Chilean farmers power their home using sheep poop

In the drought-stricken coast of Chile, a small farm powered by goats and ingenuity is gaining global attention.

Marco Aceituno and Macarena Valdes, founders of La Pachamama, a self-sustaining farm in Los Molles, Valparaiso region, have been invited to present their innovative model at the upcoming COP30 climate summit in Belem, Brazil.

The couple’s journey began when necessity drove them to rethink how to survive in a region plagued by water scarcity. 

“This whole project was created purely out of necessity,” said Valdes. “It wasn’t about producing, being self-sustainable or generating renewable energy—it was about feeding ourselves. Along the way, we realized everything nature could offer us and how to use it in a way that benefits both sides.”

La Pachamama uses biodigesters to convert sheep manure into biogas, which powers their home and kitchen. The farm also produces its own electricity and has gone eight years without basic utility expenses. 

“Climate change is teaching us how to live,” said Aceituno, “and thanks to our goats and the soil changes we made using manure and cardboard, we now have over 300 fruit trees in a place where it was once impossible to plant even one."

The farm has become a model of circular economy and rural resilience. Beyond energy and agriculture, the couple is committed to education, welcoming children to learn about agroecology and sustainable living.

Their work has already earned international recognition. In 2022, the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) named them Leaders of Rurality of the Americas. More recently, they received a special commendation from El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele in September 2025.

Now, at COP30, Aceituno and Valdes will share their experience with global leaders, offering a grassroots perspective on how climate adaptation and sustainability can thrive—even in the harshest conditions. — Reuters