The 56th IFFO Annual Conference, providing three days of workshops and networking for the fields of fishmeal, fish oil and marine ingredient production, closed last week with a presentation of awards for leadership and innovation in the industry.
Announced and presented IFFO President Mike Copeland at the event’s gala dinner in Bangkok, Thailand, this year, both the leadership and innovation awards were given to TASA, a Peruvian fishmeal company based in Callao, Peru. Copeland presented both to TASA Director Humberto Speziani.
“The award had previously been split into two categories, with TASA submitting substantial applications for both,” according to an IFFO press release. “It proved exceptionally difficult to decide which of the many impressive applications deserved to win the awards. After a vote, the majority of the board members agreed that TASA should win both the leadership and innovation awards.”
According to the IFFO, TASA’s work on research and development won it the leadership award. In 2015, TASA and the Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, jointly won the a competition organized by Peru’s National Council of Science, Technology and Technological Innovation for its study, "Evaluation of the effect of oral administration of collagen peptides of anchovy on bone metabolism and the mechanism of tissue scarring in ovariectomised animals."
“The development of collagen peptides is intended to produce a product that meets chemical and functional properties required by the market and that also constitutes a safe and effective treatment to combat osteoporosis and skin alterations generated by the loss of oestrogens in the post-menopausal period,” the IFFO said. “The product will provide added value and at the same time allow the population to benefit directly from the utilization of this natural resource.”
For the innovation part of the award, TASA won for its SUMAQ project “Businesswomen of Huanta,” a public-private alliance designed to increase the availability and consumption of fish in families in the district of Huanta, Peru. The project is a collaboration between Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina, the Ministry of Production, the District Municipality of Huanta- Ayacucho and SANIPES, with the Fundación Acción Contra el Hambre acting as operator.
“Such an impressive example of success has provided the perfect closing celebration to another effective IFFO Annual Conference,” IFFO Director General Andrew Mallison said. “Over these last three days, we have addressed some of our industry’s greatest challenges, analysed new technological opportunities, and looked at market trends to better prepare our members for the coming years. But most importantly, after over 50 years of meeting, this group of old and new friends have gathered once again to strengthen business ties and work together as a cohesive community.”
