Fondef Fund for the Promotion of Scientific and Technological

Not any agricultural crop can say that, besides being highly profitable, prevents the spread of deserts and whaling

 

Several natural factors restrict the expansion of agricultural activities in Chile: the two mountain ranges that run north to south the country, the aridity of large rural areas and the advance of desertification. These barriers do not prevent planting but some species such as jojoba, potentially able to reverse this scenario. For this reason, government and various Chilean businesses have financed, from 1992, projects at the University of Chile to provide the technology for growing this plant.

 

The jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis), a native bush of Sonora's desert,es,In North America,es,It presents wide perspectives for the agricultural use of Chilean arid or semi -arid regions,es,As has happened in Mexico,es,Israel o Australia,en,In these countries,es,as in Chile,es,Argentina and Paraguay,es,It was already attempt to introduce it in the seventies,es,Not always successful due to the erroneous techniques applied in the management of the species,es,Jojoba's plantation began in a very recent time,es,Considering that agriculture has thousands of years of history,es,It was discovered that this species produces a high quality hydrogenated liquid wax,es,unique in the plant kingdom and very similar to the sperm of whale,es,Located in the seeds,es, en Norteamérica, presenta amplias perspectivas para el aprovechamiento agrícola de las regiones áridas o semiáridas chilenas, como ya ha sucedido en Méjico, U.S., Israel o Australia. En estos países, al igual que en Chile, Argentina y Paraguay, ya se intentó introducirla en la década de los setenta, no teniendo siempre éxito debido a las técnicas erróneas aplicadas en el manejo de la especie.

 

La plantación de jojoba comenzó en una época muy reciente, considerando que la agricultura tiene miles de años de historia. Only in 1933 se descubrió que esta especie produce una cera líquida hidrogenada de alta calidad, única en el reino vegetal y muy similar a la esperma de ballena. Localizada en las semillas, Jojoba wax or oil has physical and chemical characteristics that make it a product highly appreciated by cosmetic industries,es,of lubricants and pharmaceutical,es,Profitable and ecological culture,es,Very few natural or synthetic products can compete with jojoba oil,es,It does not contain fatty acids like other oilseed seeds,es,It has very good lubricating properties,es,admits greater amounts of sulfur than oil derivatives,es,remains in a liquid state,es,It is highly stable and does not get dark during sulphuration processes,es,It presents a chemical structure very similar to that of the human tallow,es,that allows you to use to make cosmetic products,es,of a renewable and biodegradable input,es, de lubricantes y farmacéutica.

 

CULTIVO RENTABLE Y ECOLÓGICO

 

Muy pocos productos naturales o sintéticos pueden competir con el aceite de jojoba. No contiene ácidos grasos como otras semillas de oleaginosas. Posee muy buenas propiedades lubricantes, e.g.: admite mayores cantidades de azufre que los derivados del petróleo, permanece en estado líquido, es altamente estable y no se oscurece durante los procesos de sulfuración. Presenta una estructura química muy similar a la del sebo humano, que permite emplearlo para elaborar productos cosméticos. Is, also, de un insumo renovable y biodegradable.

 

Without exhausting the description of their uses and qualities, this liquid wax, which debuted in markets as cheaper substitute for whale oil- soon demonstrated a higher quality than sperm whales, because in it enrancia, odorless, and does not require many industrial treatments for use. Also we can not forget that marine mammals are endangered and hunting is illegal.

 

The future of jojoba as a crop is therefore very auspicious. By way of example: the price of the seed during 2001/02 fluctuated between 2.85 and 3 per kilogram. Oil, constitutes 46% the total content of the seed, traded in the same period by $ 8.5-10/Kg.

 

Cosmetics manufacturers companies absorb up to 90% of the global supply of this vegetable wax, while the lubricant industry acquires almost all the 10% remaining. From 1976, when it began commercial production of Simmondsia chinensis, demand has remained above the offer, especially after discovering the numerous formulations and uses of this plant.

 

SUPPLY AND DEMAND

 

Internationally, jojoba plantings increase of 6.605 hectares in 2002, a 7.002 hectares in late 2003, which is equivalent to an increase in jojoba oil production,es,Adverse climatic conditions and high labor cost,es,According to the opinion of international experts on the subject,es,In the short term the United States would be replacing the jojoba with other more profitable and adequate agricultural species,es,The vacuum in the offer should be covered,es,The specialists think,es,By Chile or Peru,es,which have not only with optimal climatic conditions and lower cost labor,es,but also with the availability of selected jojoba selected high performance,es,In the case of our country,es,Thanks to the R&D work carried out by the University of Chile for more than ten years,es,Usefulness of experience,es, during the same period, of 1.192 a 1.647 tonnes, mainly from Israel, Argentina and the United States.

 

In 2001 product demand amounted to 1.892 t-one 57% more than that recorded durante1997- and is expected to remain on increasing as the emergence of a significant and stable supply. During the past three years, the price and supply have stabilized significantly.

 

In Chile the figures indicate the existence of 45 Jojoba hectares planted with selected clones until 2002, which have increased by more than 100% ended 2003. It is estimated that our country can stand up 1.500 has. bush without danger of saturating the world market, in both land eligible exceed the 15 thousand hectares.

 

ENABLING CIRCUMSTANCES

 

In addition to the wide availability of suitable areas, a special situation would lead to further expansion of jojoba cultivation in the country. The 2.200 acres that currently exist in the United States maintains a low productivity, due to the low quality of the cultivars, techniques poor plantation management, las condiciones climáticas adversas y el alto costo de la mano de obra.

 

Según la opinión de expertos internacionales en el tema, en el corto plazo Estados Unidos estaría reemplazando la jojoba por otras especies agrícolas más rentables y adecuadas. El vacío en la oferta debería ser cubierto, opinan los especialistas, por Chile o Perú, que cuentan no sólo con óptimas condiciones climáticas y mano de obra de menor costo, sino también con disponibilidad de clones de jojoba seleccionados de alto rendimiento. En el caso de nuestro país, gracias a la labor de I D que lleva a cabo la Universidad de Chile desde hace más de diez años.

 

UTILIDAD DE LA EXPERIENCIA

 

Cultivation tests carried out in our country during the years,es,The University of Chile imported several clonal specimens of Simmondsia chinensis from these countries,es,To study characteristics such as oil content in seeds and behavior parameters of plants under Chilean conditions,es,The varieties finally select,es,both local and imported,es,They were based on starting a semi-mastive production of jojoba plants,es,with a view to its subsequent commercial propagation,es,During the entire R&D process,es,as well as for the subsequent escalation of this production,es,The University of Chile was funding the FONDEF and the Science and Technology Fund,es,and UNDP/FAO,es 70 did not have the expected success, but left at the mercy of the rigors of nature valuable plant experiment allowed for future selections.

 

Not achieved a satisfactory production from the beginning, since all the plantations were started from seeds instead of plants selected, without knowing in advance the sex of the specimens. Jojoba is a dioecious species (separated into separate sex foot). The 50% of the population turned out to be male, therefore unproductive, while the right proportion is 7-10% of male specimens. The female specimens also showed great variability, both seed production and habits as other morphological characteristics.

 

Another explanation for the failure of the first Chilean experiments is the wrong selection of land for planting, performed without considering the effect of drainage and frost. The Simmondsia chinensis is a shrub very resistant to soil salinity, requires nutrients and lower watering volumes traditional and other species, in Chile, not serious pests or diseases affecting, thus reducing the need for expensive and polluting agrochemicals. However, is little tolerant of frost and water stress suffers great if it receives more water than necessary.

 

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

 

Most of those pioneers established plantations in Chile, located in regions I, IV y V, fueron later abandoned the uprooted. However, over the last ten years a group of researchers from the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Chile, managed to find and identify specimens with high seed yield and other desirable characteristics. Selected and collected cuttings of genotypes more productive and higher endurance tested to soil and climatic conditions of the various areas where they were originally planted.

 

This was rooted plant genetic material and then set 3 trials I and IV in the region of the country. He was also sent for evaluation to various research centers in the United States and Israel, confirming its production quality. Simultaneously, la Universidad de Chile importó varios especímenes clonales de Simmondsia chinensis procedentes de dichos países, para estudiar características tales como el contenido de aceite en las semillas y los parámetros de comportamiento de las plantas bajo condiciones chilenas.

 

Las variedades finalmente selectas, tanto locales como importadas, se tomaron como base para iniciar una producción semi-masiva de plantas de jojoba, con vistas a su posterior propagación comercial.

 

Durante todo el proceso de I D, así como para el posterior escalamiento de esta producción, la Universidad de Chile contó con el financiamiento del FONDEF y del Fondo de Ciencia y Tecnología (FONDECYT) CONICYT, y de PNUD/FAO.

 

In 2001, The Faculty of Agronomic Sciences of the University of Chile received new funds from the aforementioned agencies and entities,es,To launch a unit of selection and propagation for the sale of phytogenetic material,es,Usep,id,that currently propagates and has the selected material of jojoba for sale,es,And besides Higuera,es,Granado and Carcara,es,Today the Faculty offers entrepreneurs and entrepreneurs,es,Technical assistance in crop management,es,and the sale of selected jojoba plants,es,The USEP has a supply capacity to,es,To date has sold approximately some,es,plants to different agricultural investors from the 1 to the country of the country,es,The Las Cardas Experimental Station,es,IV region,es,of the Faculty maintains a stock of,es, para poner en marcha una Unidad de Selección y Propagación para la Venta de Material Fitogenético (USEP), que actualmente propaga y tiene a la venta material seleccionado de jojoba; y además de higuera, granado y alcaparra.

 

Hoy la Facultad ofrece a los emprendedores y empresarios, interesados en invertir en este prometedor negocio, un paquete tecnológico consistente en dos productos principales: la asistencia técnica en el manejo de los cultivos; y la venta de plantas de jojoba seleccionadas. La USEP tiene una capacidad de suministro de 100.000 plantas anuales. A la fecha ha vendido aproximadamente unas 110.000 plantas a diferentes inversionistas agrícolas desde la I a la V región del país. La Estación Experimental Las Cardas (IV Región) de la Facultad mantiene un stock de 1.500 selected mothers plants of some,es,Jojoba Varieties,pt-PT,More than a mirage,es,With its soil and climate requirements typical of a desert plant,es,It allows us to consider more than a mirage its plantation in arid and semi -arid areas of Chile,es,The bush could replace traditional annual species,es,vegetable,pt,fodder or cereals,es,that have greater water demands and imply the annual soil breakage,es,Practice that accelerates erosive processes,es,Better agriculturally unproductive land would also be used better,es,The hectares planted and the first harvest is scheduled for April of that same year,es,The jobs that demand these plantations are calculated in,es,of them permanent,es 50 variedades de jojoba.

 

MÁS QUE UN ESPEJISMO

 

The jojoba, con sus requerimientos de suelo y clima propios de una planta de desierto, permite considerar algo más que un espejismo su plantación en zonas áridas y semiáridas de Chile.

 

El arbusto podría reemplazar a especies anuales tradicionales, hortícolas, leguminosas, forrajeras o cereales, que tienen mayores demandas hídricas e implican la rotura anual del suelo, práctica que acelera los procesos erosivos. También se aprovecharían mejor terrenos agrícolamente improductivos, achieved either diversify the use of other areas whose exploitation is not profitable. Also, the seasonal nature of the crop permits the employment of labor in times of low occupancy in agriculture, helping to combat unemployment.

 

Along with the creation of the USEP, School got dissemination finance business prospects of the cultivation of jojoba between a market consisting mainly of farmers, investors and agricultural enterprises located in arid or semiarid, those seeking new productive alternatives. In this manner, academic team has succeeded in establishing commercial plantations of jojoba clones selected in the Valley of Lluta (Arica), Diego de Almagro (seek to Copiapó), Vallenar e Illapel.

 

OUTBREAK IN THE DESERT

 

In several areas where before there was stony, SMC Ltda Business Today. has planted 14 acres of jojoba, in the Commune Diego de Almagro (III Región). At 20 mil first cultivated plants up 2002, would add other 150 mil ended 2003, thanks to the construction of a nursery itself by the company, with capacity to produce 50 thousand plants per year.

 

Although SMC Ltda. maintains only six people hired permanently, in 2004 would have created 90 jobs in total, to cover the work of land preparation, Building wells, maintenance of plantations, working in a plant nursery and oil production it would be ready for the year. Work should also be considered that require harvest 2004: a hundred people for a period of two to three months, in a season where other crops do not generate activities.

 

The investments made to date by the company exceed 180 million pesos, between the purchase of equipment and farm machinery, acquiring plants, labor, etc. Beginning 2004 be obtained 35 thousand liters of oil per year. SMC Ltda. has contacted various companies, United States and Japan, they offered to buy the amount of oil production equivalent to 1000 hectares.

 

Another example of this new venture in agricultural area is the Company Alvarez and Caballero, which has five thousand plants grown in a field located in Illawarra (IV Región). In September 2003 and would 30 las hectáreas plantadas y la primera cosecha está prevista para abril de ese mismo año. Los empleos que demandan estas plantaciones se calculan en 12 about, 6 de ellos permanentes.

 

Investments made by the company to date amount to,es,one thousand dollars annually from,es,Not counting the purchase of plants,es,This amount includes the construction of a tranque to provide water to crops,es,which will imply a lower investment over the next few years,es,All production is expected to export it to the United States,es,where there are buyers interested in acquiring it,es,More information,es,Provided by Claudia Botti,es,Project Director,es,What should an entrepreneur or entrepreneur do interested in investing in the cultivation of the jojoba,es,Have adequate land,es,frost free,es,With good drainage,es,good luminosity and high summer temperatures,es,Have funds for investment costs,es 20 mil dólares anuales desde 1999, sin contar la compra de plantas. Este monto incluye la construcción de un tranque para proveer de agua a los cultivos, lo que implicará una menor inversión durante los próximos años. Toda la producción se prevé exportarla hacia Estados Unidos, donde existen compradores interesados en adquirirla.

 

MÁS INFORMACIÓN

(Proporcionada por Claudia Botti, Directora Del Proyecto)

 

Qué debe hacer un empresario o emprendedor interesado en invertir en el cultivo de la jojoba:

 

Disponer de un terreno adecuado: libre de heladas, con buen drenaje, buena luminosidad y altas temperaturas estivales. Contar con fondos para los costos de inversión, of approximately $ 2,000,000/ha if it is with drip irrigation,es,or $ 1,000,000/ha is irrigation per groove,es,Regions or areas of Chile where these crops can be placed,es,From the I to the V region of the country,es,It is possible that in other areas,es,further south,es,There are also sectors with microclimal characteristics similar to those of the Chilean north,es,But it is important that they do not present high atmospheric humidity or many cloudy days,es,Time that takes Jojoba's crops to achieve commercial production,es,Those that use vegetatively propagated plants as material,es,Like the ones we are offering,es,They only require three years to give the first commercial harvest,es,Seed production in selected plants can stabilize between,es, o de $1.000.000/ha si es riego por surco.

 

Regiones o zonas de Chile donde se pueden emplazar estos cultivos:

 

Desde la I a la V región del país. Es posible que en otras zonas, más al sur, también existan sectores con microclimas de características similares a las del norte chileno. Pero es importante que no presenten alta humedad atmosférica ni muchos días nublados.

 

Tiempo que tardan los cultivos de jojoba en lograr una producción comercial:

 

Los que emplean como material base plantas propagadas vegetativamente, como las que estamos ofreciendo, sólo requieren tres años para dar la primera cosecha comercial. La producción de semillas en plantas seleccionadas puede estabilizarse entre 2,5 and 4,5 Kg. by plant from,es,depending on the variety,es,This is equivalent to saying that,es,Hectare of Jojoba could produce between,es,tons of seed or between,es,Tons of liquid wax per season,es,The jojoba is a very long species,es,Specimens of more than,es,years that still remain productive,es,www.diariodelagro.cl/,en,www.conicyt.cl/bases/fondef/fondef/PROYECTO/92/I/D92I1015.HTML,en 8-9 years old, dependiendo de la variedad. Esto equivale a decir que 1 hectárea de jojoba podría producir entre 2,5 and 4,5 toneladas de semilla o entre 1,1 and 2,1 toneladas de cera líquida por temporada. La jojoba es una especie muy longeva. Se conocen ejemplares de más de 100 años que todavía se mantienen productivos.

 

Source: http://www.diariodelagro.cl/

Date: 25/SEP/2006

 

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