b'Counter-Season in a PandemicHow seed companies are navigating the growing season in Chile during COVID-19. Treena Hein THIS YEAR,as every year, U.S. and globalDecember, foreigners were able to enter Chile seed companies are running counter-seasonwith proper paperwork. And, with a negative PCR trials and seed production in Chile. Although 2020COVID test done within the preceding 72 hours, no has obviously been differentand incredibly morequarantine on arrival will be required. In the mean-challengingthan other years, business activi- time, things are going well at CIS Alliance, and its ties are proceeding very close to normal despiteoffering clients pictures and online video tours in COVID-19. Lets take a close look at how someorder to see how their crops are doing. companies (and Chilean agencies) are achiev-ing this, overcoming the challenges of operatingSmooth Sailingduring a pandemic half a hemisphere away. Eduardo de la Sotta, General Manager at Curimapu Lets first check in with Jim Schweigert, presi- Export, also reported in late October that opera-dent of Wisconsin-based Gro Alliance. His companytions at his firm were proceeding normally thisSending the seed operates a joint venture in Chile called CIS Alliance,growing season. with CIS Semillas (part of Chile-based agriculturalThe seed import is almost finished, he said,as soon as possible firm CIS Agro). It offers nursery services for rowmost of the fields are planted and everything wasto Chile is one of the crops, oilseeds, vegetables and cereal grains justdone properly.south of Santiago. Station manager Paulina SalasDe la Sotta explained that once the border ismain challenges, and her team handle the 60-acre nursery, plant- open, those who need to come to Chile for businessas well as all the ing and executing all the protocols for crossing,will have to apply for special permission ahead of harvest, shelling and shipping seed to clients. But astime, providing reason for the visit and a set date ofplanning must be Schweigert explained in late October, in a normalentry. Staff at Chilean companies and ANPROS (the year, I go to Chile in December to see how the fieldsChilean Seed Association) are available to help. Dedone. are doing and look at our needs for the rest of thela Sotta adds that because the Chilean government Mario Schindlerseason. I go down again to review progress of thehas declared agriculture to be of strategic impor-crops in January or February, and then go back intance, even if a city is put into lockdown, all those March during harvest and shipping.involved in ag-related activities such as seed produc-In March 2020, Schweigert was obviously nottion will be able to move within and in/out of a city able to travel to Chile. However, he says there werewith their permissions paperwork and identification.no issues in shipping seed out of Chile to the U.S. Curimapu Exports staff are providing field at that pointand the firms seed also arrived asupdates through a new online platform thats been normal in Chile this fall for planting. Schweigert wasin development since March. hopeful hed be able to travel to Chile in December,Customers can login and check on pictures and when it was expected that some foreigners willvideos of each field taken at the ground level and be permitted to enter the country. As of earlywith a drone. 26/ SEEDWORLD.COMJANUARY 2021'