Abstract

Climate change represents a growing threat to Chile, producing glacial retreats, increased extreme weather events, biodiversity loss, and agricultural risks. This last point is crucial for biological safety since it can alter the distribution of pests and diseases, impacting food safety and security and international agricultural competitiveness. This article aims to show how climate change is a relevant driver for Chilean biological safety policy. The methodology for writing this article was mixed (bibliometric and narrative) in style. The research shows that local knowledge about socio-ecological changes is positively linked to farmers' resilience, high-lighting the need to understand these mechanisms to address current challenges. Unsustainable practices in industrial agriculture, e.g., introducing non-native species for pest control, threaten biodiversity and agricultural ecosystems. Climate change is expected to increase hydric shortage and the distribution of pests such as B. hilaris, which could exacerbate economic losses. It is urgent to implement comprehensive policies to mitigate these impacts on agriculture and food safety. Preserving genetic diversity, such as in the gene bank of the giant macroalgae M. pyrifera, is an interesting example of a biological security measure. In conclusion, climate change is a critical factor in Chile's biological safety policy, requiring a multidisciplinary approach to guarantee sustainable and resilient development in the face of this global challenge.