The project consists of cultivating algae in Blumar farming centers in the region, benefiting communities and marine ecosystems.
"Blumar is testing innovative approaches that aim to strengthen the resilience of its supply, such as the use of marine algae to regenerate nutrients in its aquaculture centres". Representatives from Walmart concluded with these words the visit that various institutions made recently to the cultivation centres Blumar in Aysén, within the framework of a public-private initiative that seeks to deliver economic benefits to the communities and ecological benefits to the ecosystem.
The senior director of Innovative Procurement of Walmart, Julie Zorb, and the director of the Fresh Products Acquisition Group of the company, Andrew Lindstrom, pointed out that "there is a lot we can learn from each other, and trips like this help us to collaborate and reach solutions together."
The initiative, in which Blumar and Walmart participate together with the Los Lagos University and The Nature Conservancy (TNC), consists of cultivating algae in Blumar's farming centers in Aysén, aiming to contribute to the regeneration of marine ecosystems. This is done through the cultivation of huiro, a species of algae of great ecological and commercial importance.
The project will also collect data on-site and on-going to assess the potential benefits that algae cultivation could offer to ecosystems in southern Chile, measuring the ability of algae to absorb nutrients and assess the impact on water quality. In doing so, it aims to boost research and the development of technologies for an increasingly sustainable aquaculture.
“As researchers, it allows us to make the measurements in real conditions, through two demonstration crops installed in the Aysén Region. With that information, we will be able to determine the real ability of fleeing to remove these elements from the system,” said University of Los Lagos researcher Carolina Camus.
“In parallel, it seeks to develop a vision and road map for an aquaculture industry of algae shared among the actors that make up it, in order to agree on the steps we must take to achieve its development in the country,” he added.
On the other hand, the project also seeks to generate new alliances with local communities, which through the production and marketing of algae can access new sources of income.
The director of Climate and Strategic Initiatives, TNC's Global Aquaculture Team, Sally Mcgee, appreciated that the initiative will allow "people to expand their business rank to include algae aquaculture and also improve water quality around salmon aquaculture."
Salmones Blumar’s commercial manager, Daniel Montoya, said that “this collaboration is really fundamental to facing the challenges that our activity and our relationship with our neighbors and communities has. We could see on the ground everything that we have advanced, and learn lessons for future projects.”
"The development of the markets has to be in balance with the social developments in the areas in which we operate, and also taking care of the ecosystem where we are working," he said.
