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INFOR and SAG Promote a Pioneering Experimental Center in Ñuble to Foster Sustainable Agroforestry Practices

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With the installation of a windbreak barrier spanning over 1,800 meters in length, the Forestry Institute (INFOR) and the Agricultural and Livestock Service (SAG), both agencies under the Ministry of Agriculture, mark a new phase in the development of the Regional Experimental Center for Agroforestry and Forest Diversification (CERA) in Ñuble, the first of its kind in the country.

Located at the San José de Bellavista estate in the commune of San Nicolás, CERA stems from a collaboration agreement between INFOR and SAG, aimed at promoting applied research, demonstration projects, and restoration efforts on degraded soils, particularly in dryland areas.

The property, owned by SAG, covers a total area of 462.4 hectares, of which 77.8 hectares were granted to INFOR under a loan agreement for an initial period of 12 years, with automatic renewal. This strategic partnership will advance the development of climate-resilient agroforestry practices while generating technical inputs to support public policies such as the Sustainable Agricultural Soil Management Bill (SIGESS), currently under legislative review.

Karina Luengo, manager of INFOR's Biobío and Ñuble branch, highlighted the scope of this initiative:

"This Experimental Center reaffirms our territorial vision. We are here, especially in Ñuble, to support its development by promoting more sustainable practices, generating valuable information, and delivering concrete solutions for productive recovery for the local community."

Among the ongoing actions is the establishment of a three-row agroforestry windbreak using native species such as quillay, maitén, and huingán, planted at a technical spacing to ensure silvicultural success. This natural structure not only serves as a protective barrier against winds and climatic events but also creates favorable conditions for other productive activities on the estate.

Each plant is placed in a 40x40x40 cm pit, fertilized, and individually protected with 80% raschel mesh to mitigate damage from small animals and extreme conditions. This intervention is projected to create a protective zone five times the final height of the windbreak, yielding environmental, productive, and social benefits.

Meanwhile, Osvaldo Alcayaga, regional director of SAG, emphasized CERA's impact on the territory:

"This center will be critically important, as it will greatly benefit small farmers and agricultural producers, who can experiment, learn, and identify what best suits their reality. Today, we have a living example with this windbreak. That’s why we partnered with INFOR."

Finally, Dr. Alejandro Lucero, head of INFOR's Agroforestry Systems Research Line and technical administrator of CERA, explained that the center's activities are part of a land-use plan that will establish various agroforestry and forest diversification systems, with impacts extending beyond Ñuble:

"The benefits won’t be limited to this region. The results can be replicated in Maule and Biobío, and even other regions, facilitating the development of technical prescriptions for the draft bill under discussion."

Lucero added that this agreement between INFOR and SAG strengthens joint efforts toward innovation, resilience, and sustainability in the agricultural sector, contributing to rural development in Ñuble and the design of concrete solutions to address the country's climatic and productive challenges.