Since the 90’s, the development and diffusion of modern biotechnology techniques based in rDNA, along with traditional technologies of fermentation and enzyme production, and the major organizational changes in large agrofood firms facing new competitive challenges, boost restructuring and reconfiguration in the food industries. In this new scenario, the food ingredients firms are expected to play a key and strategic role, as generator and diffuser of technological change among food industries. The emergent generic technologies offer great opportunities to Argentina, considering its important and competitive agrofood sector. Specialized firms, providing knowledge intensive business services (KIBS) are the interface players between science based firms and industrial users. This paper explores the new role of food ingredients firms in Argentina and inquires into the local potentialities of the modern biotechnologies.Desde los años 90, el desarrollo y difusión de la moderna biotecnología basada en rADN, apoyada en las trayectorias de bioconversión y en los cambios organizacionales mayores de las grandes empresas, impulsó la reestructuración y reconfiguración de las industrias agroalimentarias. En este nuevo escenario, las empresas de ingredientes alimentarios juegan un rol clave, como generador y difusor del cambio tecnológico entre las industrias alimentarias. Las tecnologías genéricas emergentes ofrecen oportunidades mayores en Argentina, considerando la importancia y la competitividad de su sector agroalimentario. Las empresas de ingredientes alimentarios, proveedoras especializadas de servicios intensivos en conocimiento, constituyen las interfaces entre las empresas basadas en la ciencia y las usuarias agroalimentarias. Este artículo explora el nuevo rol estratégico de las empresas de ingredientes alimentarios en Argentina y se interroga sobre las potencialidades locales de la moderna biotecnología.Since the 90’s, the development and diffusion of modern biotechnology techniques based in rDNA, along with traditional technologies of fermentation and enzyme production, and the major organizational changes in large agrofood firms facing new competitive challenges, boost restructuring and reconfiguration in the food industries. In this new scenario, the food ingredients firms are expected to play a key and strategic role, as generator and diffuser of technological change among food industries. The emergent generic technologies offer great opportunities to Argentina, considering its important and competitive agrofood sector. Specialized firms, providing knowledge intensive business services (KIBS) are the interface players between science based firms and industrial users. This paper explores the new role of food ingredients firms in Argentina and inquires into the local potentialities of the modern biotechnologies.