SANTIAGO, Oct. 4 (Xinhua) -- Chilean Agriculture Minister Antonio Walker Thursday underlined the importance of agriculture as one of Chile's major export industries.

Walker said at the opening ceremony of the Chile Agricultural Expo that agriculture, which generates 17 billion U.S. dollars annually in export revenue and employs over a million workers, has "much to say" in the country's future.

He emphasized the core role agriculture will play in President Sebastian Pinera's economic plan, often referred to as the "Second Transition," which aims to drastically reduce poverty in the country.

"We are a renewable resource throughout the country and contribute in real terms. Agriculture is key to this second transition," said the minister.

The minister pointed out the future world population will demand more food, which will have to be produced with "less land and less water."

"So we have to be twice as efficient, and Chile has a tremendous opportunity to enter into the year 2050 with a modern, booming, people-oriented and sustainable agriculture industry," added Walker.

The minister added that Chile's agriculture industry must accommodate small and medium producers, and cooperative models "which have been successful in different countries, including Britain, Spain, New Zealand, France, Australia and Italy."

The Chile Agriculture Expo runs until Sunday here in the capital Santiago and gathers major public and private industry players to promote opportunities in Chilean agriculture.