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News
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Research in Chile to focus on fish nutrition and health BioMar Group has set an agenda in regards to the start up of their feed research activities at ATC Patagonia
F
ocus in the Chilean aquaculture research centre is set on innovative R&D projects of interest for the global aquaculture industry. Back in October 2016 the group signed an agreement with Aqualnnovo to purchase and utilise 30 percent of its aquaculture research and the development centre in Lenca, Chile. The initiative has now been formalised and the new name of the centre is ‘Aquaculture Technology Centre Patagonia (ATC Patagonia)’. Håvard Jørgensen, Global Director of R&D of BioMar says, “We look forward to innovating aquaculture and aquaculture feeds by utilising the research resources that are available, in Chile as well as elsewhere in the world.” He continues, “We have set up a comprehensive agenda of research projects and our agenda for 2017 is made up of research related to nutrition for fresh water and sea water species, focusing on raw material knowledge, feed model building and health aspects, mainly on Salmon Rickettsial Septicaemia (SRS) which has caused significant losses to the salmon farming sector, and not only in Chile.” BioMar has a long history of collaboration with external
research partners to achieve their results, and the in-house research and development facilities have steadily been expanding. ATC Patagonia now forms part of their global network of research centres. Keen to emphasise the value of the centre Mr Jørgensen comments that, “The work that BioMar is going to carry out here, will be transversal and cover diverse requirements for different species and farming conditions where our feed is utilised. We have chosen to invest in this research facility because we are convinced that it is perfectly suited to bring many advances in
solving the challenges faced by the aquaculture industry. It will reduce the take to market time, making us more flexible and robust- all the best for our customers.” With both companies sharing the facility, which is the most complete and modern aquaculture research centre in the Southern Hemisphere. The research capacity that is not being used by BioMar will be available for developing trials and research projects through AquaInnovo.
6 | February 2017 - International Aquafeed