What is the CALAGRO Project?
CALAGRO is a leading company in circular economy, dedicated to improving soils in Southern Chile. With a focus on revaluing mollusk shells, this project provides farmers with high purity calcium carbonate to enhance soil quality. The initiative comes off the same message – concrete actions, innovation, and technology are used to contribute to a more sustainable planet. The project stands out by not only offering a high-quality product, but also by working closely with aquaculture companies to actively reduce environmental liabilities. Its roots are deeply connected to the local communities that have welcomed this development with open arms, and the conscious respect for local culture and customs is a marker of CALAGRO’s identity.
Main Benefits and Key Figures
The benefits of CALAGRO are multifaceted. The project not only helps improve soil quality, but also optimizes costs for farmers by providing a product with high agronomic efficiency. The initiative delivers its advantages through a show of impressive features, such as:
- High Purity Calcium Carbonate with a concentration between 95% and 99%.
- Exclusive three-stage grinding system ensuring excellent granulometry, uniformity, and purity.
- Presentations that include: Bag 25 kg, MaxiSack 1,000 kg, and MaxiSacks of 500 or 750 kg upon request.
- A modern production plant operating with high environmental and quality standards.
- Collaboration with aquaculture companies, contributing to the reduction of environmental liabilities.
Innovative Production Process
Delivered in a casual yet impactful manner, the production process of CALAGRO is truly innovative… A modern plant is at the heart of operations, where state-of-the-art systems and production techniques are used to extract and grind mollusk shells into high purity lime. This facility not only boasts efficiency but also adheres to strict environmental standards, ensuring that its processes contribute to a healthier ecosystem. The production process includes a sophisticated drying system and an additional grinding stage that have been incorporated through continuous investments, making the entire operation a model of modern industrial practice.
Historical Evolution of CALAGRO
The evolution of CALAGRO has a notable history. Starting in 2007, Resiter acquired a plant in Trapen which produced agricultural lime, though it faced environmental challenges due to on-site storage of raw materials and a basic drying and grinding process – space constraints and only one production line meant limited capacities. Fast forward to 2015, a new plant emerged in La Goleta, marking a turning point; the facility was built with a modern production system including an RCA (Environmental Qualification Resolution), eliminated the storage of fresh shells, and expanded the production capabilities by operating two production lines. In 2019, further modernization efforts were made to the La Goleta plant. Investments focused on enhancing the drying system efficiency, incorporating an additional grinding stage, increasing the capacity of reception hoppers to avoid truck waiting times, and improving odor control filters – all accompanied by a significant reduction of noise and dust levels. It’s a journey of progress, adaptation, and continuous improvement.
Our Lime: Quality and Agronomic Value
The lime produced by the CALAGRO project represents more than just a product – it is a testament to quality and agronomic value. Working with high-quality raw materials, the focus remains on achieving an impressively high percentage of calcium carbonate. The exclusive three-stage grinding system is responsible for producing lime with exceptional granulometry and uniformity, which in turn translates into a product with high neutralization power. When used in field applications, this lime not only optimizes costs by reducing the amount needed, but also grants better results in soil conditioning. The underlying philosophy is simple: providing farmers with a product that maximizes efficiency and supports sustainable agricultural practices.
Circular Economy and Sustainability at the Core
Embedded in the concept of circular economy, CALAGRO’s operation is a clear nod to sustainability. The transformation of mollusk shells, a byproduct that could otherwise contribute to waste issues, into a valuable input for agriculture is revolutionary. There’s a careful balance between industrial innovation and environmental responsibility. Alongside technical improvements and process upgrades, the project remains committed to minimizing the ecological footprint of its operations. By integrating circular economy principles, CALAGRO shows that revaluation of materials can lead to profitable, sustainable practices that benefit both the environment and the community.
Project Impact on Sustainable Development Goals
- SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production – Through revaluation of mollusk shells into high purity lime.
- SDG 13: Climate Action – By contributing to a reduction in environmental liabilities and emissions through modern production processes.
- SDG 15: Life on Land – By positively impacting soil quality and supporting sustainable farming practices.
- SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals – Through robust cooperation between aquaculture, farming, and industrial innovation.
Environmental Collaboration and Community Engagement
At the heart of CALAGRO’s mission is collaboration. The project works with local aquaculture companies and neighboring communities, honoring the unique culture and customs of the regions in Southern Chile. There is a strong belief in the power of teamwork – a human team, as highlighted by CALAGRO – that drives the project’s efforts for a more sustainable planet. The collaborative nature of the project not only leads to tangible benefits such as improved soil quality and lower production costs for farmers, but also creates a chain reaction of environmental responsibility. This dynamic approach, coupled with continuous process improvements and modern technological interventions, showcases a model of innovation that helps in realizing the dream of a greener, more sustainable future.
