Johanna Mártiz said productivity, varieties, fruit size, colour, and condition will be key to defending Chile’s market position in the future
The competitiveness of Chile’s citrus export industry in the coming seasons will not depend solely on increasing fruit production. The challenge lies in ensuring that the fruit reaches its destination with the specific attributes demanded by the markets – all within a landscape where costs related to quarantine requirements are rising, and climate-related and phytosanitary risks are intensifying.
This is the view of Johanna Mártiz, an academic at the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile (PUC) and director of InnovaCitrus.
She identified the fruit fly as one of the factors currently exerting the greatest pressure on sector, noting that outbreaks have been particularly problematic for production areas in the Coquimbo region and are now beginning to affect parts of the Valparaíso region, necessitating the implementation of additional measures to ship fruit to certain markets.
“Export costs are rising because the fruit must undergo cold treatment,” Mártiz explained. This means that, beyond the risk of trade restrictions, companies face higher expenses to deliver their products to their destinations – a factor that directly impacts the returns on their operations.
She called for closer coordination between exporters and the Agricultural and Livestock Service (SAG), particularly regarding surveillance, control, and the development of tools to safeguard continued market access.
Quality as an export strategy
In a competitive international landscape, Mártiz argued that Chile must strengthen the attributes that differentiate its offerings from those of other origins.
“Chile must compete through quality,” she said, noting that sugar content, coloration, acidity, and fruit size are all fundamental variables. She also highlighted the importance of planting superior varieties and increasing productivity without a proportional rise in costs.
For an export-oriented industry, these factors have direct commercial consequences: they determine the ability to meet buyer specifications, qualify for higher commercial grades, and maintain fruit condition during long-haul transit.
Mártiz maintained that while Chile has made progress in management techniques and quality, future strategy must integrate genetics, productivity, fruit condition, sustainability, and climate adaptation.
Climate pressure mounts
Mártiz pointed out that pressure does not stem solely from phytosanitary requirements. The high temperatures recorded during spring and summer in the central region can also affect key characteristics of fruit destined for export.
She explained that when temperatures exceed 28-30°C – particularly in dry environments with low relative humidity – fruit drop can increase, and the number of fruits per tree may decrease, directly impacting yield.
Furthermore, extreme temperatures reduce the duration during which a plant maintains optimal physiological activity.
This can slow fruit growth and disrupt processes related to sugar accumulation and the reduction of acidity. For an exporter, the potential impact extends beyond the orchard: it can result in a lower volume of export-ready fruit or difficulties in meeting the quality and sizing standards required at the destination.
Compounding these issues are more intense frost events, leading to seasons characterised by greater production variability.
HLB: A threat that Chile has so far kept beyond its borders
Mártiz also highlighted another risk that the industry is monitoring closely: Huanglongbing (HLB). For now, Chile remains free of this disease, which is considered one of the most destructive to citrus cultivation worldwide. However, she warned that its presence in other countries in the region necessitates constant, reinforced surveillance.
“HLB has killed millions of trees globally,” she said, emphasising that there is currently no cure for the disease.
Its entry into the country would pose not only a production challenge but also a strategic risk for an industry that relies on Chile’s sanitary status to maintain its international presence.
Part of the scientific work currently being carried out by the sector is aimed precisely at mitigating these risks. Mártiz leads research focused on developing predictive models capable of anticipating adverse climatic conditions in orchards. The goal is to enable producers to take proactive measures before extreme events occur, thereby reducing their impact on fruit development and quality.
The research also evaluates biostimulants, seaweed, amino acids, and new molecules designed to reduce plant stress caused by high temperatures and low relative humidity.
From an export perspective, Mártiz noted that these tools could become increasingly important; the challenge lies not only in maintaining productivity but also in ensuring sufficient fruit volumes that consistently meet the commercial standards required by international markets.
Mártiz summarised by warning that while increasing production remains important, safeguarding plant health, controlling costs, and ensuring export-grade quality will be the decisive factors for maintaining competitiveness in the Chilean citrus industry in the years ahead.
