Roberto Contardo is Agribusiness Manager at Abud & Ca, a Chilean fruit company in the Maule region specializing in cherries and kiwifruit, where he oversees commercial planning, grower relations, and export strategy. An Agricultural Engineer with a major in Agricultural Economics from Pontificia Universidad Catlica de Chile, Roberto designed and led the creation of Montefrutal Export, the company's internal export unit achieving vertical integration. He also manages his own cherry farm in the O'Higgins region and serves on Chile's national Cherry and Kiwi Committees, contributing to industry-wide decisions on market development and global strategy.
Roberto's Nuffield research addresses a structural challenge facing Chilean fruit producers: their limited influence in how products are marketed and priced. Through his current leadership of a collaborative commercialization model with access to actual financial results under traditional export systems, he has identified significant opportunities for value creation and fairer distribution. His research will explore international models--including New Zealand's cooperative systems, Dutch supply chain innovation, EU marketing schemes, and vertically integrated US businesses--where producers actively participate in commercialization through cooperatives, alliances, or direct trade. His goal is to identify practical tools improving transparency, returns, and sustainability that can be adapted to Chile's context, ultimately launching his own independent business within three years focused on producer-centered value chains.
