On Thursday, May 18, Esteban Valenzuela, minister of agriculture of Chile, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with UW–Madison leaders, a document showing the parties’ good faith intentions to collaborate on educational and scientific efforts, including mutually-beneficial research projects and student and faculty exchanges.

Valenzuela also signed the agreement in his role as council president of the Foundation for Agricultural Innovation (FIA), the private law agency of Chile’s Ministry of Agriculture, which aims to promote and strengthen innovation in the country’s agri-food sector and food chain. FIA’s areas of interest with UW­–Madison include capacity building in agroecology, ag innovation, and innovation transfer to farmers, as well as supporting the role and presence of women in agriculture and rural youth in the countryside.

Valenzuela and the Chilean delegation held various meetings May 18-19 to discuss interests and possible collaborations with various CALS and campus personnel, including a morning meeting involving Center for Dairy Research staff members Rodrigo Ibáñez and Miguel Perez, as well as a lunchtime discussion with Claudia Calderon (horticulture), Joao Dorea (animal and dairy sciences), Erin Silva (plant pathology), and Anita Thompson (biological systems engineering).

CALS Global helped plan the visit.

Additional photos from the visit are posted on Flickr.