Paola Armijo

Agricultural crops are permanently exposed to infections caused by dangerous phytopathogenic agents, which can seriously damage plants and even cause losses of vegetable crops. 

One of the most harmful phytopathogenic bacteria for agriculture is the species Pseudomonas syringae, which affects kiwifruit, cherry, plum, tomato and bean plantations, among others. As a result of this infection, there are considerable losses in production and harvests, implying millions of dollars in economic losses for the industry.

Audiological diseases due to continuous exposure to noise at work are among the main occupational pathologies in our country, according to data from the Superintendence of Social Security.

The WHO recommends a limit of 65 decibels to ensure good health and well-being of people, while Chilean regulations allow up to 85 decibels in eight-hour workdays, which is not always complied with.

Chile is one of the leaders in the world salmon industry, occupying second place in salmonid production, after Norway, and supplying 25% of the global supply. At the national level, this product is the largest exporter, after copper.

The sector faces several challenges, however, including the spread of diseases that threaten the stability and quality of production. One of the most common and dangerous is salmonid rickettsial septicemia (SRS), caused by the bacterium Piscirickettsia salmonis.

Burner or ignition systems are essential for the operation of industries such as pharmaceuticals, food and energy, as they facilitate the ignition of fuels to generate heat, energy or perform key processes. Their use in mining, manufacturing, construction and transportation, among others, ensures the continuity of operations. 

Chile is one of the world leaders in the aquaculture industry, positioning itself among the main producers of species such as Atlantic salmon and rainbow trout, which are highly demanded in international markets. However, for the industry to be able to guarantee productivity and competitiveness at a global level, it must meet high standards of health and breeding of salmonids. It is therefore essential to prevent and treat viral infections that affect the health of the fish, which jeopardize the stability and quality of production.

During March, the Vice Rector’s Office for Research, Innovation and Creation (Vriic) joined in the commemoration of International Women’s Day, acknowledging the work of various researchers at the University of Santiago de Chile who lead in high economic, social and environmental impact development, which seek to contribute to our society and the evolution of industry. 

Its R&D projects have received support from Vriic's Directorate of Technology Management (DGT).

Transforming the packaging industry 

The technology known as Iodine Autogenous Fusion (IAF), developed at the University of Santiago in Chile, has been granted a patent in Japan, adding to the patent already obtained in Chile and the patent application filed in the United States.

This innovation is led by Dr. Ricardo Vega Viveros, an academic and researcher at the Faculty of Engineering (FING), and emerged as a solution to the problems of the iodine refining process in our country, which is notorious for being discontinuous, complex, costly, and environmentally hazardous.

In order to identify new opportunities for joint work in research and development (R&D) projects, the Directorate of Technological Management (DGT) of the Vice Rector's Office for Research, Innovation and Creation (Vriic) organized a meeting that brought together researchers from the University of Santiago de Chile and executives from the technology company CoreDevX.

The Aquaculture Biotechnology Center (CBA) held an event to officially present the remodeled facilities of the Experimental Fish Unit (UEP) and celebrate the first anniversary of the Aqua Biotechnology Consortium.

The event was attended by the Center’s research and professional team, led by its director, Dr. Claudio Acuña. Also in attendance were Dr. Alberto Monsalve, Vice-Rector for Research, Innovation, and Creation at Usach; Dr. Bernardo Morales, Dean of the Faculty of Chemistry and Biology; and Geraldine Mlynarz, Director of the Aqua Biotechnology Consortium.

The Center for Food Science and Technology Studies (CECTA) at the University of Santiago (USACH), a recognized leader in yeast production for the wine industry, is expanding its focus to the baking sector through a novel applied research initiative.

The Fondef IDeA R&D project, “Obtaining a strain of yeast that overproduces ergosterol for use in the production of bread supplemented with vitamin D,” is led by Dr. Eduardo Kessi-Pérez, a researcher at Cecta.