Agua, tierra y fractura sociometabólica del agronegocio. Actividad frutícola en Petorca, Chile

Abstract

El artículo profundiza en las transformaciones socioecológicas que el agronegocio genera en las dinámicas territoriales haciendo uso del concepto de metabolismo social. El estudio se sustenta en: a) el método de estimación de agua virtual para calcular los volúmenes de agua utilizados en la actividad frutícola y sus impactos en la disponibilidad de agua en las cuencas, y b) el análisis de la transformación territorial de las relaciones sociales de ocupación de la tierra y tipologías de cultivo. Se toma como caso de estudio la provincia de Petorca en Chile, lugar que ha vivenciado un intenso conflicto territorial en torno a la cuestión hídrica, generado por el modelo privado de gestión del agua chileno, el agronegocio frutícola y los efectos de periodos prolongados de sequía. Los resultados evidencian la profundización de una fractura sociometabólica en el territorio, ocasionada por la intensificación de la exportación frutícola. Dicha fractura tornó inviable la agricultura campesina al provocar una dinámica territorial en donde campesinos y campesinas no disponen de agua para criar animales y/o plantar los cultivos para su sustento.

Agribusiness Facing Its Limits: The Re-Design of Neoliberalization Strategies in the Exporting Agriculture Sector in Chile

“…However, the current agribusiness model has been criticized in recent literature [7,8], pointing to the socio-ecological impacts on the territories caused by large-scale agricultural production. Currently, one of the most discussed topics in both political and scientific circles is water, due to the decrease in water availability that has become a growing concern on the national level.…”

Social Innovations as A Response to Dispossession: Community Water Management in View of Socio-Metabolic Rift in Chile

“…A recent study of Panez et al [20] analyses the socioecological impacts of avocado production on the territorial dynamics of the province. The high-water consumption for this crop in a semiarid region such as Petorca-estimated at 389.5 liters to produce one kilo-and the considerable expansion of plantations, has generated an intensification of water and soil exploitation.…”

“…Recently, various critical studies on political ecology verified the profound socioecological impacts that the neoliberalization process generated in Chile [17,18]. Considering the consequences of this process, some researchers point out that there are ongoing "socio-metabolic rifts", in which the acceleration of the extraction and production of commodities is provoking a rupture (a "rift") in the cycles enabling life to reproduce in different territories throughout the country [19,20].…”

Trend Analysis of Precipitation, Groundwater Level and Flow Rate Data by using Mann-Kendall and Sen's Slope Estimator Statistical Tests in the Petorca Communer

“…In this context, the average global blue water footprint of the avocado crop is 823 m 3 •ton 1 , referring to the necessary consumption of surface and underground water for cultivation (Mekonnen and Hoekstra, 2011). The technified irrigation systems are a factor that has allowed to continued cultivation in areas with lower water resources (Panez-Pinto et al, 2018).…”