In a ceremony held at the auditorium of the Universidad de las Américas, the Honorable General Council of the Chilean Association of Agronomical Engineers awarded Gaspar Goycoolea Vial, President of Grupo Hijuelas, the Salvador Izquierdo Award in recognition of his outstanding career in the private sector.
The award was presented by Jorge Wicha, President of the Association, during the organization’s traditional annual ceremony, which also honored distinguished colleagues and newly qualified agronomy professionals. In his remarks, Gaspar Goycoolea emphasized the importance of working with values such as passion and respect, stating that “being an agronomical engineer is not only a profession—it is a way of life, deeply connected to nature, the land, and the development of people in rural communities.”
Leadership with Global Impact
Educated at Colegio Verbo Divino and holding a degree in Agronomy Engineering from the University of Chile, Gaspar Goycoolea has dedicated more than four decades to agricultural development through private entrepreneurship. As President of Grupo Hijuelas, he has led a profound transformation of Chile’s nursery and fruit-growing sectors, positioning the company as a global benchmark in high-quality plant propagation.
Under his leadership, Grupo Hijuelas has become one of the world’s four leading blueberry nurseries, with operations across the Americas, Europe, and Africa. The group has also played a key role in the expansion of crops such as European hazelnut and cherry, guided by a strong focus on applied science, sustainability, and continuous improvement.
His vision has also driven the creation of the world’s largest in vitro propagation laboratory for European hazelnut in southern Chile, as well as the development of strategic collaborations with universities and research institutions in France, the Netherlands, the United States, Australia, and Chile.
Purpose and Human Development
In his address, Goycoolea highlighted that the growth of the companies within the holding has always been anchored in a deeply human-centered approach. “We are a family-owned company that has grown, but people are—and will always be—the most important part,” he noted. Today, Grupo Hijuelas generates more than 1,200 direct jobs, creating development opportunities across multiple regions of Chile.
He also stressed the importance of long-term thinking in a world driven by immediacy, encouraging new generations of agronomy professionals to work with conviction: “You have an infinite future ahead. You are in the best profession you could have chosen,” he said, urging them to project Chile’s presence into new territories through knowledge and innovation.
The Future of Chilean Agriculture
With challenges ahead—such as the micropropagation-driven transformation of avocado production, international validation of European hazelnut in Europe, and the continued international expansion of Grupo Hijuelas—Gaspar Goycoolea looks to the future with optimism. His work and vision continue to inspire new generations of agronomists and further consolidate Grupo Hijuelas as a key platform for projecting Chilean agriculture onto the global stage.
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