The four-day program included visits to farms in the Aconcagua Network — Agrifrut, Agrícola Plaza Vieja, Agrícola Urmeneta, Agrícola La Vega and Corporafruit — each piloting innovative approaches to more sustainable avocado production. Techniques included not only nano-drip irrigation, but also algae-based biostimulants, leaf sap analysis, soil microbiome monitoring and EcoStacking — a method that integrates biodiversity habitat features into productive farm areas. The visits were highly appreciated by the international and local participants and also showed the value of peer-to-peer learning as a driver of wider adoption.

Growers were clear about what accelerates change: practical knowledge exchange, tailored technical support, and a convincing business case. Regenerative agriculture is already being applied, but is more likely to spread when it demonstrably improves productivity, lowers costs and strengthens resilience — and when data collection serves farm management rather than just reporting requirements.

Progress on individual farms must be matched by action at catchment scale. Strategic dialogues with the regional General Water Directorate (DGA) and the National Irrigation Commission (CNR) revealed strong alignment between the Partnership's agenda and public-sector priorities. The goal is to establish and formalize long-term technical collaboration, centered on knowledge exchange and coordinated water governance across the valley.

Water access was identified as a challenge not only of scarcity, but also of distribution and oversight. In some sections of the river, irrigation water is available for as little as 36 hours per week during the summer season. Concerns about unauthorized water use and over-abstraction were also raised, pointing to the need for a clearer, spatially differentiated understanding of actual water use across the catchment.

A breakfast hosted by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands brought together an unusually broad coalition — including representatives from the Ministries of Environment and Agriculture, DGA, CNR, CORFO, INDAP, INIA, ProChile and Fedefruta, among others. The event reinforced growing international expectations around sustainable agricultural production and positioned the Aconcagua Partnership as a tangible example of public-private collaboration in action.

A dedicated session facilitated by Chile's National Contact Point explored Responsible Business Conduct and Human Rights Due Diligence in agricultural value chains, highlighting how collective initiatives can reduce duplication and promote more consistent monitoring approaches across the sector.

The visit concluded with an agreed list of actions and priorities. At farm level, these include defining a standardized baseline, developing farm-specific transition plans, and creating a shared dashboard to track water and carbon footprints across the Aconcagua Network. At landscape level, the focus will be on a more formal stakeholder engagement, deepening understanding of how water use varies across river sections, and expanding the WAVE Partnership's visibility at international trade events such as Fruit Attraction and Fruit Logistica.

The 2026 field visit marked a turning point: from designing the Partnership to implementing collective action at scale. With a strong foundation in place, the next phase will focus on translating that into measurable environmental, economic and social outcomes — for growers, for the valley, and for the international supply chains that depend on it.