In Chile, the Cargill Innovation Center was inaugurated as the world’s largest research hub focused on developing functional fish diets and studying diseases that affect farmed salmon in Chile and other countries. With more than 30 scientists and aquaculture experts, the center will be able to conduct 4 – 5 times more studies than before, increasing the global capacity for fish health research by 30 percent.
Located in the Pacific coastal town of Colaco, Chile, the $10.5 million center is geared specifically to improve health and wellbeing for salmon. The team will create tools and controls to fight two major health challenges that are significant contributors to fish industry losses – SRS, caused by a bacterium responsible for 79 percent of the mortality of salmon and the main reason for antibiotics use in Chile; and, Caligidosis, caused by Caligus or “sea lice,” a parasite that attaches to salmon skin, affecting its health.