Transforming the way orchards are managed in the southern and south-central regions of the country is the main objective of the regenerative fruit growing demonstration pilots led by the Blueberry Committee of Frutas de Chile. The initiative successfully completed its first year, with support from Corfo in the Ñuble and Biobío regions.
During this initial phase, intensive work was carried out in two orchards with different soil conditions: one with sandy loam soil, compacted and low in organic matter in Ñuble, and another with sandy soil, also low in organic matter, in Biobío.
The results were presented during two “Field Day” events organized by the association at Agrícola Lomas de Membrillar (Portezuelo) and Agrícola Pizani (Los Ángeles), where attendees were able to directly observe the progress achieved.
Julia Pinto, technical manager of the Blueberry Committee of Frutas de Chile, stated: “The ultimate goal is clear: to position Chilean blueberries as a high-quality crop, sustainable over time and capable of thriving in an increasingly unpredictable climate scenario.”
She added that these field days aimed to showcase the operation of the demonstration pilots on-site, with a focus on regenerative fruit growing practices.
“The results and changes achieved after one year of intervention in orchards with different soil conditions were presented, highlighting concrete benefits according to each production reality. The practices included compost application, biological soil activation, and inter-row cover cropping,” she explained.
She also highlighted the strong interest among participants in adopting these practices, driven by the search for greater climate resilience and potential cost reductions.
“One of the most positive aspects is the interest from growers in adopting regenerative fruit growing practices. On one hand, these allow for more resilient plants and improved fruit quality; on the other, they help optimize fertilizer use, reducing production costs,” she added.
Towards a more sustainable and efficient industry
After fourteen months of work, preliminary results show improvements in fruit quality and in the recovery of the soil’s physical, biological, and chemical structure.
According to Pinto, the objective has been to develop more robust plants capable of efficiently absorbing the nutrients available in the soil.
“Beyond the ecological component, regenerative fruit growing offers direct competitive advantages. By activating roots and soil microbiota, nutrient uptake is optimized, allowing for a reduction in synthetic fertilizer use and, consequently, lower production costs,” she explained.
“Additionally, this type of management enhances the water and thermal resilience of crops—an essential factor in increasingly variable climate scenarios,” she concluded.
