Romano Vercellino

Ancestral Traditions

Protecting Pachamama

The indigenous Incan people of the Andes have revered Pachamama – Mother Earth – for centuries. The feminine goddess is said to sustain life and preside over harvest and agriculture. Today, she retains her pivotal role in the religious beliefs of the Andean peoples who gather every August to make a special offering to Pachamama as a symbol of gratitude.

In Chile, one of the most geographically diverse countries in the world, with at least seven major climatic subtypes, the celebration of Pachamama has never been so important. Already feeling the effects of climate change, farmers such as Romano Vercellino, whose orchards extend from northern Peru, through the northern, central and southern parts of Chile, are fiercely devoted to protecting their extraordinary ancestral homeland.

Preserving the old, embracing the new

Romano started as a small grower in Central Chile back in the late 80s and then founded Verfrut in 1996. Today, he’s the largest individual fruit grower in Chile and the largest grape grower in Peru. Alongside the cherries, table grapes, stone fruit, kiwis and apples that sprout from his fields, he also grows a wide variety of citrus fruits.

For Romano, soil is his most valuable asset. Building on sustainable ancestral traditions, he’s fostered a symbiotic, respectful relationship with the land, enabling him to complement and enhance the natural fecundity that surrounds him. And he’s also integrating newer modes of sustainability into his land management, focusing on environmentally-friendly inputs that protect the ecosystems and biodiversity on which his farms rely.

Farming with nature

For over two decades, we’ve been supplying Verfrut with “greener product alternatives,” as they seek to “differentiate themselves” from their competitors. By adopting products such as Biozyme TF, a naturally-derived biosolution that enhances flowering and fruiting, and Kanemite 15, an acaricide that offers exceptional control of key mite species without harming beneficial insects, Romano is improving productivity while fostering a healthier environment and greater climate change resilience.

We’re also helping Romano improve efficiency by providing cutting-edge precision pest management technology as well as drone imagery to monitor crop health. He tells us he values “the closeness and knowledge in both commercial and technical matters” and the products that make up 20% of Verfrut’s input needs.

Pachamama’s partners

We’re proud to support Verfrut to farm with Pachamama, not against her, as we drive forward our joint mission to create a food system that will feed the world without costing the earth.