Academics and researchers from the House of Studies and the Center for the Integrated Management of Antimicrobials in Aquaculture of the World Organization for Animal Health are among the main specialists invited to the most important meeting on technology and innovation in the aquaculture sector, which will be held this year in the city of Punta Arenas.
The Collaborating Center CASA of the World Organization for Animal Health brings together different research teams from the University of Chile dedicated to the search for innovative and technological solutions to move towards more sustainable aquaculture production, reduce the use of antimicrobials and strengthen the industry that is positioned in second place worldwide.
The Dr. José Manuel Yáñez, dean of the Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences (Favet) of the University of Chile and head of the Aquaculture Genomics Laboratory, emphasized that "our institution has a firm commitment to the sustainable development of aquaculture. Our participation in AQUASUR TECH is a key opportunity to contribute scientific knowledge and generate synergies with the productive sector, with the aim of driving innovations that improve animal health and welfare, as well as the efficiency in aquaculture production."
It is a very relevant international event for aquaculture, as various aspects of innovation and technology will be presented in line with sustainable aquaculture that also meets the protein requirements of the world, from a healthy protein with excellent nutritional value. The participation of CASA will allow an approach to aspects related to research, scientific evidence and application practice of the principles of sustainable aquaculture,” said Dr. Alicia Gallardo, senior researcher at the CASA Collaborating Center and chair of the WHOA Committee on Sanitary Standards for Aquatic Animals.
The program of the meeting offers different specialized talks on thematic axes such as the Evidence-Based Perspectives on Health and Aquaculture Production, where Dr. Yáñez and Dr. Javiera Cornejo, who is tenured professor at Favet and executive director of the CASA Collaborating Center of WHOA.
Dr. Yañez will address the latest advances in genetic editing in aquatic animals and the potential of this technology to strengthen the sustainability and competitiveness of the aquaculture sector. Within the framework of Aquasur Tech, the details of a new public-private strategic alliance will be released, which seeks to open an informed debate based on scientific evidence on new global trends in gene editing in animal production.
"This initiative will be key to assessing scientific, ethical, regulatory and commercial challenges, ensuring that technological innovations go hand in hand with animal welfare, food safety and industry sustainability," Dr. Yáñez.
Dr. Cornejo, for its part, will address the advances in the detection of drugs and pollutants, highlighting new methodologies and technologies applied in this field. It will also present its studies on bioavailability, pharmacokinetics and strategies to optimize the use of antimicrobials in national salmon culture. Finally, it will share success stories and collaborative experiences that have boosted the development of solutions in the aquaculture.
In the following block “Transformational technologies: algae, AI, food and biosafety for a green future”, Dr. Jurij Wacik, academic of the Faculty of Agronomic Sciences and director of the Center for Research and Innovation in Aquaculture (CRIA), will present the most recent innovations in the field of aquaculture nutrition, its impact on sustainable production and real success cases that have been possible thanks to the research developed by his team.
Also, at 15:00 hours at the Salón Santa Ana at the Hotel Dreams in Punta Arenas, a workshop will be held with representatives of the CASA Collaborating Center for an approach to their work in applied research, the search for innovative solutions based on scientific evidence for the development of sustainable aquaculture and the benefits and opportunities that the team can offer for the aquaculture industry.
