An activity that few imagined possible is growing in eastern Córdoba: exporting processed alfalfa to international markets. From San Francisco, local companies are consolidating a model that combines agricultural production and industrial innovation. Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and China are among the main destinations for Argentina's so-called "green gold."
Cadaf, the Argentine Alfalfa and Forage Company, is leading this expansion under the direction of its founder, Alfredo Abboud. The company began by providing logistics services to third parties and, in 2021, inaugurated its own industrial plant. Today, it works with more than 70 producers and ships over 30,000 tons of compacted alfalfa annually.
The Córdoba plant processes large bales from different production areas and doubles their density to reduce transportation costs. This improvement makes it possible to compete with suppliers from the United States or Spain, two giants in the sector. The Córdoba model demonstrates that the combination of agriculture, industry, and exports can generate genuine foreign currency without state subsidies.
Alfredo Abboud, director fundador de Cadaf SA
From logistics to export leadership
Abboud recalled, "We started in 2018 by providing logistics services to other alfalfa exporters," and that the move to their own production was decisive. The choice of San Francisco was not accidental, due to its alfalfa tradition linked to dairy farming and its network of workshops and industries. "If you can't find it in San Francisco, it's not in Argentina," he said during an interview.
The entrepreneur explained that the business stopped depending on occasional sales and began to be governed by stable contracts with producers. That approach guarantees consistent volumes and homogeneous quality to supply the growing external demand. Professionalization also made it possible to incorporate drying technology and protein control in each batch.
Argentine alfalfa is valued for its high protein content and purity as feed for cattle, horses, and camels. "We export alfalfa because it's pure protein and fiber in a single product," Abboud emphasized. The company plans to expand its operational capacity to support a boom that could transform the interior of Córdoba into a regional benchmark.
