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RAS: THE NEXT TECHNOLOGY FOR ARGENTINE AQUACULTURE?
By simply looking at the availability of natural resources, whether inland waters or marine, as well as the entrepreneurial and resilient spirit of its citizens, it is evident that Argentina has great potential for developing its aquaculture industry on a large scale and positioning itself among the key regional and global players in this field.
However, despite the fact that commercial aquaculture has existed in some form since at least the mid-20th century, this in advance huge potential has never been boosted. Argentine aquaculture has never been able to break through the glass ceiling of producing just a few thousand tons and firmly accessing external markets. In this frame, marine aquaculture is almost non-existent, with only a few small-scale initiatives.
In previous articles, I focused on the opportunity to reverse this situation by recognizing the need to introduce and demonstrate a new Purpose and Ambition for the Future for Argentine aquaculture, rooted in a new paradigm that may provide a fresh platform. This new approach should reduce the perception of risk associated with the unknown, encourage innovative investment, and foster proactive and facilitating governance.
Within this context, it is important to identify which are the technological trends for the sector with a view towards the 21st century, where the optimal use of aquatic resources, the minimization of environmental impact, and the coexistence of aquaculture activities with other uses of the environment must be priorities.
Among all the recent developments, one that is no longer such new, emerges: the “Recirculating Aquaculture Systems – RAS “. These systems meet the aforementioned requirements, and their technology seems to be matured enough to the point that a significant number of RAS ventures are emerging in many regions around the world, especially where previous technologies are being examined carefully more than ever.
Argentina, which is almost a blank canvas for aquaculture, has the advantage of knowing in advance what the upcoming trends, opportunities, and challenges will be. Seizing this knowledge and combining it with a measure of boldness the country could get the opportunity to enter the 21st-century world of aquaculture, playing directly at the highest level.
With the article I share, I tried to write about and think if, perhaps, RAS-based aquaculture could become the next new standard for Argentine aquaculture, as a suitable tool to grow with firm intentions of global integration.