The first women's trade association in the agricultural sector, Amagro AG, played a leading role in the recent 8th version of the Agrotrade 2023 International Meeting organized by Vivero de Chile AGV. The event, held at the Sun Monticello Conference Center and which analyzed the latest varietal trends and the future of the fruit sector, ended with a panel discussion entitled: "Women in Agriculture, Agents of Change in the Global Food System."
“We found the recent creation of the first women's agricultural trade association in Chile very relevant and we wanted to dedicate a special panel discussion to the important role that women play in our food production. I believe that as women we contribute from a different perspective that we must promote to generate better human and professional relationships, which is why we are very happy to have had this luxury panel today, accompanied also by the deputy Benjamín Moreno, member of the Bancada del Campo, and our dear former minister María Emilia Undurraga as moderator," explained Maritrini Lapuente, Executive Director of Vivero de Chile AGV, and Vice President of Amagro.
The panel included the participation of the president of AMAGRO AG, CEO of Comercial y Alimentos Almahue, Patricia Benavente; Constanza Balbontín, producer of cherries and blueberries and delegate of AMAGRO AG Maule Sur; Benjamín Moreno, Deputy District 17. The space was moderated by María Emilia Undurrada, former Minister of Agriculture.
“It is a pleasure to be able to talk with women who are leading the development of their territories. The inclusion of women in these global challenges, which are complex, the food challenge, climate change, the challenge of improving the quality of life, are challenges that require the views of not only men or women, but of different disciplines because we know that they are something complex and complexity is undoubtedly better addressed as a team.” said former Minister María Emilia Undurraga.
The panel moderator took advantage of the opportunity to highlight the initiative being carried out by AMAGRO AG: “It was a pleasure to learn about what AMAGRO is doing, this association that brings together women from different regions who want to be protagonists in discussions of public policies of the future.”
AMAGRO AG President Patricia Benavente also spoke about the interesting panel and the leading role of women in agriculture and the global food system.
“It was a very interesting panel that allowed us to tell the industry who we are and of course to reinforce the role of women in agriculture. In addition, Agrotrade was a tremendous opportunity for all our members to learn and learn more about different topics that are fundamental tools in the professional field. At Amagro we work to make women visible in agriculture, to group together, train, communicate and generate contact networks and participate in this type of initiatives, where there is knowledge, debates, exhibitions, contact with the industry, authorities that are of great relevance to our association and to the objectives we work towards every day.”
For her part, the delegate of the Maule Sur area of the Trade Association, Constanza Balbontín, highlighted the instance generated by Agrotrade: “It is very important for us because we need to support and strengthen women. Rural women are an extremely important element, we need them for our agriculture and food chain. It is essential that they have their space, a source of employment and that they feel valued, that they feel that they really play a very important role so that the fruit and all the products that we export and also what is consumed at a national level are the fruit of them. To do this, we need to prepare them, empower them, open their spectrum to them. It is very important that they feel this value, first as Chile and the contribution they make to our country abroad.”
Authorities
Also part of the panel dedicated to analyzing the role of women in agriculture and global food change was parliamentarian Benjamín Moreno, a member of the rural bench; the deputy thanked the invitation and pointed out that it is essential to make visible the work of women in agriculture, a fundamental principle of AMAGRO AG.
“I love that a group of women has been formed and I love that civil society is getting organized because, I believe, that is the way that public debate is influenced today. Before, influence was exerted through more formal organizations, but today it has been changing towards organizations that are not so formal, not with such a long history, but that do bring together a particular cause,” added Deputy Moreno.
The Minister of Agriculture, Esteban Valenzuela, gave the closing remarks of the event and highlighted the existence of events such as Agrotrade 2023.
“Notable, because it is not just about looking at the product, that we export and everything is fine, but at the chain, rurality, innovation, clusters, also the role of women, communities, water, resilience, climate change, so I think we have to take the time to not only celebrate when we are doing well, but also to structure contesting agendas or to put issues on the agenda (…) the structured reflection seems very notable to me in the Agrotrade program,” the head of the portfolio concluded.
