On October 1 and 2, in Viña del Mar, within the framework of the project “Economic Monitoring of the National Fishing and Aquaculture Industry“, the International Workshop on the Review and Methodological Validation of the Calculation of Per Capita Consumption of Seafood was held. This workshop was organized by the Department of Economics and Statistics of IFOP. The purpose of the workshop was to review the quality and validity of official estimates of per capita consumption of seafood in Chile.
The workshop brought together a multidisciplinary technical team of international experts from the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations) and EUMOFA (European Market Observatory for Fisheries and Aquaculture Products), universities, and public and private institutions, who contributed their expertise in the calculation methodology, application of conversion factors, and criteria to be considered. This workshop allowed for contrasting methodological approaches and discussing the findings, ensuring the estimates’ consistency with international standards for comparison with other countries and their relevance to the national reality.
Camilo Torres, head of the Department of Economics and Statistics at IFOP, described the workshop as a space for mutual learning and a spirit of collaboration, which will allow for progress toward a better estimate of how much fishery and aquaculture products Chileans consume. Furthermore, the results of this work will provide useful and valid information so that the Undersecretariat of Fisheries and Aquaculture can efficiently direct its public policies in this area, which is very important for the food and nutritional security of our population.
José Luis Santiago, coordinator of the Department of Fisheries Economics at CETMAR, said the workshop seemed very interesting in its attempt to adapt a methodology that seems simple, but its implementation is not. The results are very good, as they were able to estimate conversion factors that, until now, were not available here in Chile. I find the work done by IFOP very appropriate, as its study is capable of setting a consumption target for seafood of high quality and sustainability, and through rigorous science and studies, providing decision-makers with accurate and appropriate information.
Alessandro Pititto of EUMOFA, it’s a pleasure for me to be here today because the workshop is very engaging and gives us the opportunity to work on something that interests us greatly, as we do the same thing in Europe, with many challenges, and it’s an opportunity to strengthen our methodology as well. The workshop allows us to discuss with experts and thus be able to improve. I find the work done by IFOP incredible.
Gabriella Laurenti of FAO, this workshop is excellent because it addresses what I have been doing throughout my professional life, namely, the balance between food and human consumption. IFOP’s work is very good, detailed, and professional.
Calculating per capita seafood consumption is a permanent objective of the Economic Monitoring project, and the researchers behind it are Gonzalo Olivares and Johanna Rojas.
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