Alejandra Engler

• PhD
• Professor (Associate) at Pontifical Catholic University of Chile

The level of satisfaction of individuals within a community sharing a common pool resource is essential to strengthening collective actions. In the case of irrigation water, which is becoming a critical resource due to its declining availability in many regions worldwide, the satisfaction level in Water User Associations (WUAs) is not guaranteed an...

The level of satisfaction within a community sharing a common pool resource is essential to strengthening collective actions. In the case of irrigation water, which is becoming a critical resource due to its declining availability, the satisfaction level of the farmers that join community-based water management organizations called Water User Assoc...

In wine grape production, growers decide between alternative management strategies of the vineyard that have direct consequences on competitiveness. The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact on economic performance of four management strategies: training system, reserve quality production, irrigation method, and mechanization of labors. The d...

Increasing agricultural water use efficiency has the potential to contribute significantly to hydrological sustainability and to coping with increasing water scarcity. This paper focuses on the role of the quantity of irrigation water applied and irrigation method used in explaining output in wine grape farms. We applied propensity score matching t...

Good leaders can greatly influence the effective governance of water resources, however, how their attributes relate to group cooperation in Water User Associations (WUAs) remains an open question. Using the case of Chile, we explore the factors of three non-cooperative behaviors in WUAs by performing a two-stage cluster analysis. The results descr...

Water, as a common pool resource, is threatened by the possibility of overextraction generating a negative economic impact, conflicts among users, and greater income inequality. Scholars have discussed different governance approaches to deal with this threat, including centralized governance and self-governance, and lately, special attention has be...

Changes in climatic conditions are unavoidable and irreversible and an early and effective adaptation in farming systems will be vital for resilient agriculture. Although the extant literature has described factors that explain climate change adaptation, the roles of proactive versus reactive adaptation related to perceived vulnerability are still...

Water scarcity is becoming a major challenge worldwide. The agricultural sector, as a main user of freshwater, may significantly increase its water use efficiency by promoting water saving strategies. This paper proposes a socio-psychological model that builds upon the Theory of Planned Behavior and social capital variables to examine how psycholog...

In Colombia, one-third of the land is devoted to cattle farming, which is one of the main drivers of deforestation, land degradation, loss of biodiversity, and emissions of greenhouses gases. To mitigate the environmental impacts of cattle farming, agroforestry practices have been extensively promoted with mixed results. Despite research and extens...

Extension services play a crucial role by improving skills and access to information that result in greater farm level innovations, especially on family farms which are the predominant form of agriculture in the world. This study analyzed the connection between strategies implemented by extension services and technology adoption on family farms. Us...

Forest plantations have increased rapidly in the last three decades, to a large extent due to direct and indirect financial incentives. At the farm level, forestry incentives can affect the investment decisions of small forest landowners and bring socioeconomic externalities or unintended effects associated with farm management. The purpose of this...

The literature identifies multiple factors that can affect the adoption of new technologies and practices in agriculture to support farm innovation, such as farmers’ socio-economic characteristics and the characteristics of the promoted technology, among others. It has, however, scarcely contemplated the role of the farm workforce in technology and...

This paper examines the effectiveness of intrinsic and extrinsic motivations on the adoption intensity of sustainable agricultural practices (SAPs) among annual crop farmers in Chile. We use the farmers' attitude towards SAPs as a proxy of intrinsic motivation, while extrinsic motivation is represented by an economic incentive to promote the use of...

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to develop and apply a framework that examines the dynamics of internationalization strategies employed by export companies in the agricultural sector of emerging economies over time, with a focus on the locus of destination markets of the Chilean fruit sector. Thus, the objective is to identify conceptual and e...

Since the Green Revolution, farming has transitioned globally into high-yield crop varieties characterized by an intensive use of natural resources. While this has been successful in increasing productivity and lowering the cost of food (Evenson 2003), it has put pressure on ecosystem sustainability, ecological biodiversity, and the provision of ec...

This study examines individually the effects of intra- and inter-regional geographic diversification on the export performance of firms from the Chilean fresh fruit sector. It also explores the direct effect of related product diversification on export performance and its role as a moderator in the relationship between geographic diversification an...

The world’s five Mediterranean-climate regions (MCRs) share unique climatic regimes of mild, wet winters and warm and dry summers. Agriculture in these regions is threatened by increases in the occurrence of drought and high temperature events associated with climate change (CC). In this review we analyze what would be the effects of CC on crops (i...

On-farm agricultural innovation through incorporation of new technologies and practices requires access to resources such as knowledge, financial resources, training, and even emotional support, all of which require the support of different actors such as peers, advisors, and researchers. The literature has explored the support networks that farmer...

Adaptation to climate change is imperative to sustain and promote agricultural productivity growth, and site-specific empirical evidence is needed to facilitate policy making. Therefore, this study analyses the impact of climate change adaptation on productivity for annual crops in Central Chile using a stochastic production frontier approach. The...

Managing the pesticide safety risk to provide end markets with safe fruit and vegetables raises complex issues due to the diversity and stringent nature of public and private safety requirements and the high cost of controlling the product and the production process. More often than not, this leads to the development of diversified and more integra...

Estudios recientes advierten el impacto del cambio climático sobre el ciclo de agua y la disminución de reservas de hielo y nieve. Ello se traduce en mayor riesgo de escasez de recursos hídricos. Este fenómeno también afecta a Chile donde sus conse- cuencias han sido señaladas por especialistas en el tema y pade- cidas por agricultores, otros secto...

Recently, social capital has gained importance in explaining technology adoption decisions by farmers. In this paper, we examine the impact of social capital on the adoption of irrigation technology and irrigation scheduling among wine producers in Central Chile. We propose three hypotheses: that trust and networks affect positively the adoption of...

Managing the pesticide safety risk to provide end markets with safe fruit and vegetables raises complex issues due to the diversity and stringent nature of public and private safety requirements and the high cost of controlling the product and the production process. More often than not, this leads to the development of diversified and more integra...

Water constraints are becoming a major restriction for different economic sectors. The agricultural sector is one of the most affected, but according to experts, the use of irrigation technologies and scheduling can keep productivity high while diminishing the use of water resources. Although irrigation technology is available, for various reasons...

This article explores the drivers of regional stock market integration with a focus on the agribusiness sector across relevant regional trade blocs around the world. We implement panel cointegration models to analyze the stock indices of agribusiness firms in the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR), European Union (EU), Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperat...

â–º Harmonization of SPS and quality measures is in debate in international trade. â–º The study analyzes SPS and quality measures for Chilean fresh fruit exports. â–º Results show a lack of homogeneity in SPS and quality measures and exporters perceived them as such.

Studies investigating the effect of trade liberalization policies on transaction costs in agricultural markets are scarce. The objective of our paper is to determine whether Brazil became more integrated with reduced transaction costs after the introduction of MERCOSUR with respect to its main agricultural trade partners, Argentina (a MERCOSUR memb...

Meteorologists predict that climate change will have an increasing impact on ecosystems and agricultural production; however, many farmers do not have a clear perception of climate change or how it may affect their crop yields and overall farming operation in the near future. This study examines climate change perceptions in From a policy point of...

In Chile, the cherry tree has been one of the fastest growing and most profitable crops in the last ten years. However, increasing production costs, the scarcity of hired labor, and unfavorable exchange rates have reduced the productivity and competitiveness of the Chilean fruit sector. The aim of this article is to evaluate the harvest labor quali...

The demand for organic fruits and vegetables (F&V) is growing worldwide, creating market opportunities for developing countries as major suppliers. However, most export-oriented developing countries such as Chile have an undeveloped domestic market for organic products. This article identifies the segments of potential consumers of organic F&V in C...

The demand for organic fruits and vegetables (F&V) is growing worldwide, creating market opportunities for developing countries as major suppliers. However, most export-oriented developing countries such as Chile have an undeveloped domestic market for organic products. This article identifies the segments of potential consumers of organic F&V in C...

Meteorologists predict that climate change will have an increasing impact on ecosystems and agricultural production; however, many farmers do not have a clear perception of climate change or how it may affect their crop yields and overall farming operation in the near future. This study examines climate change perceptions in four rural municipaliti...

This article applies a Logit regression model to examine the factors that contribute to the adoption of irrigation scheduling by small-scale farmers in Central Chile. Socioeconomic and productive information was collected from a random sample of 112 small-scale, irrigated farms during the 2010/2011 season. One important feature of this research is...

Increasing awareness of food safety issues has led to intensive use of sanitary, phytosanitary and quality-related regulations and standards, imposing a burden on exporting countries worldwide. This study assesses the impact of such regulations and standards estimating a gravity model for Chilean fresh fruit exports that incorporates a stringency-p...

With ongoing globalization, farmers in developing and transition countries are increasingly challenged by the complex organizational structure of international food supply chains. This study seeks to identify how the interplay of supply chain network relationships, which are determined by situational factors affecting farms and their business envir...

While organization theories acknowledge the influence of specific assets on dependence and increasingly represent the latter as a structure of mutual dependence (dependence of A on B and dependence of B on A), there is, to the best of our knowledge, no empirical test concerning the impact of specific assets on a structure of dependence. Our chapter...

The increasing stringency of world food markets requires farmers to adjust farm structure and commercial strategies to remain integrated in export supply chains. The goal of this study was to identify and characterize different types of fresh fruit farms with regard to farm structural and commercial strategies for a representative sample of fresh f...

Cereal grain yields have increased worldwide during the 20th century as a consequence of plant breeding, improved cultural practices and intensive use of inputs. However, there is evidence that there are differences in yield pattern evolution across countries and cereals. The purpose of this study was to compare trends in the yields of the most com...

Cereal grain yields have increased worldwide during the 20th century as a consequence of plant breeding, improved cultural practices and intensive use of inputs. However, there is evidence that there are differences in yield pattern evolution across countries and cereals. The purpose of this study was to compare trends in the yields of the most com...

While organization theories acknowledge the influence of specific assets on dependence and increasingly represent the latter as a structure of mutual dependence (dependence of A on B and dependence of B on A), there is, to the best of our knowledge, no empirical test concerning the impact of specific assets on a structure of dependence. Our paper a...

International commerce of fresh fruit is regulated by different standards and norms, some of which are obligatory and controlled by public entities and others which are voluntary, developed by global food distribution chains such as GlobalGap. In Chile, since the year 2000 there have been initiatives to support the certification of private GAP stan...

International commerce of fresh fruit is regulated by different standards and norms, some of which are obligatory and controlled by public entities and others which are voluntary, developed by global food distribution chains such as Global Gap. In Chile, since the year 2000 there have been initiatives to support the certification of private GAP sta...

El desarrollo de sistemas agrícolas sustentables es un desafío en el contexto de políticas e incentivos tendientes a la conservación de los recursos naturales, especialmente en zonas de secano. El presente estudio examina variables demográficas y productivas que influyen en la adopción de tecnologías de conservación de suelos en 90 pequeños product...

Increasing awareness of food safety issues has brought a boost in sanitary and phytosanitary regulations and standards. Although is likely that these regulations have increased health and welfare in the countries that impose them, they may also have an important effect in exporting countries, affecting especially small producers in developing count...

The development of sustainable agricultural systems is a challenge in the context of policies and incentives aimed to the conservation of natural resources, especially in rainfed areas. This study examines demographic and productive variables that influence the adoption of soil conservation technologies (terraces and infiltration trenches) in 90 sm...

As in many sectors in emerging economies, the concept of corporate social responsibility (CSR) has become important for exporting agri-food firms in view of their integration in global supply chains. The purpose of this research was to assess the implementation by Chilean fruit exporters of CSR practices that go beyond minimum legal requirements. T...

This study aims to weigh the influence of observable traits on live cattle prices, i.e., the percent impact on the final price of various physical characteristics. These characteristics are those that commonly are published in auction catalogues, as is the case of: average lot weight, lot size, age, breed and corporal condition. In addition, the in...

J.L. Troncoso, A. Engler, P. Manriquez, and A. Valdivia. 2012. Factors that influence the price of cattle in livestock auctions: the case of the stockyard of Melipilla (Chile). Cien. Inv. Agr. 39(1): 37-45. This study aims to weigh the influence of observable traits on live cattle prices, i.e., the percent impact on the final price of various physi...

Harmonization of trade regulations and standards is perhaps the most contentious issue regarding export markets due to the impacts that it can have on trade. We determine the extent of harmonization as perceived by exporters with respect to the major Sanitary and Phytosanitary Standards (SPSs) and quality measures which Chile faces in 16 internatio...

This research investigates the spatial market integration of the Chilean wheat market in relation with its most representative international markets by using a vector error correction model (VECM) and how a price support policy, as a price band, affect it. The international market was characterized by two relevant wheat prices: PAN from Argentina a...

Risk in the agricultural sector has multiple dimensions or factors and prioritization of these can support decision making. On the other hand, knowing the importance of these risk factors for distinct agricultural activities and how they vary according to geographic zone constitutes relevant information for agricultural development. The objective o...

This research investigates the spatial market integration of the Chilean wheat market in relation with its most representative international markets by using a vector error correction model (VECM) and how a price support policy, as a price band, affect it. The international market was characterized by two relevant wheat prices: PAN from Argentina a...

Integration of the Chilean domestic economy into international markets has created the need to incorporate more technology, information, and management tools and to generate better entrepreneurial skills at the farm level. These changes require the development of strategic capabilities and farmer changes in attitude. The goal for farmers is to be m...

Integration of the Chilean domestic economy into international markets has created the need to incorporate more technology, information, and management tools and to generate better entrepreneurial skills at the farm level. These changes require the development of strategic capabilities and farmer changes in attitude. The goal for farmers is to be m...

L. Nahuelhual, M.A. Engler, B. Carrillo, V. Moreira, and I. Castro. 2009. Adoption of cleaner production practices by dairy farmers in southern Chile. Cien. Inv. Agr. 36(1):97- 106. Rising concerns about the environmental costs of dairy production have resulted in an increasing use of farm practices that diminish negative production externalities....

This paper advances the measurement of nontariff measures (NTMs) by discussing a framework for how to compare regulations. We argue that relative differences in SPS regulations trigger the impact on trade flows between trading partner countries and specifically look at maximum residue levels (MRLs) for pesticides in a case study on Chilean fruit ex...

Since 1990 row milk production has exhibited a rapid increase from 890 million liters in 1990 to 1,818 million in 2006. The excess production has allowed for the expansion of the export sector, converting Chile in a net exporter in 2001. A relevant question in this new market scenario is how this structural change can affect milk prices paid to pro...

Decisions are strongly influenced by risk and risk preferences of decision makers; however, in Chile there are few studies in the agricultural sector focused on this topic. The present paper analyzes the risk preferences of small producers of raspberries ( Rubus idaeus L.) and the production function associated with their production system in the B...

Since 1990 row milk production has exhibited a rapid increase from 890 million liters in 1990 to 1818 million in 2006. The excess production has allowed for the expansion of the export sector, converting Chile in a net exporter in 2001. A relevant question in this new market scenario is how this structural change can affect milk prices paid to prod...

Public-private partnerships are a new way of carrying out research and development (R&D) in Latin America's agricultural sector. These partnerships spur innovation for agricultural development and have various advantages over other institutional arrangements fostering R&D. This report summarizes the experiences of a research project that analyzed 1...

"The reasons for sluggish adoption of long-run agricultural systems are not well understood. Researchers have identified risk and uneven cash flows as two likely culprits, yet the literature has done little to investigate their impacts simultaneously. We explore the unique influence of risk, risk preference, stability, and stability preferences on...

An EC INCO-Dev Project on QAS for mycotoxin reduction in Southern Cone grain supply chains forms the basis for the research of this paper. While HACCP instruments are relatively straightforward, and commonly applied at the single firm and actor level, to do this along a multi-actor supply chain, generates additional research questions. Analyzing ac...

Chile has historically been a net wheat importer and its domestic wheat price is strongly dependent on international markets, Argentine and the United States being the main suppliers. This paper analyzes the degree of integration between the Chilean, Argentinean and USA wheat markets, using a vector error correction (VEC) model. Binary variables ad...

Varios estudios revelan que el tamaño del rebaño lechero, la productividad por vaca y el sistema de alimentación son factores que tienen un rol importante en la rentabilidad del negocio lechero. Sin embargo, no siempre son concluyentes respecto al impacto que tiene cada uno de estos factores sobre el resultado económico. Este estudio tuvo como obje...

Different studies reveal that herd size, cow productivity and feeding system are factors that have an important role in dairy profitability. However, the studies do not always agree about the impact of each of these factors on the economic results. The aim of this study was to analyze the cash flow per hectare of dairy farms of the south central re...

A. Engler y L. Nahuelhual. 2006. Respuesta del precio del trigo chileno a los cambios en el mercado internacional: Un análisis de cointegración. Cien. Inv. Agr. 33(3):247-256. Chile ha sido históricamente un país importador neto de trigo. Esto sumado al pequeño tamaño de su economía hace prever que el precio interno de este cereal esté influenciado...

En este estudio se aplicó el análisis de cointegración y modelo de vector de corrección por el error (VCE) para analizar la magnitud y duración del impacto del precio de importación de productos lácteos sobre el precio de leche pagado a productor en Chile. Las variables incluidas en el modelo fueron el precio nacional, el precio CIF (Cost, Insuranc...

This study applied cointegration analysis and the vector error correction model (VCE) to analyze the magnitude and duration of the impact of the import price of dairy products on the domestic milk price paid to producers in Chile. The variables included in the analysis were domestic price, CIF (Cost, Insurance and Freight) price, and exchange rate...

En este estudio se aplicó análisis de cointegración y el modelo de vector de corrección de error (VCE) para analizar la influencia del mercado internacional de lácteos sobre el precio de leche pagado a productor y recepción de leche en plantas. El modelo VCE permite identificar las relaciones de largo plazo entre estas variables y determinar cómo y...

Many people use environmental indices to track and understand ecosystems. Indices make it possible to compare two or more complex, multifaceted systems at one time by reducing information about each system into a single number or diagram. Paradoxically, while this reductionism enhances understandability of the index, it works contrary to both the c...

This document constitutes a conceptional framework in which, based on a review of existing theories, we develop a model to (1) explain behavior of actors involved in public-private partnerships for innovation development in agriculture and to (2) analyze the value of partnership arrangements for innovation development in agriculture in general. The...

Sustainable agriculture is a complex problem that demands consideration of many interrelated factors, processes, and institutions. Unfortunately, current definitions of sustainability are expansive, and use as a guide for strategic planning or decision making is clouded by ambiguity and a plethora of definitions. Regardless of how sustainability is...

Wheat related products contaminated with mycotoxins, generate human health externalities, marketing/segregation, production cost and information cost externalities. The implementation of a cereal Quality Assurance Systems (QAS) is an issue of importance in agro-supply export chains. Most countries do recognize that placing standards on the level of...

Different studies reveal that herd size, cow productivity and feeding system are factors that have an important role in dairy profitability. However, the studies do not always agree about the impact of each of these factors on the economic results. The aim of this study was to analyze the cash flow per hectare of dairy farms of the south central re...