SQM launches year‑round blueberry pilot in Chile's Atacama desert

SQM, together with the Colonia Agrícola de Pintados communities, has opened a pilot program in Pozo Almonte, Tarapacá region, to produce blueberries throughout the year in the world's most arid desert. The project evaluated 26 blueberry varieties using high‑efficiency fertigation and micro‑algae bio‑stimulants, testing both open‑field and shaded cultivation methods. The pilot achieved continuous annual harvests at the Orlando Ramos farm, demonstrating that high‑value fruit can be grown in desert conditions.

The initiative is part of SQM's broader agricultural strategy in northern Chile, which also includes alfalfa production in the Pampa del Tamarugal and the establishment of an agro‑center in Pozo Almonte, aiming to diversify the region's agricultural output and create new economic opportunities for local communities.