Argentina is well known for the Pampas, vast grasslands that constitute one of the world's most fertile regions, with soils appropriate for agriculture year-round. These vast plains are the reason why the country was formerly known as the breadbasket of the world, as it provided meat, grains and leather to European countries devastated by the World Wars during the first half of the 20th century. Unfortunately, decades of corruption, climate change and the progressive replacement of native vegetation by intensive monoculture farming are putting this region’s health and productivity at risk, with increasing droughts, flooding and soil contamination.