Photo: UTN Chubut

Japanese Venture in Argentine Patagonia for Wakame Seaweed Production

ARGENTINA
Tuesday, November 05, 2024, 06:00 (GMT + 9)

The Japanese company Kowa is advancing its project in Patagonia in collaboration with the Center for Innovation in Science, Fisheries and Food of Patagonia (CIDAPAL), strengthening the link between science and food production.

Photo: UTN Chubut

Kowa returns to the region with a strategic plan for the production of wakame, a seaweed derived from Undaria pinnatifida, appreciated in the Asian market. This project establishes a key alliance with JONO, a technology-based company (EBT) born at the university and focused on food innovation based on seaweed, as well as with CIDAPAL, where the UTN will provide support in research, technology and development.

The long-term objective is to scale up wakame production in Patagonia to meet the growing demand of the Japanese market. The strategic alliance will initially focus on solving technological challenges related to harvesting and processing, with the goal of achieving industrial production by 2025. In later phases, more advanced technological developments will be explored for the production and processing of the seaweed.

Cecilia Castaños, director of CIDAPAL, and vice-director Fernando Dellatorre highlighted the participation of UTN scholarship holders in various stages of the project, from harvesting to processing the wakame. This team has worked closely with Kowa experts, who traveled to Patagonia to supervise operations and ensure compliance with international quality and export standards.

CIDAPAL will be a strategic partner, providing knowledge in food science and technology. UTN, for its part, will support the development of cultivation techniques and the optimization of production processes, reaffirming its role as a leader in applied research in fisheries and aquaculture.

The Chubut Regional Faculty of UTN will play a central role, providing its experience in research and technological development. This project will not only boost the productive sector, but will also strengthen the position of the UTN in the regional scientific and technological field.

The collaboration between Kowa, JONO Patagonia and the UTN seeks to promote the territorial development of Patagonia and open new opportunities for international marketing, promoting economic growth and integration between science and industry.

Photo: UTN Chubut

The participation of the UTN in this project reinforces its role as a driving force of science and technology in the region, consolidating its link with the industry. For its part, Kowa seeks to expand its presence in new international markets through the export of Patagonian wakame.

This joint effort contributes to the regional development of Patagonia, integrating science, technology and industry. With CIDAPAL and the UTN at the forefront, the region is positioned as a leader in the creation of innovative food products with high added value.

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