RESUMO A cachaça é a segunda bebida alcoólica mais consumida no Brasil, obtida pelo destilado do vinho a partir do mosto fermentado de cana-de-açúcar com teor alcoólico de 38 a 48% (v/v) a 20 ºC. A qualidade da bebida é afetada pela matéria-prima utilizada, tratamento do caldo, pelo tipo de fermento e processo de destilação. Objetivou-se avaliar o desempenho de dois tipos de fermento (selecionado e prensado) e o prévio tratamento físico-químico do caldo de cana para a qualidade da cachaça. O delineamento experimental foi inteiramente casualizado com 9 repetições. O tratamento primário representado pelo mosto (obtido de caldo clarificado e não clarificado) e o secundário pelos tipos de fermento (CA-11 e prensado biológico). Avaliou-se o comportamento microbiológico da levedura em fermentação, a composição química do vinho e da cachaça. A utilização de cepas selecionadas e o prévio tratamento do caldo possibilitou um melhor desempenho das leveduras fermentadoras, resultando em destilados com padrões físico-químicos adequados e de qualidade.

ABSTRACT Cachaça is the second most consumed alcoholic beverage in Brazil, obtained by distilling wine from fermented sugarcane must, and has an alcohol content of 38 to 48% (v/v) at 20 ºC. The quality of the drink is affected by the raw material used, the treatment of the juice, the type of yeast and the distillation process. The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of two types of yeast (selected and pressed) and the prior physical and chemical treatment of the sugarcane juice on the quality of the cachaça. The experimental design was completely randomised with 9 replications. The primary treatment was represented by the must (obtained from clarified and non-clarified juice) and the secondary treatment by the types of yeast (CA-11 and pressed biological). The microbiological behaviour of the yeast during fermentation was evaluated together with the chemical composition of the wine and cachaça. The use of selected strains and the prior treatment of the juice resulted in better performance of the fermenting yeasts, producing distillates of suitable physical and chemical standards and quality.

Abstract This manuscript showed a new product that can be used in sugar and alcohol production to replace the acrylamide polymer, applied in the juice treatment. This new product is an organic extract obtained from moringa seeds, which present the flocculating protein 2S-Albumin. This biomolecule is added in the decanter together with the limed and heated juice, increasing the sedimentation speed of impurities that, if remain in the process, decrease the quality of the obtained sugar. This issue is of great importance because the acrylamide molecule has carcinogenic and neurotoxic action in humans and may be incorporated within the sugar crystal or the mud (filter-cake) used as a fertilizer. Furthermore, it should be noted that this manuscript presents the best technique to extract the S-Albumin protein from moringa seeds (using a CaCl2 solution 0.1 mol/L), the best dosage to apply in the sugarcane juice (1300 mg/L), and similary sugar quality achieved, compared with the process using the acrylamide polymer.

Resumo: O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar agentes extrativos para proteínas das sementes de moringa (Moringa oleifera) e a ação coagulante desse extrato proteico sobre o caldo de cana para produção de açúcar, que utiliza polieletrólitos de acrilamida. Os extratores foram água deionizada, solução de KCl e MgCl2, a 0,1, 0,5, 1,0, 1,5 e 2,0 mol L-1. Os extratos proteicos foram utilizados, em 11 doses, na sedimentação do caldo de cana. As soluções de 0,1 mol L-1 de MgCl2 e 1,0 mol L-1 de KCl são mais eficazes na extração. A de KCl 1,0 mol L-1, a 500 mg L-1, resulta em caldo clarificado de melhores características químico-tecnológicas.

Abstract: The objective of this work was to evaluate extractive agents for proteins of moringa (Moringa oleifera) seeds, and the coagulant effect of this protein extract on sugarcane juice for sugar production, which uses acrylamide polyelectrolytes. The extractors were deionized water, and KCl and MgCl2 solution at 0.1, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 mol L-1. The protein extracts were used for sedimentation of sugarcane juice in 11 doses. The solutions of 0.1 mol L-1 MgCl2 and 1.0 mol L-1 KCl were the most effective in protein extraction. The KCl 1.0 mol L-1 dose, at 500 mg L-1, results in clarified juice with better chemical-technological characteristics.

Os biocombustíveis apresentam-se com grande importância para suprir a demanda global de energia. São produzidos a partir de biomassa vegetal, emitem menor quantidade de dióxido de carbono e de partículas poluentes ao ambiente quando utilizados e possuem grande vantagem por serem combustíveis renováveis. Entre as matérias-primas com potencial para produção de etanol, cita-se o sorgo sacarino. Objetivou-se comparar o processamento industrial do genótipo de sorgo sacarino CVSW80007 e da cultivar de cana-de-açúcar 'RB966928' para produção de bioetanol em início de safra. As análises realizadas foram: brix; pH, ART, AR, acidez total, ARRT, glicerol, teor alcoolico, viabilidade celular, viabilidade de brotos e brotamentos. Quanto às características químico-tecnológicas, as matérias-primas apresentaram-se aptas ao processamento industrial, com índices superiores para a cana-de-açúcar. O desenvolvimento das fermentações ocorreu de forma adequada para ambas, sendo que o mosto fermentado (vinho), produzido a partir do mosto de cana-de-açúcar, apresentou maior teor alcoolico e rendimento fermentativo.

Biofuels have great importance to supply the global energy demand. These fuels are produced from plant biomass, emit less carbon dioxide and particulate pollutants to the environment when used and have great advantage of being renewable fuels. Among the raw materials with potential for ethanol production, is cited sweet sorghum. This study aimed to compare industrial processing of genotype sorghum CVSW80007 and the cultivar sugar cane 'RB966928' for bioethanol production in early season. The analyzes performed were: brix, pH, ART, AR, total acidity, ARRT, glycerol, alcohol content, cell viability, shoots viability and buds. Regarding the chemical-technological characteristics, raw materials were suitable for industrial processing, with higher rates for sugar cane. The development of fermentations occurred appropriately for both, and the fermented must (wine) produced from the must of sugar cane had higher alcohol content and fermentation yield.

This study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of natural biocides, brown and green propolis, for the control of bacterial contamination in the production of sugarcane spirit. The treatments consisted of brown and green propolis extracts, ampicillin, and a control and were assessed at the beginning and end of harvest season in ten fermentation cycles. In the microbiological analyses, the lactic acid bacteria were quantified in the inoculum before and after the treatment with biocides, and the viability of yeast cells during fermentation was evaluated. The levels of acids, glycerol, total residual reducing sugars, and ethanol were analyzed for the wine resulting from each fermentation cycle. A reduction in the number of bacterial contaminants in the inoculum in the treatments with the natural biocides was observed, but it did not affect the viability of yeast cells. The control of the contaminants led to the production of higher levels of ethanol and reduced acidity in the wine produced. The results of the use of brown and green propolis to control the growth microorganisms in the fermentation of sugarcane spirit can be of great importance for using alternative strategies to synthetic antibacterials in fermentation processes including other distilled beverage or spirits.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of Moringa oleifera Lam. leaf extract on the sedimentation of impurities in the treatment of sugarcane juice and the effects on sugar quality and on the clarified juice. The experimental design used was a 4x2 factorial arrangement with four replications. The main treatments performed included the extracted original sugarcane juice, the synthetic polyelectrolyte (Flomex 9076), the leaf extract, and a control. The secondary treatments consisted of the sugarcane varieties RB92579 and RB867515. The clarification process used was simple defecation, in which the flocculating agents and the juice, limed and heated, were poured simultaneously into a decanter. The microbiological and chemico-technological characteristics of the extracted and clarified juices were evaluated. The clarified juice was concentrated up to 60° Brix (syrup) and subjected to boiling in a pilot pan using seeds to perform the graining: The sugar was recovered by centrifugation and analyzed for microbiological and chemico-technological characteristics. It was concluded that the use of the Moringa oleifera Lam. leaves extract resulted in a better quality of clarified juice and sugar.

This paper aims to know the impact of some determinants of dairy export supply in Santa Fe province in the period 2000-2012. A system of supply equations is used, modelling export and domestic destinations simultaneously with a monthly frequency. The empirical results show that export and wholesale prices (both measured in US dollars), availability of raw milk and cyclical and seasonal variables are all statistically significant in explaining external and domestic supply. As a conclusion it is found that dairy exports are more inelastic to its own prices than domestic wholesale prices, and elastic with respect to primary raw milk production.

El objetivo de este trabajo es conocer el impacto de algunos determinantes de la oferta exportadora de productos lácteos de la provincia de Santa Fe en el período 2000-2012. Para ello se utiliza un sistema de ecuaciones de oferta, modelando las exportaciones y el destino doméstico simultáneamente, con una periodicidad mensual en los datos. Los resultados empíricos muestran que los precios de exportación, los precios mayoristas (ambos medidos en dólares), la disponibilidad de leche cruda y variables coyunturales y estacionales resultan estadísticamente significativos para explicar la oferta externa e interna. Se concluye que la exportación lácteaes más inelástica a sus propios precios que a los precios mayoristas internos, siendo muy elástica a la producción primaria de leche cruda.

O Mexilhão dourado Limnoperna fortunei (Dunker 1857) é uma das espécies invasoras melhor distribuídas na América do Sul, sendo motivo de grande preocupação para a indústria local. Neste estudo, nós realizamos ensaios de toxicidade de soluções de Óleo de Neem em larvas e adultos bentônicos de L. fortune (7, 13 e 19 ± 1 mm). Com o objetivo de avaliar o potencial tóxico do Óleo de Neem no ambiente também foram realizados testes com organismos não alvo (Daphnia magna, Lactuca sativa e Cnesterodon decemmculatus). A LC100 da solução de Neem para larvas foi 500 µl/L, um valor muito superior ao obtido para D. magna e C. decemmaculatus. Desta forma, nossa recomendação é que este óleo não deve ser utilizado em ambientes naturais abertos. No entanto, uma vez que os adultos morreram em 72h e as larvas em 24h, este produto pode ser utilizado em sistemas fechados construídos pelo homem.

The golden mussel Limnoperna fortunei (Dunker 1857) is one of the most distributed Nuisance Invasive Species (NIS) in South America, and a threat of great concern for the industry of the area. In this study, we carried out toxicity tests made with a Neem's oil solution with L. fortunei larvae and benthonic adults (7, 13 and 19 ± 1 mm). Tests with non-target species (Daphnia magna, Lactuca sativa and Cnesterodon decemmculatus) were also made with the aim to evaluate the potential toxicity of the Neem's solution in the environment. The LC100 of Neem's solution obtained for larvae was 500 µl/L, a value much higher than the one obtained for D. magna and C. decemmaculatus. Thus, we recommend that it should not be used in open waters. However, since the adults were killed in 72 h and the larvae in 24 h, this product can be used in closed systems, in man-made facilities.

Crocidosema (= Epinotia) aporema (Walsingham) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) é uma broca das axilas que se alimenta de soja e leguminosas forrageiras. Sua importância econômica é restrita à América do Sul onde pode alternar, ao longo do ano, entre leguminosas forrageiras e grãos. O feromônio sexual das fêmeas de C. aporema é composto de uma mistura 15:1 de (7Z,9Z)-dodeca-7,9-dieno-1-ol e acetato de (7Z,9Z)-dodeca-7,9-dienila. Com o intuito de desenvolver uma ferramenta para monitoramento deste inseto praga, os dois componentes do feromônio foram sintetizados e avaliou-se, em um experimento de campo no Uruguai, a captura de machos em armadilhas iscadas com diferentes misturas do feromônio sintético. Os dienos conjugados foram obtidos a partir de 2-pentin-1-ol e 1,7-heptanodiol, através da oxidação do primeiro, seguido pelo acoplamento de Wittig e redução da ligação tripla catalisada com Zn. A mistura 1:1 testada no campo foi a mais eficiente na captura dos machos. As armadilhas de feromônio foram atrativas por mais de 40 dias, mesmo com pequenas quantidades dos compostos (0,1 mg) impregnadas nos septos, e com baixas densidades populacionais dos insetos no campo.

Crocidosema (= Epinotia) aporema (Walsingham) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) is a bud borer that feeds on soybean and forage legumes. Its economic importance is restricted to South America, where it can alternate throughout the year between forage and grain legumes. The sex pheromone of C. aporema females is composed of a 15:1 mixture of (7Z,9Z)-dodeca-7,9-dien-1-ol and (7Z,9Z)-dodeca-7,9-dienyl acetate. Aiming at the development of a monitoring tool, it was synthesized both components of the pheromone and evaluated male captures in pheromone traps baited with different blends of synthetic pheromone, in an experimental soybean field in Uruguay. The conjugated dienes were obtained from 2-pentyn-1-ol and 1,7-heptanediol, by oxidation of the former, Wittig coupling and Zn-catalyzed reduction of the triple bond. The 1:1 mixture was the most efficient in capturing males. The pheromone traps were attractive for up to 40 days, even with small septum loads (0.1 mg) and low population levels.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the economic impact of a 100% smoke-free law on bars and restaurants in an Argentinean province. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a time series analysis of restaurant and bar revenues in the province of Santa Fe 31 months before and 29 months after the implementation of the 100% smokefree environment law. The neighboring province of Entre Rios without smoking restrictions at the time of this study, was used as the control province. RESULTS: Average taxable revenues post-legislation in the province of Santa Fe as a whole and in the two most important cities were higher when compared to the total provincial revenue pre-legislation. No significant differences were observed with the total revenue from the province of Entre Rios. CONCLUSIONS: We found no statistically significant evidence that the 100% smoke-free environment legislation in the province of Santa Fe, Argentina, had a negative impact on the revenues of local bars and restaurants.

OBJETIVOS: Evaluar el impacto económico de una ley de ambientes 100% libres de humo de tabaco sobre las ventas de bares y restaurantes en una provincia argentina. MATERIAL y MÉTODOS: Se realizó un análisis de serie temporal sobre las ventas de bares y restaurantes en Santa Fe, 31 meses antes y 29 meses después de la ley. Se utilizó a la provincia vecina de Entre Ríos, sin ley en el momento del estudio, como provincia control. RESULTADOS: El promedio de ventas post-ley tanto en la provincia de Santa Fe como en sus dos ciudades más importantes fue mayor al compararse con el promedio provincial total pre-ley. No se observaron diferencias significativas en las ventas totales al ser comparadas con la provincia de Entre Ríos. CONCLUSIONES: No se demostró evidencia estadísticamente significativa sobre el impacto negativo de la legislación de ambientes 100% libres de humo sobre las ventas de bares y restaurantes en la provincia de Santa Fe.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the economic impact of a 100% smoke-free law on bars and restaurants in an Argentinean province. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a time series analysis of restaurant and bar revenues in the province of Santa Fe 31 months before and 29 months after the implementation of the 100% smokefree environment law. The neighboring province of Entre Rios without smoking restrictions at the time of this study, was used as the control province. RESULTS: Average taxable revenues post-legislation in the province of Santa Fe as a whole and in the two most important cities were higher when compared to the total provincial revenue pre-legislation. No significant differences were observed with the total revenue from the province of Entre Rios. CONCLUSIONS: We found no statistically significant evidence that the 100% smoke-free environment legislation in the province of Santa Fe, Argentina, had a negative impact on the revenues of local bars and restaurants.

OBJETIVOS: Evaluar el impacto económico de una ley de ambientes 100% libres de humo de tabaco sobre las ventas de bares y restaurantes en una provincia argentina. MATERIAL y MÉTODOS: Se realizó un análisis de serie temporal sobre las ventas de bares y restaurantes en Santa Fe, 31 meses antes y 29 meses después de la ley. Se utilizó a la provincia vecina de Entre Ríos, sin ley en el momento del estudio, como provincia control. RESULTADOS: El promedio de ventas post-ley tanto en la provincia de Santa Fe como en sus dos ciudades más importantes fue mayor al compararse con el promedio provincial total pre-ley. No se observaron diferencias significativas en las ventas totales al ser comparadas con la provincia de Entre Ríos. CONCLUSIONES: No se demostró evidencia estadísticamente significativa sobre el impacto negativo de la legislación de ambientes 100% libres de humo sobre las ventas de bares y restaurantes en la provincia de Santa Fe.

INTRODUÇÃO: Enterococos resistentes a vancomicina (ERV) podem colonizar e causar infecção em pacientes de alto risco, bem como contaminar o ambiente. Nosso objetivo foi descrever a investigação epidemiológica de um surto de ERV, as intervenções realizadas e o impacto no controle do surto. MÉTODOS: Estudo retrospectivo, descritivo, por revisão de prontuários de pacientes com cultura positiva para ERV em um hospital geral, público, universitário, admitidos entre fevereiro de 2008 e janeiro de 2009. As intervenções foram divididas em ações educacionais, revisão de processos de trabalho, medidas administrativas e de engenharia. RESULTADOS: Foram avaliados 150 pacientes, 139 (92,7%) colonizados e 11 (7,3%) infectados por ERV. Setenta e três por cento estavam internados em unidades de cuidados não intensivos (p=0,028). Infecção por ERV foi mais frequente em pacientes usando cateter venoso central (p=0,043), ventilação mecânica (p=0,013), cateter urinário (p=0,049) ou drenos cirúrgicos (p=0,049). Vancomicina, metronidazol, ciprofloxacina ou cefalosporina de terceira geração foram utilizados previamente por 47 (31,3%), 31 (20,7%), 24 (16%) e 24 (16%) pacientes, respectivamente. Óbito foi mais frequente em pacientes infectados por ERV (73%) em relação aos colonizados (17%) (p<0,001). Após as intervenções, a taxa de ataque diminuiu de 1,49 para 0,33 (p<0,001). CONCLUSÕES: Fatores de risco clássicos para colonização ou infecção por ERV, como internação em unidade de terapia intensiva e uso prévio de vancomicina, não foram identificados neste estudo. Um conjunto de intervenções, tais como programa educacional, maior adesão às precauções de contato e reforço da limpeza ambiental apresentou impacto no controle da disseminação hospitalar do ERV.

INTRODUCTION: Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) can colonize or cause infections in high-risk patients and contaminate the environment. Our objective was to describe theepidemiological investigation of an outbreak of VRE, the interventions made, and their impact on its control. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective, descriptive, non-comparative study by reviewing the charts of patients with a VRE-positive culture in the University Hospital of Campinas State University, comprising 380 beds, 40 of which were in intensive care units (ICUs), who were admitted from February 2008-January 2009. Interventions were divided into educational activity, reviewing the workflow processes, engineering measures, and administrative procedures. RESULTS: There were 150 patients, 139 (92.7%) colonized and 11 (7.3%) infected. Seventy-three percent were cared for in non-ICUs (p = 0.028). Infection was more frequent in patients with a central-line (p = 0.043), mechanical ventilation (p = 0.013), urinary catheter (p = 0.049), or surgical drain (p = 0.049). Vancomycin, metronidazole, ciprofloxacin, and third-generation cephalosporin were previously used by 47 (31.3%), 31 (20.7%), 24 (16%), and 24 (16%) patients, respectively. Death was more frequent in infected (73%) than in colonized (17%) patients (p < 0.001). After the interventions, the attack rate fell from 1.49 to 0.33 (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Classical risk factors for VRE colonization or infection, e.g., being cared for in an ICU and previous use of vancomycin, were not found in this study. The conjunction of an educational program, strict adhesion to contact precautions, and reinforcement of environmental cleaning were able to prevent the dissemination of VRE.

This work has as objective to know the degree competition in regional cattle auctions, studying the factors that affect the total number of bids that are made by cattle buyers when they purchase fed cattle. A negative binomial model is used as method of analysis, using data of cattle auctions in the central región of the Santa Fe Province. The results show that factors such as the pnce of beginning at which the auctioneer would wish to initiate bids up by the lot of cattle, the corporal condition, the number of buyers interested in the purchase of the lot, animal breeds, the particular cattle auction and whether the cattle presents some problem of health or visible corporal damage are importan! in explaining the total number of bids that receive the lots of cattle that commercializes by cattle auctions.

El trabajo tiene como objetivo conocer el grado de competencia en remates feria regionales de hacienda vacuna, estudiando los factores que afectan el número total de ofertas que realizan los compradores por los lotes que se destinan a faena. Como metodología de análisis se emplea un modelo de regresión binomial negativo, con datos de remates ferias regionales de la región central de la Provincia de Santa Fe. Los resultados muestran que factores tales como el precio de inicio al que el rematador desearía iniciar la puja por el lote de ganado, la condición corporal, el número de compradores interesados en la compra del lote, la raza de los animales, el remate feria en particular y si el ganado presenta algún problema de salud o daño corporal visible son importantes en explicar el número total de ofertas que reciben los lotes de ganado vacuno que se comercializa por los remates ferias.

Avanços recentes na reversão fenotípica da resistência anti-helmíntica por drogas moduladoras de Pgp em nematódeos de ruminantes indicam que esta pode ser uma ferramenta útil no controle de helmintos. O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar a eficácia da ivermectina (IVM), em combinação com o verapamil (VRP), em veículo oleoso ou à base de água, contra um isolado de campo de H. contortus resistente por meio de teste de migração de larvas e infecção experimental em ovinos. No teste in vitro, observou-se reversão fenotípica da resistência de Haemonchus contortus à ivermectina com alta concentração de VRP, aumentando a eficácia da IVM de 53,1% para 94,3. No teste in vivo, IVM + VRP demonstrou 36,02% de eficácia em relação a 7,75% de IVM sozinha. O veículo da formulação não apresentou influência na eficácia. Estes são os primeiros resultados que demonstram o efeito da VRP como reversor parcial do fenótipo da resistência de IVM-fenótipo em um isolado de campo de H. contortus resistente, inoculado experimentalmente em ovinos.

Recent advances in anthelmintic resistant phenotype reversion by Pgp modulating drugs in ruminant nematodes indicate that this can be a useful tool to helminth control. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of ivermectin (IVM) in combination with verapamil (VRP), in oil or water-based vehicle, against an IVM-resistant field isolate of Haemonchus contortus through a larval migration assay and experimental infection trial. In the in vitro assay was observed a phenotypic reversion of H. contortus resistance to ivermectin at a high concentration of VRP, increasing IVM efficacy from 53.1% to 94.3. In the in vivo trial, IVM + VRP demonstrated 36.02% efficacy compared to the 7.75% of IVM alone. The vehicle formulation showed no influence in efficacy. These are the first results demonstrating the effect of VRP as a partial IVM-resistance phenotype reverser in a field isolate of IVM-resistant H. contortus experimentally inoculated in sheep.

En Argentine et en Uruguay, la production laitière contribue dans une large mesure tant au produit interne brut comme à la génération de devises à travers l'exportation. Quand s'est constitué le MERCOSUR, les deux pays avaient des excédents exportables de lait en poudre et écrémé, et bien que placées dans des conditions similaires par le fusionnement et l'évolution du marché international, leurs exportations n'ont pas eu le même comportement. Cet état de fait conduit à se demander si les deux nations ou l'une d'entre elles est devenue moins compétitive commercialement à partir du début du fusionnement, question à laquelle cette recherche tente de répondre. C'est pourquoi cette étude prend pour objet l'évolution de la compétitivité commerciale des laits en poudre argentins et urugayens sur le plan international durant cette période. Plusieurs indicateurs alternatifs seront employés, dont on mettra à l'épreuve la significativité de manière à vérifier la cohérence des conclusions.

Os setores lácteos da Argentina e do Uruguai fazem importantes contribuições tanto ao produto interno bruto como à geração de divisas provenientes de suas exportações. Quando se constituiu o MERCOSUR os dois países tinham excedentes exportáveis de leite em pó integral e desnatado, e apesar de contar com similares condições do contexto externo impostas pela integração e a evolução do mercado internacional, o comportamento exportador tem sido igual nas duas nações. Isto leva a questionar se ambos ou algum deles terá perdido competitividade no comércio a partir do início da integração, resposta que se espera encontrar como resultado desta investigação. Por tanto, este estudo tem como objetivo conhecer a evolução competitiva do comércio internacional de leite em pó da Argentina e do Uruguai nesse período. Para isso utilizar-se-ão vários indicadores alternativos, provando-se sua consistência com o fim de verificar a coerência dos resultados.

The dairy sectors in Argentina and Uruguay make important contributions both to the gross domestic product and to the generation of foreign exchange earned by their exports. In establishing the MERCOSUR both countries had exportable surpluses of powdered full-cream and skimmed milk, and although they have similar conditions of external context imposed by the integration and evolution of the international market, the export performance has not been the same for each of these countries. This raises the question of whether one or both of them have lost its competitiveness in trade since the beginning of integration, a response to which we expect to find as a result of this investigation. Therefore, this study aims at understanding the competitive evolution of the international trade in powdered milk in Argentina and Uruguay during that period. To do this several alternative indicators will be used, proving their consistency with the effects of verifying the coherence of the results.

Los sectores lácteos de Argentina y Uruguay hacen importantes contribuciones tanto al producto interno bruto como a la generación de divisas provenientes de sus exportaciones. Al constituirse el MERCOSUR ambos países tenían excedentes exportables de leche en polvo entera y descremada, y aunque con similares condiciones del contexto externo impuestas por la integración y la evolución del mercado internacional, el comportamiento exportador no ha sido igual en las dos naciones. Esto lleva a cuestionar si ambos o alguno de ellos ha perdido competitividad en el comercio a partir del inicio de la integración, respuesta que se espera encontrar como resultado de esta investigación. Por tanto, este estudio tiene como objetivo conocer la evolución competitiva del comercio internacional de leche en polvo de Argentina y Uruguay en ese periodo. Para ello se utilizarán varios indicadores alternativos, probándose su consistencia a los efectos de verificar la coherencia de los resultados.