Research on the plant growth promoting microorganisms (PGPM) is increasing strongly due to the biotechnological potential for the agricultural, forestry, and food industry. The benefits of using PGPM in crop production are well proven; however, their incorporation in agricultural management is still limited. Therefore, we wanted to explore the gaps and challenges for the transfer of biotechnological innovations based on PGPM to the agricultural sector. Our systematic review of the state of the art of PGPM research and knowledge transfer takes Chile as an example. Several transfer limiting aspects are identified and discussed. Our two main conclusions are: neither academia nor industry can meet unfounded expectations during technology transfer, but mutually clarifying their needs, capabilities, and limitations is the starting point for successful collaborations; the generation of a collaborative innovation environment, where academia as well as public and private stakeholders (including the local community) take part, is crucial to enhance the acceptance and integration of PGPM on the way to sustainable agriculture.

The Mayten tree (Maytenus boaria Mol.), a native plant of Chile that grows under environmentally limiting conditions, was historically harvested to extract an edible oil, and may represent an opportunity to expand current vegetable oil production. Seeds were collected from Mayten trees in north-central Chile, and seed oil was extracted by solvent extraction. The seed oil showed a reddish coloration, with quality parameters similar to those of other vegetable oils. The fatty acid composition revealed high levels of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids. Oleic and linoleic acids, which are relevant to the human diet, were well represented in the extracted Mayten tree seed oil. The oil displayed an antioxidant capacity due to the high contents of antioxidant compounds (polyphenols and carotenoids) and may have potential health benefits for diseases associated with oxidative stress.

The temperate rainforests of southern Chile host a rich diversity of plants traditionally used in medicine, yet their bioactive potential remains underexplored. This study evaluated the chemical composition, antioxidant capacity, antibacterial activity, and cell viability of ethanolic leaf extracts from Cissus striata (CS), Mitraria coccinea (MC), and Raukaua laetevirens (RL), compared with Buddleja globosa (BG), a well-known medicinal shrub. Extracts were obtained using 70% ethanol, ensuring high recovery of polyphenolic compounds while avoiding thermal degradation. The total phenolic content (TPC) was highest in CS, exceeding values reported for green tea, while MC exhibited the greatest total flavonoid content (TFC). HPLC–MS/MS analysis showed that RL was rich in rutin, while CS exhibited a higher quercetin content. Antioxidant activity assessed through ABTS, DPPH, and FRAP assays, was correlated with polyphenolic composition. CS showed the highest antioxidant potential, surpassing green tea by ~39%, as determined via FRAP, while MC and RL displayed capacities comparable to BG. Antibacterial activity assays demonstrated that MC inhibited Escherichia coli with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 12.5 mg/mL, lower than that of ampicillin, whereas CS was highly active against Staphylococcus aureus, with an MIC of 0.39 mg/mL, equivalent to the activity exhibited by tetracycline. Cytotoxicity assays confirmed that the extracts did not reduce human cell viability, supporting the potential of Chilean native shrubs as safe, natural sources of antioxidants and antimicrobials for food and pharmaceutical applications.