Project supported by the Regional Fund for InnovationCompetitiveness (FIC) of the Government of Atacama. Executedand operated by the University of Atacama, through the RegionalCenter for Research and Sustainable Development of Atacama(CRIDESAT).

Ecotron Atacama

Outline

1.- Welcome and presentations

2.- Region of Atacama – general background & natural laboratories

Current state of Ecotron-Atacama

3.- Presentation of Cridesat – MoU

4.- Presentation of Internationalization and Mobility Unit

5.- Comments from Terra

6.- Discussing the possibility of a work agreement

Background – Region of Atacama- Chile

Atacama región

Copiapó city

Copiapó

Atacama as a natural laboratory➢ Atacama Region is located between 25°-29° S and

68° -71° W➢ It hosts a great variety of environments, from the

highest peaks of the Andes close to 7.000 m, tothe desert, and the ocean with the Chile -Perutrench (that reach the -7.000 m in front ofCaldera)

THE DESERT IN BLOOM

Atacama: some background

➢ Atacama region has a surface of 75.000 km² (alittle bit smaller than Austria)

➢ Population – 300.000 inhabitants - 2 cities: Copiapóand Vallenar.

➢ Human presence is limited to the cities, along theriver valleys, and in some isolated mines (themines are big). Outside these zone human presenceis negligible.

How can we studyagroecosystems functioningin/from Atacama consideringenvironmental changes ont

only in current but also futurescenarios?

Tatiana Izquierdo

PhDGeological

hazards

Estefania Bonnail

PhDEnvironmental

Sciences & Ecotoxicology

Rómulo Oses

PhD EnvironmentalMicrobiology & Biotechnology

Roberto Contreras

PhDMolecular

BiologyGenetics

Pedro Cairo

PhDSoil Sciences

Ayon García

GeologistCryosphereGlaciology

Mauro Barbieri

PhDAstronomy

Habitability & Analog of

Exoplanets

UNIVERSITY OF ATACAMA – CRIDESAT –MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM

Ecotron Atacama's aims is to generate a Regionalresearch, development and innovation platform, through theimplementation of high-performance equipment for simulationedaphoclimatic conditions projected to the year 2030, with emphasisin the impact on the physiological and productivity of key horticulturecrops.

Under a “Smart Agriculture” approach,through the multidisciplinary research, weseek to generate relevant information tosupport stakeholders' decisions (public,private, academic and society sectors),promoting adaptive agriculture practices ,considering the current and futureconditions of agroecosystems in arid zones.

Prospecting DisseminationResearch Networks

01 0302 04

Lines of work

PROSPECTING01

Benchmarking

En el marco de actividades diagnósticas In 2020, diagnostic activitieswere conducted to determinethe current status ofagriculture sector in Atacama:

➢ Two studies➢ Meetings with key actors

We compiled and analyzed relevant secondarysources of information to support decision makersand to identify “pilot territorial units”, with specialecosystem characteristics (e.g., economic, socialand technical productive infrastructure), allowing acollaborative work in the framework of this project.

Baseline study

SWOT interviews

We compared and analyzed secondary sources ofinformation about the components and relevantdesign aspects of different Ecotrons around the world(13 institutions) as well as other similar systems andfunctions. Different levels in terms of operationalconditions

Using the methodology of “focus groups” amongstakeholders in Atacama, we developed interviewswith different key agents from the private, public,academic and social sectors, where differentchallenges and opportunities, were identified andprioritized.

RESEARCH02

Cultivation onsaline soils

Physiology of agricultural crops and

adaptation

Gene expression involved in abiotic stress tolerance

Microbial-basedproducts (biopesticides& growth promoters)

According to the challenges and opportunities identified, the bases of the

research efforts of the project and its lines of action were organized and

articulated as follows:

ICTs and climate change / global

warming

Science & Society(Cityzen Science)

DISSEMINATION03

➢ Seminars - webinars

➢ International conference

➢ Microcapsules

➢ Presence in social networks

➢ Explanatory video to introduce Ecotron

https://youtu.be/tETyMqiu91QCheck our video

NETWORKS04

ResearchPublic Productive

Follow us on our social networks:EcotronAtacama

Our website:www.ecotronatacama.cl