- Companies from the O'Higgins and Tarapacá regions are present at the three-day event taking place in the city of Rimini, Italy.
From biostimulants and organic fertilizers to quality control and asset management software, these are part of the technology and services offered by Chile at Macfrut, the largest agricultural trade fair in Italy, which takes place in the city of Rimini from May 8 to 10.
A total of eight companies are part of the delegation representing Chile in a 96 m2 stand, which will display a wide range of inputs and services for the entire fruit and vegetable production and export chain. These are five companies from the O'Higgins Region and another three from the Tarapacá Region. More than 1,500 potential high-level buyers are expected to participate in the fair, which is the main one for companies providing solutions for the agricultural sector in Europe.
“Since Chile produces such a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, we have companies with a lot of experience and knowledge in the sector, which have the potential to become important partners for producers around the world,” says Felipe Repetto, commercial attaché of ProChile in Italy, who is participating in the fair. “We expect to have more than a hundred meetings, in which we will be showcasing a highly technological and value-added offer: agricultural consultancies, management and quality control software, assisted pollination, biofertilizers and others.”
The presence of these companies at Macfrut is part of an effort by ProChile to promote the export of technological solutions and services for key industries in the country, such as agriculture. Last year, the institution launched the Global Solutions Program, designed for this type of company, and this week a large business roundtable was held in Chile for companies supplying the agricultural, mining, aquaculture and clean energy, energy efficiency and water management sectors.
According to data from ProChile, with information from the National Customs Service, companies providing technology and services for agriculture exported almost US$$ 260 million in 2023. These are 102 companies whose offer reached 60 markets in the world, especially the United States, Brazil, Argentina and Peru.
As for the overall figures for the sector, more than US$19 billion worth of food from Chile reached 178 markets, which represents nearly US$231 billion of the country's total exports. Last year, 2,100 food exporting companies shipped more than 850 products to the world. In 2022 (2023 ranking not yet available), Chile led the world as the world's leading exporter of fresh and dried cherries, fresh plums, grapes and fresh seaweed. It was also the world's second largest exporter of nuts in shell; and third largest exporter of bulbs, frozen raspberries, cranberries and shelled nuts.
The Chilean companies present at Macfrut are from the Tarapacá Region: Guano Rojo Punta Gruesa, Solarium Biotechnology and Organic World; and from the O'Higgins Region: Inglobo Chile, Bio-Appy, Zimex, Agrosmart and Nutraktis.
