Luis Schmidt Montes, the president of Fedefruta, toured New Zealand, a country that has been a pioneer in the development of technologies for agriculture and that has generated innovation in many different areas, such as harvesting machinery and new varieties, between November 26 and December 5.
Schmidt, who was invited to the country by the Embassy of New Zealand, stated: "I was pleasantly surprised to find a fully developed country that incorporates technologies in all of the areas in which it works and that also thinks about long-term business through the installation of Research Centers for each of its crops."
The president of Fedefruta also said that "New Zealand's climatic conditions are very similar to those of Chile. Therefore they compete with our fruit, milk, and wine offer. We have much to learn from the country and its processes."
According to Schmidt, this development is thanks to the importance of the agricultural sector in the country's economy, which has contributed two thirds of the goods exported in recent years. "New Zealand bases its economy on agriculture, followed by tourism. In Chile, agriculture ranks second, after the mining sector, which is very important to the country.
"In Chile, we tend to think about investments and technology in the short-term, which makes it difficult for us to move towards new ways of doing agriculture. This doesn't happen in New Zealand. They installed Research and Study Centers for each of the crops they produce, which allows them to permanently generate innovation."
"They showed me the productive aspects of the country that have allowed them to have the agricultural industry they have, with fruits that are very successful in international trade, such as kiwis and apples. Now their avocados and wines are entering the market strongly."
Source: Fedefruta