© Gilda Medina
One of the main objectives of the one-year, $80,000 project, which is led by the Atacama Production Development Corporation (CORFO) with support from the Atacama Productive Development Committee and implemented by the Cocinamar Foundation, is to support seaweed producers and harvesters to improve their technical, logistical and marketing skills, while also combatting illegal harvesting.
“A latent problem in the region is the illegal extraction of seaweed, which is unsustainably depleting the coastline. Advancing sustainable management of seaweed beds, developing value-added businesses, using available investment and technology, can be an effective strategy for reducing the effort required by fishermen and harvesters to extract and harvest seaweed,” explains Griselda Ilabel, director of the Algas Atacama PDT project and the Cocinamar Foundation.
As part of the project, a series of activities is being carried out, including technical visits, workshops and seminars. The first of these, held in the town of Caldera, where the programme was launched, brought together authorities, local stakeholders, beneficiaries and international experts, who shared their knowledge and experience regarding the use and potential of seaweed.
From Mexico, Hatch Blue Consulting’s Karlotta Rieve shared a global perspective on seaweed production and market opportunities, in addition to reviewing the untapped potential of this sector in Latin America.
“It was very interesting to see the reaction of local stakeholders because it seemed that most were not aware about the diverse set of product applications their diverse seaweed resources could have. I hope that the programme will help to create new value chains for these coastal communities,” she reflected after the event.
Rieve also had the opportunity to visit the farm site and processing plant of Carolina Muñoz and José Avilés, two beneficiaries of the programme, in the town of Caldera. This couple, who have been cultivating seaweed for 27 years, are developing a biostimulant made from a blend of cold-pressed seaweed, using Chondrus crispus, Agarophyton chilensis, Chondracanthus chamissoi, and Ulva lactuca, which they grow on longlines at an 8 hectare farm in Bahía Inglesa. They also add wild-harvested Macrocystis pyrifera, which is abundant along the Atacama coast.
© Gilda Medina
“To me José and Carolina are true pioneers in their region and real innovators. The way José developed his farming practices, taking advantage of the entire water column to efficiently farm several different species, is something I have not seen anywhere else – and I have probably been on more than 150 seaweed farms around the world by now. And we got to try some of their unique products they developed in house that present exciting commercial application in the pet food, chicken feed and human health sector,” she reflected.
Rieve gained first-hand insights into the process flow and facilities, which will allow the couple to step up production of the biostimulant, which has been shown to improve crop production in in the face of abiotic stresses such as drought and soil salinity. According to Avilés, they aim to produce 10,000 to 15,000 litres of the biostimulant each month.
© Gilda Medina
Another participant in the event was Paulina Zanela, from the México Azul Foundation, who is an advocate of small-scale coastal biorefineries for seaweed, as a means of having a positive impact on the environment and communities.
“These are facilities designed to process seaweed on a small scale, with the goal of extracting and valorising its various bioactive compounds. These biorefineries follow a holistic approach, where different fractions of the biomass are converted into high-value-added products instead of relying on a single use or product,” she explained.
As part of the Algas Atacama initiative, technical tours will also be conducted in southern Chile, including visits to other plants producing seaweed-based biostimulants – Valvox, in Valdivia, whose biostimulant is developed entirely from Macrocystis pyrifera, and PatBio in Puerto Montt, which develops various biostimulants based on a combination of extracts from different species of seaweed native to southern Chile.
A visit will also be made to the Puesta del Sol Women's Shellfish Gathering Cooperative. Founded 25 years ago, it brings together 11 women in the town of Las Cruces, Valparaíso region, who produce cosmetic products such as creams, shampoos and conditioners based on Lessonia berteroana. They are also experimenting with the development of a biostimulant based on this same seaweed.
© Gilda Medina
The initiative also provides support for the creation and development of individual and collective projects, with Carolina Muñoz being awarded $66,000 from Corfo to develop her biostimulant over a two-year period. Meanwhile Tamara Aguilera developing flour enriched with Chondrus crispus.
“This will help us improve our connections, access information, and move forward in a different way. By working together, we can pull together, move our projects forward, and strengthen the region's seaweed sector,” reflected Aguilera.
The initiative will also promote the use of technologies and techniques that minimise environmental impact and promote long-term sustainability in the collection, cultivation and processing of algal resources.
"We are focusing our efforts on these types of initiatives to take advantage of the great potential we have on the Atacama region's coastline. At Corfo, we want to generate a sustainable impact on the region's production models, and we believe that adding value to the seaweed found on our coasts is a key strategy," said Rosa Román, Corfo Atacama regional director.
