🌱 We trained more than 80 producers from rural and indigenous communities in high-value horticulture and efficient water use, strengthening their capacity to produce and market strawberries using agroecological criteria.

💧 We implemented efficient irrigation systems, achieving 30% water savings, bringing us closer to the 40% goal. Today, 12 production units have women in management and marketing roles, reaching the project's target of 18,000 seedlings.

🔋 We began integrating renewable technologies into production: we installed 3 socio-energy systems (2 solar, 1 wind) and trained 5 people in basic operation and maintenance.

In addition:

• More than 60 technical assistance sessions were provided to support implementation.
• Local technicians were added to strengthen territorial support.

Finally, within the framework of the agreement signed with Ecolysium, a company spun off from the CIEFAP institute, tests were conducted with the biological controller that promotes plant growth to improve quality with a completely natural product.

About Strawberries of the Wind (Frutillas del Viento)

The project stands out for its innovative approach to using renewable energy to improve agricultural production. Through the installation of clean energy generation systems, such as solar panels and/or low-power wind turbines, water is pumped to reservoirs where it is stored. From there, it flows by gravity to drip irrigation systems for strawberry cultivation, which are grown in microtunnels. This not only optimizes water use but also ensures more sustainable and efficient production. INTA supports these processes with an agroecological approach. Furthermore, the quality of the production is highlighted, as the long summer days and short, cool nights allow for more sugars in the fruit.

Another key feature of Strawberries of the Wind is its educational component. The initiative not only improves farmers' production but also trains teachers and students from technical schools to provide technical assistance in the repair and maintenance of renewable energy systems. This represents a solution to a long-standing challenge in the region: the lack of technical assistance for irrigation power generation equipment.

With this approach of entrepreneurship incubation and strategic alliances, we seek to consolidate units with high productive potential and replicability.

Frutillas del Viento is part of the RedER Chubut project: Fair and Inclusive Energy Transition for Family Farming, co-financed by the European Union (EU) in Argentina starting this year. It is carried out by the 500RPM Foundation in collaboration with the Ibero-American Union of Municipalists (UIM) and the Patagonia Natural Foundation (FPN). Its implementation in the region has the technical support of INTA Esquel, ensuring guidance tailored to the needs of local producers.

🔗 More about Strawberries of the Wind: www.frutillasdelviento.ar and https://500rpm.org/RederChubut/index.html