On Wednesday, October 25, the National Society of Agriculture (SNA) successfully held Enagro 2023, under the motto “The future is cultivated.” The event took place at the prestigious Metropolitan Santiago venue (formerly Casa Piedra), bringing together prominent personalities and leaders of the Chilean agricultural sector. The occasion was attended by the notable presence of the President of Chile, Gabriel Boric, the Minister of Agriculture, Esteban Valenzuela, and the president of the SNA, Antonio Walker, among other influential actors in the field.
In his opening speech, Antonio Walker, president of the SNA, highlighted the crucial importance of agriculture for Chile. He noted that “agriculture is part of the backbone of our country” and highlighted the achievements of the sector, such as the export of cherries from Chile Chico to the south. He also stressed that agriculture contributes significantly to Chile’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), with a 141% share, generating more than one million direct jobs and another million indirect jobs. “This success has been achieved in 1.8 million cultivated hectares, which is equivalent to 2.41% of the country’s arable land,” emphasized the former Minister of Agriculture.
Walker also stressed the need to advance agricultural production efficiently, especially in a context of climate change and a growing global demand for food. "Chile has a bright horizon in the agricultural sector," he said, referring to the Agrotech fair, where innovative technologies that are revolutionizing the sector were highlighted.
The President of the Republic of Chile, Gabriel Boric, actively participated in Enagro and highlighted the importance of youth in Chilean agriculture. He mentioned the relevance of the Agrotech fair as a space for unity and joint work.
President Boric also expressed his commitment to the agricultural sector, recognizing the challenges it faces, such as climate change, food security and the need for rural and agricultural development, especially for Chilean farmers.
During the event, two panel discussions were held. The first panel, titled “Challenges to cultivate a good policy,” addressed topics related to agricultural policy and its impact on the sustainable development of the sector. The second panel, called “Competitive and sustainable agriculture,” presented talks on innovation in agriculture. Ivan Vera, founder and director of Innspiral, Magical and Turingo, spoke about “Food from the desert,” while Isidora Molina, director of Efecto Manada, shared ideas on “Promoting regenerative agriculture.” Viña Montes founder Aurelio Montes focused on “Conquering new markets.”
In this way, Enagro 2023 is consolidating itself as a fundamental space to address the challenges and opportunities of the Chilean agricultural sector. With the active participation of political leaders and experts, this event promotes collaboration and innovation in agriculture, consolidating Chile as a world leader in the production of various foods and as a benchmark in the adoption of advanced technologies in the field.
