Chilean salmon farmers visit Intervet

As part of their ‘AquaTrends 2005’ trip in August, a group of fifteen Chilean managers in the salmon industry travelled through four European countries to learn about the most advanced research and production facilities of several European-based suppliers of vaccines (Intervet International, The Netherlands), pigments (DSM, The Netherlands and Switzerland) and fish feed (EWOS, Norway). They also visited AQUA NOR 2005 in Trondheim, Norway where they could see the latest technologies available for the sector, as well as get together with international colleagues. AquaTrends 2005 was actually the initiative of Intervet Veterinaria Chile Ltda. (Andres Engelbreit, General Manager and Oscar Parra, Product Manager, Aquatic Animal Health) but was organized jointly by the three supplier companies. 

The first leg of the trip involved a visit to the Intervet International facilities in Boxmeer. During the day, the group had the opportunity to listen to details about the relevant role played by Intervet in the veterinary field for different animal species, including aquatic animals. The group was informed about the latest advances to fight important diseases affecting salmon and trout production in Chile, including IPN, vibriosis, furunculosis and SRS.

Following the presentations, as well as having a general tour of the Boxmeer site, the group got to see ‘behind the doors’ of some vaccine production facilities. The group could also become acquainted with the rigorous procedures applied by Intervet – relating to sterility, biosecurity, automation, good practices, quality control, etc. – in all the GLP laboratories and GMP production buildings that constitute the process of producing top quality products at one of Intervet’s high-tech facilities. 

During the course of the day, the group also had the opportunity to interact with various Intervet representatives, including the Boxmeer Site Manager, Jan van Raaij, and the Director of Corporate Communication & Affairs, Dr. Sabine Schueller. They also got to meet with scientists at the virology, bacteriology, pathology and other laboratories.