A group of Brazilian aquaculture researchers recently visited a selection of companies involved in Chile’s salmon farming industry, in a bid to strengthen knowledge exchange and explore collaboration opportunities.
The delegation was composed of Prof Adilson Reidel and laboratory technician and PhD candidate Renan Gustavo de Oliveira, from the Federal Institute of Paraná - Foz do Iguaçu Campus, a stronghold of Brazil’s tilapia farming industry.
The visits included a meeting with Sandra Marín, a specialist in ecology and management of biological systems from the Austral University of Chile, to explore possible collaborations between aquaculture research in southern Chile and southern Brazil. Later, the delegation toured the facilities of ScaleAQ Chile, a technology and aquaculture equipment supplier, in Puerto Varas, where they were able to closely observe the manufacturing processes and the development of specialised equipment for the aquaculture industry.
On the second day, the specialists visited the Puyehue hatchery of Blumar Seafoods, which provided detailed insights into some of the initial processes of the production cycle, as well as the practices and standards applied in the national salmon farming industry, highlighting the sector's commitment to efficiency and sustainability.
The third day began with a visit to the molecular biology, pathological anatomy, clinical pathology, and immunodiagnostic laboratories of Pathovet, a Chilean company with a presence in the Brazilian market. During the visit, the foreign specialists learned about the studies and services offered by the company, including research focused on tilapia farming, a sector of great importance for aquaculture in Brazil, with 662,230 tonnes produced in 2024, according to data from Peixe BR.
To conclude the week the delegation visited the processing plant and sales room of Empresas AquaChile, the largest salmon producer in the country and the second largest in the world. They were also taken to the Abtao farming centre, operated by the same company, where they were able to observe marine production operations.
Looking back, Dr Reidel highlighted the importance of this experience, saying: “This immersion was very important for those of us who work in this area, as it allowed us to gain an in-depth understanding of this production model. I am grateful to each of the companies and institutions that opened their doors to us. This visit provided us with a broad perspective on the technologisation and use of new tools in farming.”
Meanwhile, their guide, Christian Pérez, stated that Greetech Chile hopes to continue promoting exchange initiatives that contribute to the development of the sector and strengthen the connection between the main players in this economic activity.
