Publicado el 27 June, 2025 / News

Second Clean Production Agreement in development: Strengthening the sustainability of Chilean mussel farming

The Chilean Association of Mussel Farmers (AmiChile A.G.) is driving a work agenda focused on training, awareness, and capacity building for Chilean mussel farmers, involving institutions such as the Maritime Governorate of Castro, Universidad Santo Tomás, the Ministry and regional Environment offices, the Ministry of Energy, Chile’s National Contact Point (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), the Sustainability and Climate Change Agency (ASCC), and the INCAR research center.

Under the second Clean Production Agreement (Acuerdo de Producción Limpia, APL II) for sustainable mussel farming, led by AmiChile A.G., there are 9 goals and 32 actions, including a capacity-building program where INCAR researchers participate. The program aims to improve adherence to APL actions by updating knowledge, understanding regulations, and encouraging technical discussion.

So far, INCAR has conducted two training sessions on climate change impacts relevant to mussel farming, led by researchers Doris Soto, Jorge León, and Carlos Molinet supported by the Outreach program led by Pablo Carrasco. Also, a third session on gender equity, involving INCAR’s social sustainability researchers, is planned.

Training emphasizes providing objective, science-based information while highlighting uncertainties and the need for precaution in managing aquaculture resources, especially seed collection, which is vulnerable to climate change and overharvesting.

Other APL II actions include workshops on maritime environmental regulations and risk prevention, sustainability indicator training validated by the APL Coordinating Committee, and sustainable management assessments of processing and shell recycling plants led by ProChile.

Key APL II challenges include circular economy solutions for shell waste, territorial waste management aligned with national fisheries regulations, sustainable seed management via R&D roadmaps, strengthening ties with coastal communities for governance, and progressive gender equity integration.