The Aquaculture Biotechnology Center (CBA) held an event to officially present the remodeled facilities of the Experimental Fish Unit (UEP) and celebrate the first anniversary of the Aqua Biotechnology Consortium.
The event was attended by the Center’s research and professional team, led by its director, Dr. Claudio Acuña. Also in attendance were Dr. Alberto Monsalve, Vice-Rector for Research, Innovation, and Creation at Usach; Dr. Bernardo Morales, Dean of the Faculty of Chemistry and Biology; and Geraldine Mlynarz, Director of the Aqua Biotechnology Consortium.
Corfo was represented by Macarena Aljaro, director of Technology Programs and Consortia, and Paola Posligua, technical executive. Sernapesca was represented by Patricio Medina, head of the Regional Aquaculture, Safety, and Certification RM Area, and Pablo Silva, head of Aquaculture, among others.
Sparking Innovation
During the event, Dr. Alberto Monsalve highlighted the CBA’s strong track record in research and development. He noted that the Center’s R&D efforts significantly intensified after the 2007 ISA virus crisis, building on the foundation laid in 2006 by a research group led by Dr. Eugenio Spencer and Dr. Claudio Acuña, which aimed to generate innovative aquaculture proposals.
Modernizing Infrastructure
As part of its R&D goals, the CBA research group gave a guided tour of the new facilities of the Experimental Fish Unit, co-financed by Corfo. These are located between the REMS buildings and the Faculty of Chemistry and Biology.
Dr. Claudio Acuña emphasized that “the investment made will strengthen research activities, both for principal investigators and for graduate and undergraduate students. This improvement will also have a positive impact on the quality of professional training and, very importantly, on the impact and scope of future research.”
Among the benefits of the renovation are a 90% reduction in water consumption and significant energy savings, thus contributing to more sustainable operations.
Aqua Technology Consortium
Another highlight of the meeting was the presentation of the progress made by the Aqua Biotechnology Consortium (Translational Aquaculture Center), inaugurated in May 2024. This consortium promotes public-private collaboration between the University of Santiago, Ictio Biotechnologies, Corfo, and other co-executing institutions.
Alicia Lucero, general manager of the Consortium, addressed the main challenges in terms of technical matters, dissemination, links with the environment, and human capital training. She highlighted the formation of an expert scientific team, with a focus on gender equality.
Víctor Lazo, technical manager, emphasized the installed capacities and projects planned until 2028. “The investment made strengthens scientific development and our institution’s commitment to generating knowledge to solve relevant problems in the service of the productive sector,” he said.
Valuing Progress
Macarena Aljaro, Corfo’s Director of Technology Programs and Consortia, also spoke at the event, emphasizing the Corporation’s commitment to subsidizing projects like the Aqua Consortium.
“For the government and Corfo, investing in these initiatives means driving progress and encouraging the industry to lead in areas like aquaculture health technology development,” she stated. “It also underscores the national importance of this sector.”
Finally, Aljaro praised the “very positive” infrastructure improvements at the UEP, noting they “allow for better simulation of environmental conditions to test and obtain appropriate reactions in upcoming studies.”