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Forestry Engineer Álvaro Sotomayor Highlights the Importance of Integrating Agroforestry into Chilean Agricultural Practices

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• The professional participated in a new episode of "Conversando con la Acoforag," where he emphasized that this technique is key to combating soil erosion and promoting sustainability.

In the 36th edition of the program "Conversando con la Acoforag," Álvaro Sotomayor, a Forestry Engineer with extensive international academic training, highlighted the need to promote agroforestry in Chile. This system, which combines trees and shrubs with agriculture and livestock, aims to improve the sustainability of land and water use and could be key to addressing the challenge of erosion affecting 50% of the country's soils.

Sotomayor, who studied at the University of Chile, Texas A&M, and the University of Córdoba, explained that agroforestry is not a new practice but has been underutilized in Chile. Integrating trees into agricultural systems not only prevents soil degradation but also offers income diversification for farmers, especially small and medium-sized producers who need annual income and cannot wait for long forest crop rotation periods.

The specialist noted that historically, agricultural and forestry promotion policies in Chile have operated separately, limiting the adoption of agroforestry systems. An example of this is Decree Law 701 on Forestry Promotion, which, although successful in its goal of promoting forest plantations for the industry, did not align with the needs of small producers requiring steady income.

Integration of Agroforestry into Chilean Agriculture
Sotomayor advocated for a shift in the perception of trees in agriculture, emphasizing that, with proper density and management, it is possible to establish agricultural crops between trees. He gave examples of silvopastoral and agroforestry systems, where trees are planted in a way that allows grasses or crops to grow between them, generating annual income for farmers.

Promoting agroforestry in Chile represents an opportunity to improve sustainable natural resource management and offer viable economic alternatives for farmers. The expertise and knowledge of specialists like Álvaro Sotomayor are crucial for advancing toward a more integrated and environmentally respectful agricultural model.

The interview is available on social media and on Acoforag's YouTube channel: