Stone Pine Cultivation and the Emerging Bioeconomy in Chile
A Presentation by Verónica Loewe Muñoz
Part of the "Unlocking the Bioeconomy for Nontimber Forest Products" Webinar Series
Given Sept. 30, 2021
Pinus pinea is a Mediterranean species whose edible seeds are highly valued and demanded worldwide. The cones are harvested mainly from natural forests, and the pine nuts are considered NTFPs. Cropping of this species generates income from cone or pine nut sales, creates jobs, and provides multiple social and environmental benefits, contributing to rural development. In the presentation, Dr. Muñoz discussed the potential contribution of stone pine, a similar product and an emerging crop in Chile, in terms of its socioeconomic benefits and its relationship with the bioeconomy. An economic assessment of stone pine cultivation was estimated under different management schemes: medium-intensity managed plantation, medium-intensity managed agroforestry system, and high-intensity managed plantation. Regardless of the management scheme, stone pine plantations would contribute to sustainable socioeconomic development, representing opportunities to transition to a bioeconomy.
Verónica Loewe Muñoz received her BSc in Forest Engineering from Universidad de Chile in 1986. Then in Italy she did a specialization on high-value timber production and was introduced to stone pine (Pinus pinea L.). Verónica did her doctorate in Biosciences and AgriFood Sciences at University of Córdoba, Spain (2012–2016), and focused on stone pine growth and fruiting, variability, adaptation, and management. In 2019, she was recognized by the International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO) with the Outstanding Doctoral Research Award in recognition of the scientific achievements in her research, making valuable contributions to the advancement of the species’ domestication, contributing to the establishment of over 3,000 hectares of new plantations for pine nut production in Chile. She currently is project leader at the Chilean Forest Institute (INFOR), in charge of the program “Development and contributions for the use of high value forest and forest-fruit species for Chile,” funded by the Ministry of Agriculture. Her goal is to offer to society new productive alternatives and sustainable productive models that can be successfully implemented at an economic, environmental, and social point of view.
This webinar series is hosted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Forest Service, The Forest History Society, Renmin University of China, and the IUFRO Task Force.
This event is made possible in part through funding from the Lynn W. Day Endowment.
