Read the Conversation
Conversation highlights:
- Regional leadership in animal health: Federico Sebben leads Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health across Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Bolivia, bringing more than two decades of industry experience and a strong focus on strengthening the region’s livestock and companion animal health ecosystems.
- One Health as a strategic priority: Sebben highlights the deep connection between human, animal, and environmental health, stressing the need for collaboration across veterinarians, producers, universities, government, and industry to address zoonoses and public health risks.
- Prevention and innovation across species: Boehringer Ingelheim’s regional portfolio spans companion animals and production animals, with a strong emphasis on preventive health through vaccines, antiparasitics, and innovative delivery technologies that improve welfare and efficiency.
- Digitalization in animal production: The company is integrating digital tools, connected devices, and data analytics to support veterinary decision-making, improve farm productivity, and generate actionable insights for producers.
- Closing the prevention gap in pet care: Despite Argentina’s high pet ownership rates, veterinary visits remain relatively low, highlighting a major opportunity to expand preventive care and raise awareness around vaccination and deworming.
EF: As Animal Health Head for Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Bolivia, how do you view the role animal health plays in this region, and what mission have you set for yourself?
FS: Human health, environment, and animal health are deeply interconnected. The only sustainable way forward is building a strong ecosystem where everyone works together to transform lives for generations and support communities that need it most. There isn't just one approach. Whether we're talking about companion animals or livestock producers, the key is how we support them, bring innovation, and discuss challenges together. As Boehringer, we aim to be the partner of choice for meat/milk production, the best support for pet owners, and to provide veterinarians with the most advanced technology for their daily practice. As a veterinarian myself, I see the importance of bringing colleagues the best available tools. We face numerous challenges, from transboundary diseases to outbreaks, and the companion animal community is growing faster than anyone imagined.
EF: How does your product portfolio address the diverse needs across Argentina's animal health segments?
FS: We're present in five different segments (Equine/Companion Animals/Poultry/Swine and Cattle). In companion animals, we offer preventive products for parasitic diseases and vaccines to prevent viral and bacterial diseases, plus therapeutics for pain management, chronic diseases such as renal, cardio, and metabolic ones. We just launched a treatment for chronic kidney disease in cats. For equines, we focus on preventive care with vaccines and antiparasitic products. In poultry, our main focus is supporting producers with vaccines, and we're launching our vaccine line for laryngotracheitis and Newcastle disease. These tools, together with our experienced and well-trained team, bring an innovative and tailor-made approach to producers. Swine represents a major part of our business with vaccines administered through new devices focused on animal welfare, plus our signature vaccine delivered through water systems. In the ruminant sector, Argentina is one of the main meat producers globally, so we're developing solutions for the near future. Throughout all segments, we put veterinarians, producers, and universities at the center, connecting veterinary schools and colleges to listen to different needs and transform them into better support for Argentina's challenges.
EF: Can you elaborate on the export significance of the region's animal protein production?
FS: For example, in Uruguay, between 70-80% of cattle meat production is destined for export markets, which raises the bar for both quality and production standards. The region itself is continuously seeking further opportunities to export animal protein and its derivatives. Latin America is already recognized globally for high-quality meat, but maintaining that reputation requires consistent, high-performing production systems. In markets where exports dominate, traceability and standards become even more critical. In Uruguay, for example, Boehringer participates in certification programs that document how cattle are treated with our products, supporting the quality and reliability of both meat and milk production.
EF: How is digitalization reshaping farm management and decision-making in animal health?
FS: Digitalization is crucial not only for improving internal Boehringer processes but mainly for better supporting producers, pet owners, and veterinarians in their decision-making. We use productivity tools, analytics, and CRM systems with our field force to support consultations. We've launched innovative devices like a needle-free vaccination system for swine that improves time management, animal welfare, and provides data to both producers and ourselves for assessment and feedback. Also, we launched a device that combines two vaccines into one, reducing handling in swine production. In poultry, we lead in-ovo vaccination for hatcheries, which streamlines production and provides better immunological data. We have poultry experts who connect with our technicians and producers to provide comprehensive answers. Regarding artificial intelligence, we're developing training programs for our field force to better understand customer needs and create different approaches for customer support. We're also exploring milk production analytics to better understand future needs.
EF: Argentina ranks among the world's highest in pet ownership. What market opportunities do you see, and how are you building awareness among pet owners?
FS: Argentina is in the top ten globally for the number of dogs (10 M), and with 60-80% of families owning pets. Everyone wants their dog or cat to live longer, healthier, and happier lives. The main challenge is that not more than 30% of families with dogs visit a veterinarian once a year, and for cats, it's only 15-25%. On the bright side, cat consultations are growing rapidly, but open other challenges as veterinary practices need to be prepared differently, creating cat-friendly environments since cats require completely different handling than dogs.
The key lies in connecting pet owners with veterinarians and providing information, knowledge, and understanding that veterinarians are the main source for addressing pet health problems. Preventive care needs to grow significantly to transform many problems we face, especially considering diseases that can be transmitted from animals to humans. This is particularly important for families with children, elderly people, or immunocompromised individuals. The human-animal bond from this perspective is crucial. We need collaboration between veterinarians, pet owners, universities training new veterinarians, the government, industry chambers, and veterinary medicine colleges to address these needs together.
EF: What role do zoonotic diseases play in your public health initiatives?
FS: At Boehringer, we are committed to the communities where we serve. For example, we focus on critical diseases such as rabies, leptospirosis , and parasitic diseases, which veterinary associations are increasingly highlighting as a growing concern. Leptospirosis, in particular, has become a significant environmental issue across the region. Cases tend to surge after flooding, water accumulation, or increases in rodent populations, as seen during last year’s floods in Bahía Blanca. Preventive vaccination in dogs is therefore essential.
We actively support affected areas through donations, including recent efforts in Bahía Blanca and rabies vaccination programs in Santa Fe and Córdoba.
EF: How do you see the One Health concept shaping the future of animal health in Argentina?
FS: Human and animal health are deeply interconnected. This is especially evident in the management of zoonotic and transboundary diseases such as rabies, leptospirosis, and more recent outbreaks like avian influenza in Argentina.
Addressing these challenges requires a broader, more integrated approach. It means supporting families from multiple angles, from livestock producers focused on animal welfare, which ultimately translates into higher-quality milk and meat, to companion animal care that promotes longer, healthier lives for pets.
This is the essence of the interconnection between animal and human health: understanding the human–animal bond and developing solutions that protect both, while preparing for future risks. At the same time, we maintain an ongoing dialogue with governments to better understand their priorities and explore how we can support them with technologies and innovative health solutions tailored to these challenges.
EF: Why should investors consider Argentina for long-term investment in animal health?
FS: Argentina is moving in a direction that provides the right alternatives for investors to understand the best path forward. The potential the country has in animal health—across poultry, swine, dairy, and meat production—is very strong. This is closely linked to the interconnection between data analytics, new innovation alternatives, and field opportunities, which together represent the foundation for continued development and investment.
Argentina also has tremendous potential in terms of people, talent, and the ability to engage at different levels on what we need and how to build on it.
EF: What makes Boehringer Ingelheim a special company to work for?
FS: I joined Boehringer in October 2022, so I’m relatively new, but one of the main reasons I’m grateful for what I do every day is the culture of the company. It’s a great place to work, and being a family-owned company gives you a very different perspective on how culture can drive long-term transformation across generations and across both animal and human health.
Once you’re here, you really feel the passion people bring to their daily work and to how we collaborate with customers, whether in companion animals or livestock. There is a strong sense of purpose in everything we do. The support functions are also key to how we operate. We connect ideas, support our customers, and work to expand access to what we believe are the best solutions. I’m grateful to be here, with a lot still to achieve for people, communities, veterinary medicine, and the industry.
EF: Any last message you would like to send?
Boehringer takes an integrated approach across human and animal health to create value for society. Last year, and continuing this year, we have been connecting both areas by working with schools to address topics that matter to families. This includes raising awareness around stroke prevention for family members, while also explaining the importance of pet vaccination, deworming, and regular veterinary visits.
Everything is interconnected, and part of our role is helping young people understand these links. Information plays a central role in decision-making. With the right information, people can make informed choices, but without it, it becomes much harder to make the best decisions, especially when it comes to healthcare.
