SustainED's first training session was held during the inaugural event, bringing together more than 120 industry professionals in Guayaquil.
Photo: Ecuador's National Chamber of Aquaculture.
The Sustainable Shrimp Partnership (SSP) and the National Chamber of Aquaculture (CNA) launched SustainED, their new educational program for the sustainable development of the shrimp industry in Ecuador. The program's first training session was held last week during the inaugural event, which brought together more than 120 industry professionals in Guayaquil.
The program, which seeks to transform the sector through training in sustainability principles applied to the aquaculture industry and to address the challenges and risks related to its application, includes social, environmental, economic, and quality aspects.
Designed as a continuous education program, SustainED will be delivered through workshops, training, social networking, and field activities. With all these, SSP and the CNA hope to strengthen the shrimp sector's capacities, ensuring sustainable development aligned with global demands.
"The concept of sustainability is constantly evolving. Ecuador’s shrimp industry has always adapted rapidly to change, so it was essential to create a dynamic platform that could match this responsiveness," CNA Executive President José Antonio Camposano said, commenting on the program's launch.
"With SustainED, SSP and the CNA have established a lifelong learning model that connects the industry with experts from various fields, allowing us to understand issues, define them, and find solutions together, or learn from those already being implemented," Ecuador's National Chamber of Aquaculture President continued.
For her part, the Director of the Sustainable Shrimp Partnership, Pamela Nath, highlighted the educational focus of the initiative. "Education is key to raising awareness and fostering better practices within the industry," she said. "SustainED aims to transform producers into more environmentally conscious and responsible actors, while educating consumers on the benefits of the product they are purchasing."
As pointed out by José Antonio Camposano, the program is designed to connect the industry with experts. Thus, the first training session of the program, entitled 'Metabisulfite in Practice: Use, Regulations and Recommendations', was organized in collaboration with SSP associate members BASF and BIOLAN, and covered key topics on the market and regulations of metabisulfite, its application in the industry, and analysis and measurement technologies for this substance.
The workshop featured the perspective of experts such as Christian Jiménez Figueroa, BASF's CHEM Business Consultant, who highlighted the importance of product quality. "It is crucial for stakeholders to demand quality from their suppliers or seek out those with certifications that ensure this quality," he said. "SustainED keeps us updated on product methods and applications, helping to drive aquaculture development."
The Head of Product Development and Validation at BIOLAN, Jone Garate, emphasized for her part the importance of this type of event. "Platforms like SustainED are essential for debating and interacting with fellow shrimp industry professionals, meeting people, and exchanging ideas and opinions. Exciting projects can emerge from these events," she claimed.
The Sustainable Shrimp Partnership (SSP) - which recently celebrated six years of trajectory - is a group of companies committed to transforming the future of shrimp aquaculture. As pioneers in Ecuador, SSP members aim to generate and promote the highest quality products, produced under the highest social and environmental standards, through increased collaboration and transparency.
The National Chamber of Aquaculture (CNA) is a non-governmental organization that has represented Ecuador's shrimp industry for more than 30 years. One of its objectives is to promote knowledge exchange and foster innovation through its AQUAEXPO program, a technical-commercial event that has been held since 1995 in various Ecuadorian provinces dedicated to shrimp production.