During the 2024-2025 Participatory Public Account—held at Universidad de O’Higgins in Rancagua with over 250 attendees, Chile’s Minister of Agriculture gave an account of the sector’s progress, highlighting the strategic role of agriculture as a cornerstone of Chile’s growth and a driving force for rural communities. National and local officials, including the President of ChileCarne, Juan Carlos Domínguez, attended the address.
One of the key pillars of the report was the Sovereignty Strategy for Food Security, which, following its launch two years ago, has promoted the right to healthy and affordable food, with the collaboration of eight ministries and over 160 public and private institutions. The strategy aims to guarantee access to quality food, boost local production, and, above all, support peasant family farming. It also promotes policies that foster rural and youth development as drivers of regional growth.
The public report also highlighted progress made in irrigation, with over one million cubic meters of additional storage capacity, the mechanization of canals, and a 34% increase in the budget for irrigation tenders, reinforced with funding from regional governments and the Indigenous Development Agency, CONADI. The report also highlighted the strengthening of the Wildfire Prevention and Response Plan, as well as SAG’s work on food health and safety, including the elimination of 34 highly toxic pesticides.
Regarding exports, the minister highlighted the Sustainable Agri-Export Competitiveness Agenda led by the Office of Agricultural Research and Policies, ODEPA, which has opened 59 new markets and helped forestry and agricultural exports reach a record of $20.5 billion USD in 2024, with notable increases in hazelnuts (+97%), cherries (+60%), and fresh table grapes (+55%).
This annual report reaffirms the Ministry of Agriculture’s commitment to innovation, sustainability, and rural development, strengthening peasant family farming and consolidating the sector’s economic and social development.
