The opportunities for innovation that arise from natural-resource production are associated with the formation of knowledge networks that facilitate learning both within and outside the sectors in question. This article identifies the types of knowledge networks associated with innovation activities in the natural-resource domain using four case studies from the region: the livestock sector in Argentina, the mining sector in Chile, agriculture in Paraguay and forestry in Uruguay. The results

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... w that, in all four cases, natural-resource producers form networks in which scientific knowledge is exchanged. While these have heterogeneous characteristics in terms of the capabilities of the participants, their structure and degree of openness, all display potential to disseminate and create knowledge. 1 The empirical evidence used in this research is based on four case studies undertaken as part of the project "Opportunities to create value in the production of natural resources: innovation activities and knowledge networks in the Southern Cone", financed by the MERCOSUR Network. The authors are grateful to all researchers who participated in the project. The study is based on the corresponding national reports: Aboal, Rovira and Veneri (2014) ; Arza, López and Marín (2014); Benavente and Price (2014) and Servin and Rojas (2014).