Page 43 - Respond 2020 Magazine

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
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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.
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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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