Facultad de Agronomía

“A revolution in education, right here at the Facultad de Agronomía.” That’s how students in 1918 might have described the impact of the University Reform. This reform swept through Argentina, demanding educational democracy, student participation in university governance, and simplified admission and curricula. The Facultad de Agronomía, established in 1909 as the Faculty of Agronomy and Veterinary Science, was not immune to these winds of change. Originally part of the “Chacarita de los Colegiales” lands designated for the “Parque del Oeste”, the Facultad de Agronomía eventually found its home on Avenida San Martín. Today, we stand before this institution, a testament to the enduring importance of agricultural education. The University Reform resulted in the faculty’s intervention, with Dr. Francisco Lavalle temporarily replacing Dean Joaquín Anchorena. However, in a swift turn of events, Anchorena was re-elected, becoming the first dean chosen through free elections with the participation of the entire academic community. This marked a significant victory for the reformers at the Facultad de Agronomía. The 1920s saw further development at the Facultad de Agronomía. Land was ceded to the National Academy of Medicine for the creation of the Cancer Institute, and the central pavilion, a key part of the Facultad de Agronomía, was partially constructed. Throughout the following decades, the Facultad de Agronomía expanded its infrastructure with new pavilions dedicated to dairy farming, surgical techniques, equine studies, ecology, and extractive industries. A sports field was added in 1923, further enriching student life at the Facultad de Agronomía. But the story of Facultad de Agronomía isn’t just about bricks and mortar. It’s also a story of two disciplines intertwined and ultimately separated. The combined Faculty of Agronomy and Veterinary Science eventually faced growing tensions due to the increasing number of agronomy students and the allocation of resources. This culminated in 1972 with student protests, including a hunger strike, demanding a separate faculty for veterinary sciences. The national government intervened, and in 1973, the Facultad de Agronomía and the Faculty of Veterinary Sciences became independent entities. The Facultad de Agronomía, as we know it today, emerged from this division, continuing its focus on agricultural education and research. So, as you stand before the Facultad de Agronomía, remember the echoes of student activism, the growth of agricultural knowledge, and the constant evolution of this important institution within the University of Buenos Aires.