The event, organized by SalmonChile, is part of the sector's agenda for engagement with academia, and featured the participation of economist, researcher, founder of the University and former minister Cristián Larroulet, along with academics Carlos Smith and Gonzalo Olivari, who toured the Sealand facilities and saw first-hand the freshwater processes.
As part of its strategy to engage with the academic world, SalmonChile coordinated a visit by representatives from the Faculty of Economics and Business and the Lifelong Learning area of the Universidad del Desarrollo (UDD) to the facilities of the company Sealand's fish farming.
The delegation was led by economist, researcher, founder of the University and former minister Cristián Larroulet, along with academics Carlos Smith and Gonzalo Olivari. On site, they were received by the executive team of Sealand, led by its general manager Eduardo Waldron, accompanied by Óscar Garate and Felipe Ilufi.
Before the technical tour, the participants attended a general presentation on the salmon farming sector, its challenges and advances in sustainability, innovation and territorial development. This presentation was given by Francisco Renner, communications director of SalmonChile, and Felipe Díaz, communities director of the association.
After the visit, the academics assessed the progress made in recent years by the productive sector in terms of sustainability. "We were able to appreciate the responsibility towards the environment and especially the innovation process that this company and the salmon farming industry in general have. The advances in knowledge that companies are achieving and the efforts in research are already very relevant for the care" "of the environment and the increase and quality of the production of the salmon", said Larroulet.
In turn, Eduardo Waldron, general manager of Sealand, highlighted that "This event represented a valuable opportunity to learn first-hand the vision that the Universidad del Desarrollo has regarding our industry. Likewise, a space for discussion was created where we analyzed both the limitations and the opportunities that the salmon farming industry in Chile is currently facing."
Francisco Renner, director of communications of SalmonChile, valued the activity: "Every time we open our doors, you can see on site what is often not seen from outside: innovation, technology, and a real commitment to the environment. For us it is key to strengthen the link with academia, because from the cross between knowledge and experience come the best ideas to continue contributing from the south to the development of" country"
The body allowed for a space of dialogue between the academic world and the productive sector, highlighting the importance of human capital training, the articulation with think tanks, and the direct knowledge of the processes that make possible an innovative industry committed to the environment.
