During a Workshop at the Masticar Food Festival, the Forum presented the myths and truths of salmon production in Chile, and the lessons Argentina should take into account before embarking on a similar project.
“In addition to tasting food, this year’s festival offers important lessons on how to contribute to a more sustainable food future,” says the article published by the digital newspaper Redacción: “4 lessons of the Masticar Food Festival about the future of food.”
One lesson refers to the farming and consumption of salmon in countries where the species is exotic, meaning it is out of its natural distribution, such is the case of the Patagonian Sea. For this reason, and representing the Forum for the Conservation of the Patagonian Sea, Alex Muñoz, director of the National Geographic Pristine Seas program for Latin America, participated in a Workshop organized within the framework of the Food Festival to instruct about the impacts generated by this industry in Chile over three decades. He emphasized the following points:
- “It is not natural for salmon to be in Argentina as it is a fish from the northern hemisphere. It is carnivorous and ravenous, so it is an invasive species that can prey on native species.”
- “Farmed salmon is a cheaper alternative to wild salmon, which is the one that has the qualities and benefits people expect. In Chile, salmon is produced in a very dirty way, with many dyes and antibiotics.”
- “Argentina has the opportunity to prevent a historical error. In Chile, we did not have that opportunity and now we know the impact that this activity caused. We hope that the Argentine brothers can learn from the catastrophe in Chile so that it won’t happen in their country.
The opening of the event was in charge of the cook Narda Lepes, one of the promoters of the Masticar Food Festival and a leader of mindful eating in Argentina. Another participant was Chef Manu, from Chez Manu, a restaurant in Ushuaia that chose to remove salmon from its menu.
The workshop was held on Friday, September 7 within the framework of the Masticar Food Festival that took place in the City of Buenos Aires, Argentina, from September 6 to 9.