SOFO

What SOFO does

SOFO (Sociedad de Fomento Agrícola de Temuco A.G.) is a non-profit agricultural guild association founded in 1918 and headquartered at Avda. San Martín 828, Temuco, Chile. It serves agricultural producers across the La Araucanía region and broader southern Chile (Maule to Los Lagos), operating as a member-driven Asociación Gremial that bundles advocacy, professional services, technology transfer, breed certification, training, and event management under one organizational umbrella. SOFO is governed by an elected board led since 2019 by President Roberto Heise Möller, with Marcelo Zirotti Kehr serving as First Vice President and Eduardo Renner as Vice President; Carlo Rojas serves as Secretary Executive.

SOFO's core offerings are organized into multiple departments. Registros Genealógicos maintains WAHO-recognized genealogical registries for Chilean horses, Arabian horses (including the Peru stud book since 2007), and cattle breeds such as Overo Colorado, Aberdeen Angus, Hereford, Simmental, and Belgian Blue, with DNA paternity confirmation and microchip insertion. SOFOCAP operates as an OTEC-certified training entity (500+ persons trained annually). Gestión Tributaria provides tax, accounting, payroll, and labor-law services to members and non-members. GTT (Grupos de Transferencia Tecnológica), coordinated since 1992, runs seven technology-transfer groups conducting monthly meetings, field trials, and international technology tours. Agente Operador administers CORFO public-funding programs including PTI Araucanía Digital, PTI Araucanía Frutícola, and GTT Araucanía Agrícola Sustentable. The organization also operates a fuel station (Combustibles), the Liceo Agrícola Cruz del Sur high school, and the Comunicaciones department producing weekly bulletins and opinion columns.

SOFO controls Parque Charles Caminondo, a 140,000 m² exhibition and events venue hosting EXPOSOFO (90+ editions, 200+ exhibitors, 35,000+ annual visitors), Semana de las Tradiciones Chilenas, and other fairs. Revenue is generated through membership dues, professional service fees, training tuition, fuel sales, CORFO program-administration fees, exhibitor fees, and venue rentals; pricing is not publicly disclosed. The guild is affiliated with national bodies including SNA (43 member guilds), Fedefruta, Multigremial de La Araucanía, CAS, and WAHO, and has recently extended into salmon-feed supply chains (2024 Consejo del Salmón agreement) and green-hydrogen policy (2024 Mesa de Hidrógeno Verde Regional).

Name

SOFO

Legal name

Sociedad de Fomento Agrícola de Temuco A.G.

Website

https://sofo.cl

Company type

Private

Founded year

1918

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

SOFO (Sociedad de Fomento Agrícola de Temuco) is a 107-year-old non-profit agricultural guild based in Temuco, Chile, serving La Araucanía producers with bundled services including breed genealogy registries, tax and accounting advisory, technology-transfer groups, CORFO program administration, professional training, and a 140,000 m² exhibition venue hosting EXPOSOFO.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agricultural Guild and Association Services

NAICS

Support Activities for Animal Production (115210), Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting (11)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Agricultural Services (700), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Farm Operations Planning & SOP Development (AFACAJAB)

Keywords

• Agricultural guild services
• Livestock breed registration
• Agricultural technology transfer
• Tax management services
• Agricultural exhibition management

Headquarters

HQ city

Temuco

HQ country

Chile

HQ region

Latin America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees / Guild Dues: SOFO operates as a guild association (Asociación Gremial A.G.) serving agricultural producers. Revenue is generated primarily through membership subscriptions from farmers and producers in La Araucanía.
2. Professional Services (Tax, Accounting, Labor): SOFO Gestión Tributaria provides accounting, tax filing, payroll processing, labor law compliance, and audit services to member and non-member businesses.
3. Exhibition and Event Facilities: The Parque SOFO event center and fairgrounds (140,000 m²) hosts EXPOSOFO agricultural fair, Semana de las Tradiciones Chilenas, corporate events, and generates revenue from exhibitor fees, venue rentals, and concessions.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

SOFO is an agricultural guild association (Asociación Gremial A.G.) serving farmers and producers in La Araucanía, Chile, providing tax and labor advisory, livestock breed genealogical registration, professional training, CORFO program administration, agricultural technology transfer through GTT groups, and event/exhibition services at the Parque Charles Caminondo venue. Membership in the guild is the primary mechanism through which producers access this integrated portfolio of services, complemented by direct-paid offerings such as tax filings, training courses, breed certifications, fuel station services, and exhibitor booths at EXPOSOFO.

Product overview

SOFO (Sociedad de Fomento Agrícola de Temuco) is an agricultural guild association offering a portfolio of interconnected services for agricultural producers in La Araucanía, Chile. The core offerings include: Registros Genealógicos for livestock breed certification, Agente Operador for CORFO program management, SOFOCAP for professional training, Gestión Tributaria for tax and labor advisory, and GTT for technology transfer. The organization operates Parque Charles Caminondo, a 140,000 m² exhibition venue hosting EXPOSOFO (Chile's largest agricultural fair) and other events. The various departments serve different aspects of agricultural production from breeding records to commercial exhibition.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• EXPOSOFO: The flagship annual agricultural, livestock, industrial and commercial fair of SOFO, held at Parque Charles Caminondo in Temuco. It is the largest agricultural fair in southern Chile, attracting over 15,000-35,000 visitors annually across its various editions.
• Semana de las Tradiciones Chilenas 'Aires del Ñielol'
• SOFOCAP
• Misión Araucanía

Products and services

• Agricultural Guild Membership (Membresía SOFO)
• Registros Genealógicos (Genealogical Records)
• SOFO Gestión Tributaria (Tax Management)

Quantifiable outcome

• 35,000+ annual visitors to SOFO events
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• WAHO (World Arabian Horse Organization)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2025SOFO is the sole Chilean entity recognized by WAHO for registering Arabian horses. SOFO's secretary executive and head of Registros Genealógicos participated in the WAHO World Conference in Abu Dhabi in April 2025, representing Chile alongside 56 international delegations.
• Consejo del SalmóncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2024SOFO joined with SNA, CAS, and the Consejo del Salmón (representing AquaChile, Australis Seafoods, Cermaq, Mowi, Salmones Aysén) to sign an unprecedented collaboration agreement connecting salmon feed production (requiring rapeseed, soy, wheat, canola) with Chilean agricultural suppliers, exploring synergies between the two industries.
• CORFOcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCORFO is a key strategic partner supporting SOFO's Agente Operador programs including PTI Araucanía Digital, PTI Araucanía Frutícola, and GTT Araucanía Agrícola Sustentable. CORFO funding enables technology transfer, digital transformation, and agricultural innovation projects for producers in La Araucanía.
• Fedefruta (Federación de Productores de Frutas de Chile)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSOFO became an associated guild to Fedefruta to represent fruit producers in La Araucanía and participate in national fruit export and policy decisions. The alliance aims to support the growing fruticulture sector in the region.
• BASFminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBASF, an agrochemical company, recognizes SOFO's GTT Coordinator Jaime Santander for contributions to regional and national agriculture. BASF also sponsors GTT field day events.
• Molinera GorbeaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMolinera Gorbea is a longstanding sponsor of GTT field day events and participant in agricultural events organized by SOFO, supporting the wheat and cereal value chain.
• BayerminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBayer sponsors GTT field day events organized by SOFO, supporting agricultural technology demonstration activities for producers.
• Mesa de Hidrógeno Verde RegionalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSOFO was formally incorporated into the Regional Green Hydrogen Mesa in June 2024, aiming to contribute from the perspective of agricultural innovation and regional technological development.
• PTI Araucanía DigitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA Program Territorial Integrado led by SOFO as Agente Operador with CORFO support, integrating public, private, and academic actors to strengthen the IT industry and digital transformation in La Araucanía.
• PTI Araucanía FrutícolacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA Program Territorial Integrado through CORFO where SOFO participates in the Regional Commission for European Hazelnut, supporting fruit sector development in La Araucanía.
• SERCOTECminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSERCOTEC is referenced as a recommended link on SOFO's website, indicating a collaborative relationship supporting small business development.
• Forestal COMACOminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerForestal COMACO partners with SOFO on the 'Misión Araucanía' social initiative, providing dental care to rural children. COMACO has a commitment with communities near its operations and works with SOFO on social responsibility programs.
• Fundación SonrisasminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFundación Sonrisas provides dental professionals for the Misión Araucanía initiative organized in partnership with SOFO and Forestal COMACO, benefiting over 200 children in rural Victoria.
• Multigremial de La AraucaníacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSOFO is a member of the Multigremial de La Araucanía, a coalition of guilds that collectively advocates for regional development, security, and policy changes affecting the Macrozona Sur.
• Sociedad Nacional de Agricultura (SNA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSNA is the national agricultural association to which SOFO is affiliated as one of 43 member guilds, collaborating on national agricultural policy advocacy.
• Consorcio Agrícola del Sur (CAS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCAS, formed by Saval, Socabio, SOFO, Sago, and AgroLlanquihue, is a regional consortium of agricultural guilds in southern Chile that advocates for the sector and partners with SOFO on shared initiatives.
• Agricultural Producers (GTT Members)coreOthersGTT (Grupos de Transferencia Tecnológica) groups consisting of individual agricultural producers from La Araucanía who participate in monthly meetings, field trials, and technology demonstrations coordinated by SOFO since 1992.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• AgroLlanquihue: Regional agricultural association in the Los Lagos region of southern Chile and CAS co-member. Directly comparable to SOFO as a regional agricultural guild serving crop and livestock producers in southern Chile with similar advocacy and service offerings.
• Fedefruta (Federación de Productores de Frutas de Chile): Chilean fruit producer federation with which SOFO has a strategic alliance to represent fruit producers in La Araucanía. Directly comparable as a Chilean agricultural guild offering advocacy, training, and professional services to a specific producer segment.
• SAGO A.G. (Sociedad Agrícola y Ganadera de Osorno): Regional agricultural guild in southern Chile (Osorno), co-member of CAS (Consorcio Agrícola del Sur). Directly comparable as a regional Chilean agricultural association providing similar guild services to livestock and crop producers in a defined southern territory.
• Multigremial de La Araucanía: Coalition of regional guilds in which SOFO participates, focused on regional development, security, and policy advocacy. Directly comparable as a peer regional membership-based organization sharing overlapping agenda and member base with SOFO.
• SAVAL (Sociedad Agrícola y Ganadera Saval): Regional agricultural association in southern Chile and CAS co-member. Directly comparable to SOFO as a membership-based regional agricultural guild providing services and advocacy to farmers in a defined southern Chilean geography.
• Socabio: Regional agricultural guild in southern Chile and CAS consortium member. Directly comparable to SOFO as a regional membership-based agricultural organization providing advocacy and services to farmers in southern Chile.
• Consorcio Agrícola del Sur (CAS): Regional consortium formed by Saval, Socabio, SOFO, Sago, and AgroLlanquihue to advocate for southern Chilean agriculture. Directly comparable as a coordinated coalition of regional agricultural guilds overlapping in mission, members, and advocacy scope.

Others

• WAHO (World Arabian Horse Organization): International body that recognizes and certifies national Arabian horse stud book authorities, including SOFO for Chile and Peru. Comparable as the governing counterpart in SOFO's breed registry business — an enabler rather than direct competitor.
• CORFO (Corporación de Fomento de la Producción): Chilean development agency that funds SOFO's Agente Operador programs and PTI initiatives. Not a peer in the membership/guild sense, but a critical funding counterpart and program pipeline that shapes SOFO's growth trajectory.

Broad incumbents

• Sociedad Nacional de Agricultura (SNA): National Chilean agricultural society to which SOFO is affiliated as one of 43 member guilds. Directly comparable as a membership-based agricultural guild providing advocacy and services, but operating at a national rather than regional scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC_AeLO4TL4xFgZ2s0C9nX4w
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sofoaraucania

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about SOFO