Climate change and sustainable development in the Norte Chico, Chile: Land, water and the commercialisation of agriculture

Abstract

This joint research report and occasional paper presents the first systematic results, of the Chile case study. It reports on the changing land use systems of the Norte Chico, on the edge of the Atacama desert and constraints on water supply In addition. it examines the dramatic hift to export-orientated agriculture based on the table grape. While much can be done to mitigate the potential impacts a semi-reversible crisis in the allocation of water for irrigated table grape production may be realised in the near future.