luis Basterra

Luis Eugenio Basterra (born 14 October 1958) is an Argentine agricultural engineer and politician, currently serving as the country's Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries since 10 December 2019, in the cabinet of President Alberto Fernández.

Luis Basterra
Minister of Agriculture
Incumbent
Assumed office 10 December 2019
President	Alberto Fernández
Preceded by	Luis Miguel Etchevehere
National Deputy
In office 4 December 2011 – 10 December 2019
Constituency	Formosa
Vice President of INTA
In office 13 October 2009 – 10 December 2011
President	Carlos Casamiquela
Preceded by	Amadeo Nicora
Succeeded by	Francisco Anglesio
Personal details
Born	14 October 1958 Resistencia, Chaco, Argentina
Political party	Justicialist Party
Other political affiliations	Frente de Todos (since 2019) Front for Victory (until 2019)
Alma mater	National University of the Northeast

From 2011 to 2019 he was a member of the Argentine Chamber of Deputies representing Formosa Province; he also served as vice-president of the National Agricultural Technology Institute (INTA) from 2009 to 2011 and as Minister of Production of Formosa Province from 2003 to 2009 in the administration of Governor Gildo Insfrán.

Early life and education

Basterra was born in Resistencia, Chaco Province, in 1958. In 1988 he graduated as an agricultural engineer from the National University of the Northeast (UNNE).[1] In his youth he was a member of the Popular Socialist Party, but later joined the ranks of the Justicialist Party when he moved to Formosa.[2]

Political career

Provincial politics and work in INTA

In 1996 he was appointed Undersecretary of Employment in the Formosa Ministry of Economy, Public Works and Services by Governor Gildo Insfrán; he was in the position until 2000, when he was appointed to the Undersecretariat of Commerce and Investment within the same ministry.[3][4] In 2003 Insfrán appointed him Minister of Production of the province; Basterra held this post until 2009. In 2009 he also briefly served as president of the Consejo Federal de Medio Ambiente (COFEMA).[5]

From 13 October 2009 to 10 December 2011 Basterra served as vice president of the National Agricultural Technology Institute of Argentina (INTA).[6] During his tenure at INTA, he sought to promote and expand the reach of aquaculture in Argentina.[7][8]

Congressional terms

At the 2011 general election Basterra was the 3rd candidate in the Front for Victory (FPV) list to the Chamber of Deputies in Formosa; the FPV won nearly 80% of the vote and Basterra was elected.[9] Shortly after taking office he was elected by the FPV majority to preside over the Agriculture Commission in the lower chamber of Congress.[10]

In 2015 he was re-elected to the Chamber, this time placing first in the FPV party list in Formosa.[11] He was re-elected a third time in 2019.[1]

Minister of Agriculture

On 10 December 2019, Basterra was appointed Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries by President Alberto Fernández as part of the new cabinet of Argentina, succeeding Luis Miguel Etchevehere.[1][5]

Personal life

Basterra is a vegetarian.[2][4]

References

1. "Luis Basterra, un vegetariano, peronista y seguidor de Insfrán para Agricultura". La Nación (in Spanish). 8 December 2019. Retrieved 9 December 2019.
2. Genoud, Diego (29 February 2020). "Peronista herbívoro". Letra P (in Spanish). Retrieved 1 May 2020.
3. Benítez, Rubén (4 December 2019). "¿Luis Basterra ministro de Agricultura en el gobierno de Alberto Fernández?". Radio La Voz (in Spanish). Retrieved 1 May 2020.
4. "Luis Basterra, el ministro de Agricultura vegetariano". agrolatam.com (in Spanish). 6 December 2019. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
5. "¿Quién es Luis Basterra?". Ámbito (in Spanish). 6 December 2019. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
6. Urbieta, Justo (17 September 2011). "Tras el ejemplo del pequeño agricultor". La Nación (in Spanish). Retrieved 1 May 2020.
7. "Argentina y China: como pez en el agua". intainforma.inta.gov.ar (in Spanish). 18 May 2011. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
8. "La producción piscícola es una excelente oportunidad". intainforma.inta.gov.ar (in Spanish). 23 March 2011. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
9. Tejerizo, Javier (24 October 2011). "El nuevo Congreso". argentinaelections.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 1 May 2020.
10. "Luis Basterra será el presidente de la Comisión de Agricultura de la Cámara de Diputados". infocampo.com.ar (in Spanish). 7 December 2011. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
11. "Formosa: Basterra encabeza la lista de diputados del FpV". parlamentario.com (in Spanish). 20 June 2015. Retrieved 1 May 2020.

External links

• Official website of the Ministry of Agriculture (in Spanish)