SQM: $64.47 ▼ $-1.21(-1.84%) Contact us - Helpline/Hotline EN ES About SQM Products Sustainability Community Press center Investors En Comunidad Comunidades Home Communities Communities Axes of Community Work Contribution by Corfo Contract Corporate Volunteering SQM Present in the communities Our operations are located in northern Chile in the Tarapacá and Antofagasta regions, which feature a predominately dry desert climate. Most of the population lives in the regional capital cities, outside of which the remaining population lives in towns or villages located at long distances from each other, connected by roads as ground travel is the main form of transportation. There are small villages located near the Company’s operations that make their living from either farming, tourism, port operations or mining, such as María Elena, formerly a saltpeter town that is now known for providing services to the mining industry and as a future hub for niche tourism. There are also a considerable number of settlements of different Atacameña indigenous communities, particularly in the municipality of San Pedro de Atacama. Because of our location, we interact with communities and nearby villages that are associated with our centers of production. Pozo Almonte La Tirana Colonia Agrícola Pintados PROMOTING AGRICULTURE IN PINTADOS – POZO ALMONTE In 2019, SQM continued its work with the Pintado Farming Colony through the Tierras de Jehová Multicultural Indigenous Association and the Juventud del Desierto Aymara Indigenous Association, while also providing specific support to local farmers. The work has focused on fostering good agriculture practices through guidance from SQM professionals in enhancing soil structures with sand and washing to recover new arable soil; assisting with the implementation of irrigation systems designed to save water; providing agricultural equipment for soil preparation, seeds and plants, all of which is supplemented with a plant nutrition program. Other initiatives have also been carried out such as growing melons and watermelons, planting grape vines and experimenting with coconut fibers as a means to introduce new techniques as alternatives to farmland substitution. Tierras de Jehová Multicultural Indigenous Association: the association’s eight farmers and their families have received support for enhancing soil structure and texture and purchasing agricultural machinery. Juventud del Desierto Aymara Indigenous Association: The association’s eight farmers and their families have received support for soil enhancement, irrigation and fertilization techniques, and purchasing agricultural materials, equipment and seeds. POZO ALMONTE FARMERS RECEIVE 40 TONS OF ANIMAL FEED Twenty members of the Pampa del Tamarugal Rural Aymara Association received feed for 4,000 heads of goats and sheep in an effort to boost small stock farming in Pozo Almonte. This is the first step taken by a working group made up of representatives from SQM and the local association. The agreement entails providing supplementary forage and feed for the goat and sheep herds along with specialized veterinary care to enhance herd management and animal production and reproduction techniques. The forty-ton supplementary feed delivery consisted of: 30 tons of alfalfa in blocks and 10 tons of concentrated feed for a total of 4,000 head of goat and sheep owned by the association’s 20 members. This is a one-time, year-long project. In late 2019, we joined efforts with CONAF and the Pampa del Tamarugal Rural Aymara Indigenous Association to begin a three-year project starting in 2020 aimed at building a 30-hectare alfalfa production unit in the Pampa del Tamarugal National Reserve in the district of Pozo Almonte. SQM committed to designing and building the alfalfa production unit as well as financing equipment, supplies and materials. This unit is expected to serve as a source of forage and feed for small stock owned by participating association members. POZO ALMONTE AGRICULTURE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CENTER As part of our commitment of using our expertise as a specialty fertilizer producer to foster agricultural production, we opened the Pozo Almonte Agriculture Research and Development Center in 2019. The initiative is outlined in the agreement signed by the Municipality of Pozo Almonte and SQM. The only one of its kind in the Tarapacá Region, the center’s objective is to develop hydroponic crops and produce cheese for sale on the local market. It will train anyone wishing to grow their own hydroponic crops, providing guidance as a pilot program to identify the best business processes and production techniques. Moreover, a cooperative staffed initially by six members has been set up to manage the goat cheese production facilities. Owned by the Pozo Almonte Municipality and located at the “Los Pinos” campground, the research center spans more than 1,150m2 divided among two buildings: one is used to grow hydroponic crops and the other one houses the cheese factory (duly certified by health authorities) along with a refrigerated delivery truck to ensure the cold chain remains intact. In addition to the infrastructure, SQM provides technical assistance and supplies. 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