Sustainability website / Case Studies 2003 / Xstrata copper / Social Impact of a Hot-house in a Local Town

Social Impact of a Hot-house in a Local Town

In cooperation with the ‘Pro Huerta’ programme, the municipality of Hualfín and school N° 288, Alumbrera built a hot-house in the town of Hualfín, 25 km away from the mine site. A small poultry farm was built next to the hot-house. Both projects have had a positive effect on the school and community.

In the school:

• vegetables and more eggs were incorporated into the daily diet of the pupils, providing extra minerals, proteins and fibre;
• for the first time, vegetables were produced in winter time, thus extending the production season; and
• the sale of the surplus vegetables produced in the hot-house helped to buy goods for the school dining room.

In the town:

• the application of this new technology has raised the awareness of local people about the potential benefits for Hualfin; and
• a second hot-house is being built, and many residents have expressed an interest in the new technique.

The people who participated in the programme have developed skills in small farm management and hot-house construction and management.