Food production and economic cooperation in Tierra del Fuego

Efforts to strengthen food production and economic integration in the Tierra del Fuego region have progressed through both cross-border cooperation and local public-private partnerships.

Initially, officials from Río Grande, Argentina, and Porvenir, Chile, met to advance a productive cooperation agenda. This dialogue focused on horticultural development, potato cultivation, and the exchange of technological knowledge to bolster local economies. The Argentine delegation also inspected modern automation at the Minerva Foods slaughterhouse to observe processing techniques used for international markets.

Subsequently, the Municipality of Río Grande established a partnership with TotalEnergies to promote food sovereignty. In the first phase of this collaboration, 50 fruit and vegetable producers received infrastructure materials, such as greenhouse supplies and crop protection, to mitigate the challenges of extreme cold and wind. Mayor Martín Pérez noted the difficulties of producing in the region due to adverse weather conditions. Future phases of the program aimed to incorporate the poultry, porcine, and artisanal fishing sectors.

Following these initial steps, the partnership expanded to the livestock sector through the ‘Carne Porcina Local’ program. This initiative, promoted by Mayor Pérez, focuses on professionalizing production units across the entire value chain. The municipality and TotalEnergies completed a delivery of specialized equipment and infrastructure designed to improve animal welfare, feeding, maternity, and general management. The program integrates technical assistance, sanitary and environmental controls, and coordination with the Municipal Slaughterhouse to establish economically sustainable production units.