Page 42 - Respond 2020 Magazine
P. 42

RESPOND

          THE LAGO SOFÍA CASE                                                                                                     A SUSTAINABLE FLIGHT

          Conecta SpA advises Lago Sofía to
          revolutionize the salmon industry by
          putting value on organic waste for the                                                                                  TO SALMON FARMING
          circular production of sustainable food.
                                                                                                                                  IN CHILE






        The Case of Lago Sofía Circular Food                22% more than chicken, for example and, since its cultivation
                                                            is carried out in aquatic systems according to the spatial
        Boarding:
                                                            dimension of depth, salmon farming occupies a portion of
        To develop a new fishery, from the beginning of the last
                                                            territory of 3,7 m  for every 100g of salmon, three times less
                                                                         2
        century until the 1970s, the Chilean government conducted
                                                            than pork and 27 times less than beef.
        research and trials to introduce salmon into rivers throughout
        Chile. Although the species was introduced successfully, its   The efficiency in the consumption of food, the
        commercial capture did not produce good results initially.  concentration of space production, the high retention of
                                                            energy and protein and the low losses of its transformation
        A decade later came the great leap: it was possible
                                                            to final product, help reduce the generation of CO2. Salmon
        to develop the complete cycle in cultivation systems
                                                            generates 0.60g CO2eq for every 40g of product, while
        commercially. Today, salmon tops the list of foods exported
                                                            other proteins such as beef produce almost 10 times more
        by Chile, is the second largest producer in the world and is a
                                                            for the same portion of meat.
        key player in entrepreneurship and employment in the south
        of the country.                                     In light of these results, for many, salmon production is an
                                                            industry that could transform into a sustainable food solution
        Take-Off:
                                                            for the world, with significant space for growth, because it
        In 1987, 52% of the population in the Los Lagos region was
                                                            makes up only 1% of total protein production.
        poor and 23% indigent. In the third poorest region of Chile at
        the time, public policies aimed at promoting the development   Turbulence:
        of a new economic sector to quickly resolve a primary need   After 30 years, poverty in the Los Lagos region is at 11.7%
        of the population. In turn, markets such as Japan and the   (CASEN, 2017), so the scenario is different. Concerns about
        United States spurred the rapid growth of the Chilean salmon   employment and economic development have moved to
        industry, coupled with constant innovation in machines,   issues related to quality of life and well-being, where the
        supplies and processes to increase the efficiency and   environment plays a leading role.
        productivity of the sector.
                                                            At the local level, salmon production activity comes into
        10,000 feet up:                                     question in light of the loss of biodiversity close to the cages,
                                                                                                                                  they not only compensate for the carbon footprint of their   population, promoting the local consumption of healthy food
        The obsession of any production employee of a salmon   the use of antibiotics, the escape of fish and liquid waste on
                                                                                                                                  activities, but can also provide benefits for people and the   (currently vegetables are moved from the central area from
        company is to convert a kilogram or less of food into a   the water.
                                                                                                                                  environment through the use of waste, input optimisation   Chile, more than 1,000km away).
        kilogram of salmon. The conversion factor, as this indicator is
                                                            The image of an industry that generates environmental                 and production of circular food at the local level.
        called, is the main gear in a highly efficient productive model.                                                                                                              Responding with innovation to generate efficiency and
                                                            impact in the locality has been installed in the community.
        In fact, the economic conversion factor in salmon is 1.2 - 1.5kg                                                          Beginning in 2020, Lago Sofía Circular Food will implement   maximise the social and environmental benefit of salmon
                                                            As a consequence, regulations that once promoted salmon
        while in bovine meat the value is four to six times more (Global                                                          a unique circular economy model in Latin America on a   production in Chile is a game that is in force, and with
                                                            production have been replaced with regulations that restrict
        Salmon Initiative, 2018). The edible portion of a salmon is 68%,                                                          commercial scale. The production of hydroponic vegetables   initiatives such as those of Lago Sofía Circular Food it is
                                                            growth through the blockage of new cultivation licenses and
                                                                                                                                  will be integrated into fattening operations using nutrients   possible to envision an industry flying between global and
                                                            establishment of maximum production limits according to
                                                                                                                                  such as phosphorus and nitrogen present at the residual   local benefits.
                                                            sanitary and environmental standards.
                                                                                                                                                                                  2
                                                                                                                                  level in the effluent. It is an installation of more than 2,000m
                                                            As a result of this new situation, the Chilean salmon industry        to produce vegetables that will be marketed within a radius   www.lagosofiacircularfood.com
                                                            is in a stage of technological and conceptual transition, as          of no more than 80km, so they are consumed by the local
                                                            it was in the mid-1980s. Today its production systems are
                                                            moving in the direction of operational sustainability through
                                                            innovation, to reduce impact by improving efficiency levels.
                                                            Landing on Lago Sofia Circular Food:
                                                            An example of the new revolution that the salmon industry
                                                            is carrying out is the Lago Sofía Circular Food company’s
                                                            project, in the city of Puerto Montt, Los Lagos region, Chile.
                                                            It is a fish farm that uses fresh water sources to produce the
                                                            initial stages (fry and smolts). With specialised technology,
                                                            97% of the water recirculates, for greater water use
                                                            efficiency and minimisation of the use of a very important
                                                            resource for the population.
                                                            With this in hand and a project idea, the CEO of Lago Sofía
                                                            Circular Food, Mr Miguel Portus, invited our consulting firm,
                                                            Conecta SpA, to take up the challenge of finding alternatives
                                                            so that their operations “add environmental value”. That is,
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