Benchmark Genetics was a proud sponsor of the fifth edition of Patagonic RAS 2024, an event organized by BioMar, bringing together leading researchers, academics, producers, and suppliers from the aquaculture industry at the Teatro del Lago in Frutillar. Jean Paul Lhorente, Lead of the Chilean Breeding Program at Benchmark Genetics, was among the speakers during the session on “Health and Welfare in RAS.”
Benchmark Genetics Chile played an active role in Patagonic RAS 2024, an event organized by BioMar that took place on Tuesday, November 19, at the Teatro del Lago in Frutillar, Los Lagos Region, drawing a large audience. This biennial conference aims to share knowledge and experiences while fostering collaboration to advance aquaculture in recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS).
In addition to being a sponsor, Benchmark Genetics Chile contributed to the event with an insightful presentation by Jean Paul Lhorente, who delivered a talk titled “How Genetics Supports Smolt Production in RAS” during the “Health and Welfare in RAS” session.
An agronomist with a specialization in Animal Science and a Ph.D. in Aquaculture from the University of Chile, Jean Paul Lhorente brings extensive experience in aquaculture, particularly in managing genetic improvement programs, research and development projects, and technical support for various species, including salmon and tilapia.
“We are a market-leading biotechnology company. Our mission is to drive the sustainability of the industry by offering products and solutions that enhance performance, quality, and animal welfare,” he stated.
Jean Paul also discussed Benchmark Genetics’ ongoing efforts as a global supplier of Atlantic salmon eggs to develop a product tailored for land-based salmon farming systems. Jean Paul emphasized how genetics can contribute to producing high-quality smolt for these systems:
“Through genetics, it is possible to create improved salmon genetic material for land-based production. To achieve this, it is crucial to ensure year-round egg availability with minimal health risks, which requires biosecure production systems,” he noted. Also, he outlined the key traits to focus on when producing salmon ova for RAS, including growth, early maturation, and resistance to certain pathogens. During his presentation, Lhorente addressed the importance of studying and measuring the adaptability of smolt raised in RAS, as these systems can have potential negative effects on subsequent performance in seawater and may create genotype-environment interactions (GxE) affecting productive potential.
“It is essential to understand and describe in greater detail the environmental conditions and production strategies that explain the varying quality of smolt produced in RAS. These factors must be measurable and linked to their subsequent performance at sea,” Lhorente emphasized.
“This will allow us to quantify the effects of GxE interactions and develop strategies to manage them,” he added. Lhorente also highlighted Benchmark Genetic’s cutting-edge research, including on sterility and future gene editing applications such as disease resistance.
SUPPORTING THE SUSTAINABILITY OF THE INDUSTRY
As part of its commitment to the sustainability of the aquaculture industry, Benchmark Genetics is also a sponsor of the “Management of Bacterial Diseases in Aquaculture: An Interdisciplinary Perspective” conference. Organized by the Salmon Technology Institute (INTESAL) and Monterey Bay Aquarium, the event was held in Puerto Varas from November 20-22, 2024. The conference focuses on improving health management and reducing the use of antimicrobials to promote increasingly sustainable salmon farming practices.
