Impact of "Mercado Madera" on the modernization of the forestry sector in Los Ríos highlighted

Regional authorities gave a positive assessment of the progress and impact of the digital platform Mercado Madera, an initiative that seeks to transform the way forestry products are marketed in the Los Ríos region.

The system, conceived as a digital space connecting producers and buyers, aims to modernize the timber market, facilitating more transparent, efficient, and accessible transactions. Through this tool, different sector players can offer and purchase products more directly, responding to new marketing dynamics.

From the public sector, the Regional Minister of Agriculture of Los Ríos, Rodrigo Emilet Bahamonde, valued the platform's contribution in the current context of the forestry sector. "This tool responds to a concrete market demand, allowing the marketing of timber products, incorporating new producers, and facilitating access for users who need these resources," he stated.

For his part, the regional director of the National Forestry Corporation in Los Ríos, Óscar Droguett, highlighted the impact it can generate, especially for small and medium-sized forest owners. "Mercado Madera is a concrete opportunity for those who work with native forests and plantations, as it allows them to showcase their production and improve access to key information for buying and selling timber," he indicated.

From the Forestry Institute, researcher and project director Carlos Büchner explained that the initiative is in its final implementation phase, with an emphasis on ensuring its long-term projection. "We are closing the execution stage of the platform, and the main challenge is to guarantee its sustainability as a public good, consolidating its operation in the short and medium term," he affirmed.

The project is led by the Regional Ministry of Agriculture of Los Ríos and executed by INFOR, in collaboration with CONAF, also with the support of the Production Development Corporation through its Public Goods program. Its objective is to position itself as a strategic tool to strengthen the forestry production chain, promoting greater transparency, access to information, and new business opportunities.

In this context, "Mercado Madera" represents a significant step towards the digitalization of the forestry sector in the region, contributing to a more articulated, competitive, and sustainable industry, especially for small and medium-sized producers seeking to integrate into broader markets.