Argentina has historically been recognized for its academic, public, and free multiplicity, which has become so controversial in recent months due to different political voices that raise questions about its sustainability, and raising the need to evaluate a system much more attached to privatization. However, far removed from these divergences and ready to recognize the prestige that the country has throughout its educational universe, I understand that it is time to abandon party banners and position the focus on multiplying training in non-traditional activities, both in the public and private sectors.
Currently, many sectors need a rapid proliferation of tertiary and university careers that train high-quality professionals and allow the country to continue climbing the high standards of multi-sector training. In that sense, I understand that aquaculture is emerging as one of the economic activities that cries out for the incorporation of an extensive academic offer that provides, in the short term, qualified and specialized labour, which adds value to the activity and can project a revolution throughout the sector.
From my place, I cannot fail to recognize the progress that Chile has made in the field of said activity. The trans-Andean country has become an international power in aquaculture production, exporting more than 6 billion dollars annually. This reality is not only the result of experience and learned mistakes, but also of a strategic investment in the training of professionals in related careers.
Its academic portfolio appears full of study options related to different techniques in aquaculture, biology applied to the subject, and aquaculture engineering, with young people who graduate every day with the faithful conviction of researching to deeply develop the activity of sowing and harvesting different species of fish.
Chile has understood, through errors and ups and downs that it has been correcting precisely thanks to its investment in the training of specialized personnel, that this is the only way not only to guarantee the sustainability and sustainability of the fishing industry, but also to revolutionize the activity as a whole. And Argentina should not hesitate to take its neighbouring country as a lighthouse, tracing an educational offer that can clearly pave the way to take advantage of the potential of its natural resources and use innovative techniques from the hand of true specialists.
The aquaculture revolution is within us. If we want to fully exploit our potential and join the select international reference group, we must prioritize training. It is time to mirror ourselves with other successful models, acting and betting on the growth of a key sector.
Raúl Matías Cereseto is a businessman and writer. In addition, he presides over the Latin American Foundation for Fisheries Sustainability (FULASP).
