If there's one thing farmers in the Mediterranean rainfed region know, it's that climatic conditions are increasingly difficult. Prolonged droughts, water scarcity, and challenging soils have led to the search for new and innovative solutions.

The drought is significantly reducing forage production, directly impacting livestock productivity and food security. It is estimated that 60% of Chilean alfalfa production is concentrated in areas of high climate vulnerability, primarily in the Central and South-Central regions, where the Mediterranean climate predominates.

A decade ago, a team of researchers from the Agricultural Research Institute (INIA) set a clear goal: to develop alfalfa varieties adapted to climate change scenarios, with tolerance to water scarcity and high production potential.

Thus was born Kauke, a national alfalfa designed from the ground up for dryland farming. It offers 40% more persistence than other alfalfa varieties under dryland conditions, 30% more forage production in environments with water scarcity, and 7,000 kg of dry matter per hectare, ensuring quality feed for livestock.

To ensure that this innovation would not remain solely in laboratories but would reach farmers, INIA formalized a strategic alliance with Curimapu Semillas. This company is currently responsible for the multiplication, production, and marketing of Kauke seed, facilitating access to this variety with high-yield genetics and great agronomic value for producers across the country.

The Kauke variety is the result of years of research and genetic improvement, during which INIA has worked on the introduction and characterization of materials, adjusting management recommendations to optimize its performance in Mediterranean dryland farming.

Traditionally, the development of new alfalfa varieties could take up to 15 years. However, thanks to advanced genomic selection, this period has been reduced by 25%, accelerating the availability of materials adapted to Chile's different production systems.

Among forage legumes, alfalfa stands out for its remarkable resistance to drought conditions, thanks to its taproot system, capable of exploring great depths in the soil and better coping with the water stress typical of Chile's dry Mediterranean lands.

INIA researcher Dr. Luis Inostroza, who leads these studies, analyzes the current forage seed market scenario in Chile and highlights the strategic role of alfalfa in addressing food security.

The specialist points out that in Chile, more than 90% of the forage seeds used in livestock systems are imported, which generates a strong dependence on the international market. “Today, most of the alfalfa seeds used in the country come from the United States, Australia, New Zealand, and Europe.” He explains that pink clover was one of the few locally produced and widely used species, especially in southern livestock farming systems. On the other hand, annual legumes, such as subterranean clover, were widely used in dryland areas, and their planting was supported by the Degraded Soil Recovery Program (SIRSD-S), which provides state subsidies for activities that recover degraded agricultural soils. However, in recent years, its main importer, Anasac, stopped importing it into the country due to various factors, causing a significant shortage and highlighting the vulnerability of livestock farming systems.

In this context, he adds that “the interest in the varieties developed by INIA, through a national company like Curimapu, with solid experience in local production and marketing, constitutes a significant milestone,” he notes.

The National Rainfed Alfalfa Program (PAS), under the direction of Dr. Inostroza and supported by a multidisciplinary team, continues to conduct research to release drought-resistant national varieties that can be grown from the Arica and Parinacota Region southward, both under irrigated and rainfed conditions.

This scientific effort is essential to reducing dependence on foreign genetics and positioning alfalfa as a strategic crop for food security, especially in areas where forage availability has historically been limited.

This line of research includes professionals Soledad Espinoza, Camila Sáenz, and Viviana Barahona, as well as university and field and laboratory technicians who contribute their expertise to these technological developments.

The INIA remains committed to rigorously and objectively evaluating the performance of these new varieties under local conditions, both on the farmers' own farms and with those who visit the farms.