ABSTRACT
Stone pine (Pinus pinea L.) is a Mediterranean species whose edible seeds are a highly valued non-timber forest product (NTFP) with worldwide demand. Cones are harvested mainly from natural forests, and cone or pine nut sales generate incomes and jobs. This chapter assesses the economic benefits of cultivating stone pine, an emerging crop in Chile, and its role in the transition towards a bioeconomy. Primary and secondary data on costs, production, and income were collected, and an economic evaluation performed considering three management schemes (medium-intensity managed plantation, medium-intensity managed agroforestry system, and high-intensity managed plantation) under four production and price scenarios. The net present value was positive for all schemes under the most likely production and price scenario at 6% and 8% interest rate, with the high-intensity managed system being the most profitable; the medium-intensity managed agroforestry system was more profitable than the similarly managed plantation and easy to implement by landowners. This innovative crop can contribute to transitioning towards a national bioeconomy by favouring sustainable and inclusive rural development with economic, social, and environmental benefits.
