With the aim of ensuring the safety of bivalve mollusks and opening new commercial opportunities for local harvesting communities, the induction and technical evaluation sessions for the DEPUREMOS project ("Mollusc Depuration in Ecuador for Food Safety and Market Expansion") were successfully conducted.
This initiative, funded by VLIR-UOS and developed in collaboration with Ghent University (UGent), conducted its first diagnostic workshop from February 6th to 10th at strategic locations: Isla Puná (Campo Alegre), Huaquillas, and Puerto Jelí. Management was led by Félix Morales, alongside a multidisciplinary team of experts and students from the FCV, other ESPOL faculties, and other collaborating universities:
Coordination: Félix Morales.
Researchers: Marynes Montiel (FCV), Jorge Silva (FIMCP), Matilde Flores (UTM), Eveligh Prado (UTMACH), Cesar Valarezo (UTMACH).
Technical Team: Rafaella Dueñas (FCV), María Pía Beltrán (FCV), and Daniel Moreira (FIMCP).
Institutional Support: Joshua Mendoza from the ESPOL Outreach Department (Extensión).
Students: Arianna López, George Pacheco, and Arianna Molina.
Diagnostic and Regional Cooperation: The purpose of these visits was to conduct a technical and social assessment directly with local shellfish harvester associations. This step is essential prior to the installation of depuration systems, ensuring that the technology is tailored to the reality of the environment. Additionally, strategic meetings were held with the Technical University of Machala (UTMACH) to strengthen the cooperation network in the southern region of the country.
A Transdisciplinary Effort: DEPUREMOS stands out for integrating the capabilities of various ESPOL faculties (FCV, FIMCP, FCSH, FICT, FIEC) with the support of partner universities such as UTM, UTMACH, and UNESUM. This collaboration consolidates an innovation ecosystem at the service of the aquaculture and fisheries sectors.
