History
Benchmark Genetics Chile (BGCL) joint venture
Benchmark Genetics Chile (BGCL) is a joint venture, formalized and announced in June 2018, and formed by the British company, quoted in the London AIM stock exchange, Benchmark PLC, and the privately owned Chilean company AquaChile. Benchmark plc is dedicated to genetic services for the aquaculture industry, and has global experts in genetics and genomics, diagnostics, animal health and nutrition.
AquaChile commercial programme established
The AquaChile commercial programmes which was established in 1997 based on Norwegian strains for Atlantic Salmon and Rainbow Trout. These programmes were in 2007 to become the Aquainnovo Consortium, in conjunction with Universidad de Chile, for the development and research of genetic technology programs in aquaculture.
Relationship begins with Stofnfiskur
The StofnFiskur programme dates back to 1991, when the company was founded in Iceland. The Atlantic Salmon strain of the company originates from Norway. Main purpose was to supply the newly established Icelandic industry with salmon eggs, but with a growing global demand, Stofnfiskur started export of eggs to Chile and Ireland in 1995 and later to Norway, Faroes Island and Scotland.
Stofnfiskur operates a biosecure compartment in Iceland making it the only company in the world with authorization to export Atlantic Salmon Ova to Chile, and is also supplying customers with land based salmon production all around the globe. StofnFiskur was acquired by Benchmark plc in 2014 and is today a part of the Benchmark Genetics Division.
