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CMPC and Quetrahue neighbors create biofertilizer for sustainable agriculture

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In a joint effort to value community processes and protect the environment, residents of the Quetrahue sector in the Lumaco commune, together with the company CMPC, have developed a natural biofertilizer made from forest waste.

This project not only aims for local commercialization but also serves an educational and preventive role at the Quetrahue Rural School, where it has been applied as a green firebreak.

The shed built by the community and CMPC workers is the heart of this initiative. There, a wood chipper and other tools process pine, acacia, and Ulex europaeus waste, transforming it into a nutrient-rich biofertilizer through a meticulous process of chipping, fermentation, and compaction.

Juan Pablo Fuentes, Southern Community Relations Submanager at CMPC, highlights that the idea came from the neighbors and seeks to utilize forest waste to create a high-value product. "For CMPC, it is essential to promote this type of initiative because they foster local development and the circular economy, strengthening community capabilities based on their own ideas," he added.

The local agricultural cooperative, led by Luis Antileo, hopes to commercialize the biofertilizer within 6 to 12 months, once technical tests are completed. Antileo emphasizes the importance of collaborative work with CMPC and the fertilizer's potential to generate local employment and restore life to the soil.

The practical application of the biofertilizer has been seen in the planting of fava beans at the Quetrahue School, where students, with technical support from CMPC, learn about soil care and local production. This educational planting also serves as a green firebreak, showcasing the project's environmental and educational impact.

Patricia Castillo, a teacher at the school, values the opportunity this activity provides for students to learn how to care for and appreciate their land, producing healthy food and understanding the importance of work in their community.

This project is a clear example of how collaboration between communities and companies can lead to innovative solutions with a positive impact on the environment, education, and productivity.