Dr. Alicia GallardoCASA senior advisor and president of the WOAH Aquatic Animal Health Standards Commission, opened the congress with the plenary session “Global challenges for animal health in aquaculture in the context of climate change”. Drawing on her experience in international organizations such as WOAH and FAO, Gallardo called for strengthening health surveillance, promoting technological innovation , and consolidating a resilient aquaculture based on science and international cooperation.She also highlighted the importance of animal welfare, biosecurity, the prudent use of antimicrobials, and the integration of tools such as artificial intelligence and environmental DNA diagnostics.Her intervention reaffirmed CASA's ability to articulate academic knowledge, technical expertise, and regional collaboration.

The Jurij Wacyk, Academic Director of CRIA, presented advances in the use of grape extract as a functional supplement in rainbow trout diets, demonstrating improvements in feed conversion, growth, and gut health, highlighting how bioactive compounds from agricultural byproducts can enhance sustainability and animal welfare in aquaculture.

The José Manuel Yáñez, director of the Aquaculture Genomics Laboratory, participated in the technical seminar organized by MEVEA for Veterinarian Day, which brought together national and international experts to highlight the role of veterinarians in salmon farming and their contribution to animal welfare, genetics, and technological innovation. In his presentation, titled "Precision Genetics for Disease Control in Salmon Farming", Yáñez demonstrated how genomic tools can increase pathogen resistance, optimize broodstock selection, and reduce the use of drug treatments, strengthening sustainable and responsible production.

In addition, researchers from CASA and its associated laboratories stood out with scientific presentations and posters:

• Francisca Varas (CRIA): Plasma oxidative balance of rainbow trout fed diets high in peroxidized lipids.
• Jousepth Gallardo (CRIA): SNP prioritization strategies to improve genomic prediction of resistance to Piscirickettsia salmonis.
• Belén Pinto (FARMAVET): Indicators for monitoring antimicrobial use in salmon farming centers in Chile.
• Sebastián Zavala (FARMAVET): Retrospective study on antimicrobial use in Atlantic salmon in the Los Lagos Region, 2015–2024.
• Pablo Salgado (CRIA): Evaluation of deferiprone as an alternative against piscirickettsiosis in rainbow trout.
• Daniela Ortiz (CRIA): Glutamine supplementation reduces Piscirickettsia salmonis infection in salmon phagocytic cells.
• Dennise Galdames: Effect of grape pomace extract on oxidative stress in rainbow trout under prolonged fasting.

During the conference, CASA researchers also participated in one of the workshops held within the framework of the Surveillance, Alert, and Response System (SVAR), an initiative led by Sernapesca that seeks to strengthen health management and reduce the use of antimicrobials in national aquaculture. The meeting brought together representatives from the public sector, academia, and industry to share progress, challenges, and collaborative experiences aimed at promoting more sustainable and responsible practices in production systems.

Dr. Javiera Cornejo, Executive Director of CASA and principal investigator of the SVAR project, participated as a speaker, highlighting the importance of collaborative work in generating applicable knowledge:

“It is essential to maintain constant collaboration and feedback between public services, academia, and industry. Only through ongoing technical dialogue can we develop solutions that are effective, applicable, and sustainable over time”, said Dr. Cornejo.

The workshop also included representatives from the universities of O'Higgins and Concepciónwho contributed their research interests in aquaculture health, strengthening the project's comprehensive and multisectoral vision .

With this participation, the CASA Center demonstrated its ability to integrate applied research, capacity building, and international collaboration, consolidating its leadership in the region and contributing to the development of a more resilient, efficient, and committed aquaculture approach to animal welfare and environmental sustainability.