Academic Agreement Enables Technology Transfer For Water Efficiency In Chile

 On World Water Day 2023, the Chilean Association of Agricultural Engineers and AQUA4D signed an official alliance which will enable the training of professionals for greater water and irrigation efficiency.

The collaboration agreement aimed at generating technology transfer, training and dissemination of new systems for efficient water management and agricultural irrigation was signed by Swiss company AQUA4D and the Chilean Association of Agricultural Engineers, in the context of International Water Day.

Through initiatives such as “Field Days”, lectures and training, both organizations will implement this collaboration that will benefit present and future members of the college. “This alliance is an important part of our contribution to agriculture with our technology and knowledge regarding the management and care of water,” said Felipe Villarino, who leads AQUA4D’s operations in Latin America.

The president of the Chilean Association of Agricultural Engineers, Jorge Wicha, described it as very important to be in contact with companies working on the issue of water sustainability: “Working with farmers, technicians and agricultural engineers in our country, it is important to be able to disseminate effective ways to save and produce an increase in the efficiency of our farmers,” said Wicha, who has already pledged the utmost speed to make sure this alliance enacts concrete initiatives in which professionals in the sector will be invited to participate.

For her part, the general manager of the Association, Sandra Zolezzi, stressed the timeliness of the agreement, since in the recently conducted survey of 2500 association members, the vast majority highlighted the water situation as their main concern.

Field Results in Latin America

The new academic collaboration follows demonstrated successes in a variety of crops, past collaborations with INACAP, and education projects with CORFO in the north of Chile.

AQUA4D® technology is already in place to bring water efficiency to some of Chile’s most important crops, such as avocados and nut trees. In various projects in Valparaíso and Coquimbo, dangerous levels of chlorine and sodium have been reduced, managing salinity sustainably, while saving an average of 25% in water use. Similar results have been seen at the walnut producer Geonuts, where the agriculture manager stated: “We chose AQUA4D® technology with the purpose of a more sustainable management of our orchard, to take control of our major problems of salts and water shortage.”

Landscapes and Turf

Beyond agriculture Chilean cities are starting to benefit from AQUA4D® too, including a major park in Santiago (Viticura) and major urban green areas in the northern city of Antofagasta. Last but not least are the impacts on sports including rugby, football and golf – keeping playing surfaces healthy and watered while using a minimum of water and fertilizer.

With the new academic agreement signed last week, all this direct field experience can be shared to accelerate the transfer of knowledge and the constant improvement of techniques – ultimately bringing much-needed water efficiency and conservation to Chile and beyond.

Felipe Villarino during the installation of an AQUA4D system in Santiago