After a long and prominent career in the Chilean salmon industry, Berta Contreras came to the team at Benchmark Genetics to lead our operations in Chile. With enthusiasm, energy, and lots of planning, she is working to grow the company’s positioning in this market.
Since September 2023, Berta Contrera Mutis, marine chemist by profession occupies the position of General Manager in Benchmark Genetics Chile, based in the city of Puerto Varas, surrounded by lakes and mountains in the south of the country. From there, she leads a large group of professionals, which includes the operation of two piscicultures: Curacalco and Ensenada, where, after sophisticated genetics work, they produce high-quality Atlantic Salmon ova.
Berta’s history in the aquaculture sector is longer than two decades. She previously occupied important managerial positions in companies like Marine Harvest Chile (today, Mowi Chile) and Cermaq Chile, in addition to being an independent consultant, helping countless companies in the sector to operate under the highest sustainability standards. But that is not all! This past November, she received the award “Woman in Salmon Industry”, given by B2B Media Group and the salmon sector guilds in the context of the “AquaForum Los Lagos 2023” conference.
Today, she is focused, with her team, on achieving a better positioning of Benchmark Genetics in Chile. The company has established a goal of nothing less than improving the quality of the eggs in the country, and it is driving, with great professionalism, the concept of “effective genetics”, under which the efficiency and profitability of salmonid production could be greatly improved.
How has the experience of working for over 20 years in the Chilean aquaculture industry been?
The Chilean aquaculture industry has had an exponential growth. Salmon farming, in particular, has established itself as the second-largest export sector in the country after copper, becoming an important source of development and employment for thousands of people. Participating in this history and this sustained growth, with all its ups and downs, has been a big professional challenge. Each day has been a lesson and today I am still surprised by the possibilities offered in this sector.
What motivated you to start working in a company like Benchmark Genetics Chile?
Genetics can be a great ally in the sustainability model demanded by these new times, and to which most, if not every, aquaculture farms. It is the starting point for a production that can face in the best way possible the sanitary, environmental, and productive challenges. In this way, when they made their proposal to me, it seemed very interesting. It looked like a very relevant challenge to be able to contribute, now, in this first stage of production, from the origin of every marvelous thing that comes later. If we do it well here, we can help the industry move forward with safer and sustainable steps towards the future.
What balance can you make of these first months in Benchmark Genetics Chile? What do you think are the main contributions that, under your leadership, the company can make to the Chilean salmon industry?
These have been intense and challenging months, but at the same time, very entertaining. Fortunately, I was welcomed by a phenomenal human team. We have undertaken each challenge as an accelerated learning curve, forcing ourselves to think outside the box in the search for new solutions. This has allowed us to construct solid work, with high projections. In truth, I am, and I think we all are, very happy.
WOMAN IN AQUACULTURE
Do you think that aquaculture, a sector long dominated by men, has progressed in terms of gender equality in the last few years? What are the pending challenges, at least in Chile?
In the last few years, I have observed with pleasure a progressive increase in inclusivity and gender equality in the salmon industry, especially in operative tasks that require more presence in the field. However, there is still a long road ahead in terms of opportunities for women in managerial positions. I think that there is the highest challenge.
In your specific case, how has it been working in the Chilean aquaculture industry, and now in Benchmark Genetics Chile?
It is still very interesting, with many challenges, but also full of new knowledge. This activity is developed in a biological environment, very much in connection with nature, and in a secluded place. It is, by itself, an ecosystem in permanent change and adaptation, which leads us to be always vigilant and learning.
We who work in this field, are passionate about what we do. We are also motivated to keep generating the best possible practices to move forward to an activity that is more sustainable every day. Benchmark, in turn, using cutting-edge biotechnology, understands these challenges and gives strong support in the creation of new solutions relevant to each need.
Beyond the gaps that may exist in terms of gender equality, do you think that the aquaculture industry has been relevant for the incorporation of women in the work field in the southern regions of Chile?
There is no doubt about it. Women are an essential part of each stage of the production chain in the salmon industry, from the early stages, such as genetics, to the production in fresh and sea waters, processing, and finally commercialization to the most demanding markets in the world. We can also see many women in our supply chains, with key roles in a good production and commercialization of this high-value protein.
What do you think are the main contributions of women to this productive sector?
I do not think we have a specific contribution. We are integral parts of the whole value chain, in the same extension and depth. As we move forward in the incorporation of women as active agents, we will build a more inclusive industry, more representative of daily life and that better understands the needs of our clients. We will move forward, for sure, to a better society.
