Cooke Chile has begun harvesting the first organic farm-raised Atlantic salmon in Chile, launching their new brand; Shima.

This marine aquaculture production in Chile will initially be equivalent to 25% of Cooke’s total salmon production in Chile and is certified organic pursuant to European Commission regulations and equivalents in Great Britain. Cooke Chile organic salmon, Shima, is now approved to use the EU Organic green and white leaf logo for export to EU and Great Britain markets. Companies who hold this certification must meet the strict conditions related to all stages of production, processing, transportation, and storage.

“This milestone in Chilean salmon farming is a result of keen innovation and strong dedication to providing a sustainable food source. This is a true companywide vision and was made possible because of the collaborative efforts and support along the way”, says Andres Parodi, Regional General Manager for Latin America at Cooke. 

Cooke Chile successfully adopted changes throughout the entire production chain to implement new technologies and the use of modern farming processes specifically as it relates to stocking density and feed. Organic feed is not yet available in Chile, so the company provides feed from its affiliated feed mill in Scotland to aid in organic production. Stocking density inside the sea cages is also adjusted with the new organic farming structure, where there is 99% water and only 1% salmon.

“Our team in Chile has driven this project forward with passion, commitment and respect for the environment. We are proud of this achievement, and credit the hard work of our people for dedicating years to accomplish this,” says Glenn Cooke, CEO, Cooke Inc. “We have invested heavily in Atlantic salmon breeding programs, fish feed production, eco-friendly fish health treatment technologies, and innovative marine farming equipment.”

 

Cooke currently offers certified organic salmon from Scotland as well as certified organic shrimp from Seajoy in Central America. The company also raises salmon in several locations without the use of antibiotics and holds third party certifications and recommendations across all operations.

Marine aquaculture farming is one of the healthiest and most efficient ways to feed the population with minimal environmental impact, the lowest freshwater use and the lowest carbon footprint of any animal protein.

Cooke’s core purpose is ‘To cultivate the ocean with care, nourish the world, provide for our families, and build stronger communities’.

Promoting the salmon industry in harmony with the environment

Cooke Chile is developing increasingly sustainable and environmentally friendly production processes, in order to respond with the highest standard to the food challenge of the future.

The launch of the first cycle of certified organic salmon in the country marks a new milestone in the history of the company and the salmon industry as a whole. And, to meet this important challenge, the company has developed production processes that are increasingly sustainable and respectful of the planet, in order to respond with the highest standard to the food challenge of the future, demonstrating that it is possible to boost the food industry. salmon in harmony with the environment.

The organic production that Cooke Chile is promoting combines the best environmental and cultivation practices, a high level of biodiversity, the conservation of natural resources and the application of demanding standards on animal welfare and safety in production, offering great benefits for the ecosystem , among which stand out:

●  Given the cultivation conditions in freshwater and seawater at lower densities, 20 and 10 kg/m3 respectively, there is less risk of proliferation and dissemination of diseases.
●  Given the lower number of fish per cage and per culture center, there is less waste contribution to the seabed and bodies of water.

Regarding the manufacturing of food for organic salmon farming, the negative impact on fisheries is reduced, since the raw materials used are 100% certified by independent international organizations.

“Support the planet that sustains you” sets a precedent in the salmon industry in our country, which represents enormous technical, logistical and productive challenges, but which at the same time is one of the pillars of Cooke Chile‘s efficient and professional work, always focused on animal welfare and environmental care.

The company’s first organic production cycle is the result of a process of excellence that takes care of the land, water and genetic resources of flora and fauna.

Cooke Chile’s path towards environmentally, economically and socially responsible salmon farming involved a series of more sustainable practices, which pay special attention to the care of the land, water and genetic resources of flora and fauna, in addition to duly comply with the certification guidelines imposed by the European Union (EU).

The above implied that the company had to adopt changes in the entire production chain, in aspects such as fish feeding, the density of the farming centers and the adoption of measures for animal welfare, in addition to the training of teams. and the use of modern technologies in production processes. The above made it possible to achieve the European certification of a high quality product.

Concrete changes

Organic salmon cannot be produced in spaces previously used in traditional farming, but must be grown in centers that have been previously conditioned and certified. Therefore, before starting production, the company had to empty, clean and disinfect its facilities. The fish farms had to go through a period of 6 months of sanitation and productive rest, while the open sea structures had to go through a period of 3 months.

Fish feed was not available in Chile according to the organic standard. For this reason, the company had to import from Scotland all the tons of certified food necessary to carry out organic production.

The farming process was also carried out under demanding standards, which are mainly associated with maintaining the salmon at low densities, minimizing the level of stress, with a high level of animal welfare and with the exhaustive use of state-of-the-art technologies and infrastructure. .

Likewise, Cooke Chile’s multidisciplinary teams had to acquire new knowledge, necessary to carry out the implementation of the organic standard in an optimal manner, through a training process that included 460 hours of work.

This achievement is another clear demonstration of Cooke Chile’s commitment to the most demanding practices in farmed salmon production in the world, in line with its global mission, in order to ensure the present and future sustainability of the industry.

 

Organic production responds to a general system of management of aquaculture and food production that combines the best environmental and cultivation practices, a high level of biodiversity, the conservation of natural resources and the application of demanding standards on animal and health welfare.

Cooke Chile recently obtained certification to produce organic salmon. For the first time in the region the accreditation guarantees that salmon farming is carried out in accordance with the organic production standards of the European Union (EU).

The certification was achieved after a long process, which involved additional efforts throughout the entire production chain. The above, given that organic production responds to a general management system for aquaculture and food production that combines the best environmental and cultivation practices, a high level of biodiversity, the conservation of natural resources and the application of demanding standards. on animal welfare and safety in production.

Among the main standards required by the European Union (EU), the following stand out:

●  The freshwater, saltwater and processing plant facilities have been converted and certified for operation according to the requirements of the organic standard.
●  Culture densities in freshwater breeding centers are limited to a maximum of 20 kg/m3.
●  Culture densities in saltwater fattening centers are limited to a maximum of 10 kg/m3.
●  All ingredients in organic salmon feed are certified organic.
●  Fish oil and fishmeal come only from 100% certified sustainable fisheries.
●  For the natural color of the salmon, Panaferd was used, a 100% natural and ecological dye.
●  Biosafety management free of chemicals.
●  During production the absence of genetically modified animals is certified.

This milestone not only represents a new standard in the way salmon is produced in Chile, with a method that is more respectful of the environment and healthier for consumers, but also symbolizes the entry of our country into the international organic salmon market, considered by many as a fundamental part of the food solution of the future.

In an interview with the specialized media Salmonexpert, our general manager, Andrés Parodi, announced that Cooke Chile will soon harvest its first organic salmon in our country.

“In the coming weeks, we expect to harvest the first organic salmon farming center produced in Chile, certified in the Euroleaf by the European Community, which undoubtedly marks a new milestone for the sustainability of the country and salmon farming.”

This step represents a firm commitment to sustainable development, a vision that guides our actions in Cooke Chile.

Sustainable development implies conserving our natural resources and promoting technological and institutional change that guarantees the satisfaction of current and future needs for generations to come.

As our Manager points out, “By conserving land, water, and the genetic resources of flora and fauna, this sustainable development is also environmentally non-degrading, technically appropriate, economically viable, and socially acceptable.”

We are confident that this launch will mark a before and after in the industry, reaffirming our commitment to sustainability, innovation, and quality.

The Canadian Ambassador to Chile, Michael Gort, and his team visited our facilities and crops.

The Embassy does essential work supporting trade and investment between our two countries. Chile is an important bilateral, regional, and multilateral partner of Canada in the Americas.

We are very proud of our people and operations in Chile.

We appreciate the visit of the ambassador and his team.

We traveled to this southern Chilean commune to share knowledge of production and environmental care in aquaculture operations. We also collaborated with delivering 100 life jackets to the Union of Employers and Crew of Puerto Tranquilo.

As a company committed to its community, Cooke Chile recently donated sports equipment to the Paul Harris Club of Aysén. This sports club is attended by children between 6 and 13 years old, including some of our Cooke Chile employees. The donation includes items such as balls, cones, ladders, and T-shirts, which will help the Club fulfill its task of promoting children’s sports.

Volunteers from our Company came to the Adán Shelter for Abandoned Dogs in the Lagunitas neighborhood to carry out repair and restoration work.

We have developed a long-term relationship with the Renacer Family Residence in Los Muermos.

This home houses girls whose rights have been violated and who are currently in the process of reparation or adoption. As a company, we provide the home with a monthly donation of salmon to ensure that they can incorporate a healthy protein option into their diet.

Recently, we provided them with board games, personal protection items, a computer, and a printer in addition to our monthly donations so that they can continue their education during this time.