With just under two months to go until the start of AQUASUR 2024, the most important aquaculture fair in the southern hemisphere continues to generate high expectations. In addition to the work of the more than 350 companies that are preparing to participate in the exhibition to be held at the facilities of the Terminales Marítimos de la Patagonia (TMP) from March 19 to 21, a series of initiatives have arisen around the event that are directly linked to the development of the aquaculture industry.

Congress

One of these activities is the Academic Space in the context of the International Congress AQUASUR 2024, which is organized by the Faculty of Veterinary and Livestock Sciences (Favet) of the University of Chile and the Collaborating Center of the World Organization for Animal Health (Center for Antimicrobial Stewardship in Aquaculture, CASA) and MEVEA (Association of Aquaculture Veterinarians). This instance opened the call to accredited doctoral students to apply with their theses on topics related to the discipline, which must be in their final cycle, with the qualifying exam taken and the project approved.

The selected projects will be presented to a jury composed of members of the industry and academia, in pitch format, and where students will have five minutes for the presentation and five minutes to resolve doubts.

“For us it is extremely important to participate in this congress as co-organizers and we think it is a great opportunity for our students and, of course, also for all the students of the doctoral programs”, says Javiera Cornejo, director of the Collaborating Center of the World Organization for Animal Health (Center for Antimicrobial Stewardship in Aquaculture, CASA).

Within the scientific committee organizing the Academic Space, the presence of José Manuel Yáñez, dean of the Faculty of Veterinary and Livestock Sciences of the University of Chile (Favet), and Dr. Liane Bassini, vice-president of MEVEA, stand out.

Competition

Another activity is related to the “Despega tu emprendimiento” contest, an initiative promoted by a group of U.S. universities – Harvard, Yale, Boston and Duke – with the support of IncubatecUFRO of the Universidad de La Frontera and Fisa, the company organizing AQUASUR 2024, which focuses on micro, small and medium-sized enterprises – mainly suppliers.

The project, among other objectives, seeks to close the gaps that have been detected in the Chilean aquaculture sector, and the contest will offer the opportunity to win a 60% co-financing to cover the cost of a space at AQUASUR 2024.

“The participating SMEs will have the unique opportunity to participate in the most important aquaculture fair in the southern hemisphere, an event that will bring together the national and international aquaculture industry and will be the most important meeting point for decision-makers seeking disruptive solutions to improve the different processes involved in aquaculture,” said Mario Núñez Arancibia, IncubatecUFRO’s representative for the southern macro-zone.

As of Friday, January 26, more than 70 supplier companies related to the aquaculture sector had completed the registration form for the initiative. Therefore, and in order to ensure that no company is left out of this call, the call will be extended until Friday, February 9.

Recognition

One of the fundamental pillars that drives Chilean salmon farming is animal welfare. For this reason, Salmonexpert decided to join this mission and award the company, project or technology that helps to improve this relevant indicator.

The “Happy Salmon” award will be presented by Salmonexpert and the organizers of AQUASUR, FISA of the GL Events Group, on Wednesday 20 during the congress and seeks to highlight an initiative that can demonstrate that it helps to raise fish welfare standards, in recognition of the constant search for better production results.

In addition to being able to exhibit the three finalists in AQUASUR 2024, the winner will receive an award of recognition, an advertising plan in the different platforms of Salmonexpert during 2024, and a guaranteed stand in the next version of AQUASUR in 2026.

Applicants must complete the following form by February 15, 2024. On February 28, 2024, the five shortlisted companies will be announced. These candidates will also be able to publish their technology in the March edition of Salmonexpert magazine, which will circulate at AQUASUR 2024.