The challenge to convert Chile into one of the leaders of the agrifood industryPublished: August 10, 2009
The government's objective is to place Chile among the ten largest exporters of agrifood products. This work is being driven by important initiatives such as the Innovation for Competitiveness Fund.
President Michelle Bachelet's government, through its "Chile: agrifood & forestry powerhouse" campaign, has announced the target of becoming one of the world's largest food exporters by 2015.
According to the most recent ranking by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Chile's food exports grew at the fastest rate worldwide in 2005. With an increase of 132% since 1996, Chile was placed 17th in the global ranking of food exporters.
On his last visit to the Maule region, Claudio Maggi ? the Executive Director of the Chilean Economic Development Agency (CORFO) program, InnovaChile ? highlighted the role of the regions in this initiative, and especially that of an agricultural area such as Maule.
"The region of Maule is the heart of Chile as an agrifood powerhouse, firstly for its location, and secondly, for its diversity of products. It is at the very centre of the ?cluster', which should spread towards the neighbouring regions," explained Maggi.
InnovaChile's top executive also referred to the speed with which the regional government worked on the subject of innovation. He highlighted the Innovation for Competitiveness Fund (FIC) agreement. This is awarded by the Regional Government (GORE) in association with specialized governmental agencies and programs (CORFO, InnovaChile and CONICYT) in order to provide additional resources for investment.
"These resources allow the regions to work on areas of innovation which have been defined as priorities within the work coordinated by the Regional Economic Development Agency. This allowed a very important portfolio of regional projects to be established in 2008," confirmed Maggi.
Agricultural PowerhouseChile's natural conditions, which allow the off-season export of products, benefit the sale of agricultural goods to international markets. Sanitary regulations, investment and innovation, plus research and development are areas that Chile is prioritising in order to position itself as an agrifood powerhouse. "Agriculture is a giant source of innovation. It provides us with natural wealth that is a comparative advantage, but if we are not able to convert this into a competitive advantage, we will be left behind. However, the point is to place intelligence, creativity, adequate business models and the most productive technology at the service of this agricultural wealth. This opportunity is being widely explored within the region of Maule," stated Maggi.
Source:
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