The "identity" and the transformation of INTA: a necessary discussion in the 21st Century

Abstract

The discussion about the "identity" of institutions implies recognizing a history, a collective action, a reason for being, and, above all, a basis for future projection. For the scope of the national institute of agricultural technology (INTA), it can be said that activities related to research and extension are traditionally considered as "substantial" and formative of its "identity" (this idea is reaffirmed in the Institutional Strategic Plan (PEI) 2015-2030). From this consideration, we ask ourselves: what is the identity of INTA that must be maintained and projected? In a sector like agribusiness, which is changing and progressively more demanding with new productive and rural actors, does it help or limit the understanding of the nature of INTA and its future projection to assume that its "substance" has to do with practices characterized 70 years ago? In this work, we aim to challenge this idea about "identity" starting from the hypothesis that the identity of INTA is not a substance that remains over time, but what gives identity is (should be) a transformation, a process that needs to be constantly recreated so that the institution can fulfill its multiple objectives.