The Aqua-4D Water Solutions system is relatively simple: one or more water treatment devices are connected to an electrical switch box and are installed in an affected pipeline network. This improves water quality, removes limescale deposits and reduces the amount of rust water and bacteria in the water.
Chile as a target market
There is also huge potential for this system for Aqua-4D Water Solutions in Chile. “We want to help farmers cope with water shortages,” says Patrick Rosat, Global Business Director at the Valais-based company. “With our system, farmers can make water savings of between 20-30%, while also reducing the salt content in the soil. This leads to higher productivity and is shown to help improve the export quality of fruit and vegetables.” Aqua-4D wants to promote its proven applications in the agricultural sector in Chile, while at the same time searching for new business fields in the South American country, such as environmentally-friendly mining. There is also huge potential for water-intensive processes in this sector to be made more efficient and sustainable.
However, becoming part of the Chilean market takes time and the right strategy. “As in any market, we must win the confidence of farmers,” says Patrick Rosat. For this reason, Aqua-4D works with a local partner, IST Group, who open the doors in both the north and south of the country and provide a permanent quality service to customers. “At the same time, we also need to raise the awareness among the various ministries and farmers' organizations.” The company’s Swiss origins are a plus in this case: “The Swiss image is very strong in the international arena, especially in South America. We are also active in the field of precision irrigation, and precision is known to be a valued Swiss characteristic.”
