The Innovation and Sustainability Project for the artisan fishing sector in Manabi (ISOSPAM for its acronym in Spanish) officially presented the brand “Seafoof Ajamar”, which provides excellent quality seafood products free of preservatives and with responsible fishing. The brand represents commitment to sustainability and support to local fishing.

The presentation took place at “Casa Italia” on Thursday, March 13th in Quito; it was attended by important officials, including Giovanni Davoli, Italian Ambassador to Ecuador; Fr. Juan Cárdenas Tapia, UPS president; and Enza Bosetti, coordinator of the ISOSPAM project for UPS. During the event, attendees tasted the brand's seven products, and witnessed a cooking show led by chef Óscar Santacoloma.

 
Seafood Ajamar is one of the most significant achievements of ISOSPAM, a project that, for more than four years, has promoted the economic growth of artisanal fishermen and their families. By strengthening more efficient and sustainable production chains, ISOSPAM seeks to create value for their work and promote a production model based on environmental responsibility and social commitment.

Father Juan Cárdenas Tapia, UPS president, stressed the importance of a social commitment in education: “This is the result of collective and cooperative work, in which different institutions, individuals, and countries come together with a vision for the most vulnerable sectors of our country.” He also spoke about the role of the university in social transformation: “The university only makes sense when it is present in the field, when it works alongside the needs of society.”

Silvana Cedeño, member of ISOSPAM, said: “Our wish is to take fresh sea products to your home, while protecting the ocean and mangroves for future generations.”

Giovanni Davoli, explained the importance of international cooperation for the project. “The project represents alliance between Italy and Ecuador to favor sustainable development, social inclusion and growth of the artisanal fishing sector.”

Manuel Panezo Rojas, Mayor of Pedernales; Fabricio Lara, Mayor of San Vicente; Antonio Lapenta, from the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation; Silvia Fumagalli, representative of COSPE; Paola Romero, Head of economic and productive development in Quito; Fernando Bertero, President of the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Ecuador; Andrés Camacho and Cristina Mora, from the restaurants association in Pichincha, attended the event.

Tatiana Rosero, head of community engagement at UPS; Nancy Bastidas, director of community engagement in our branch campus in Quito; Fransisco Toral, head of international affairs at UPS, undergraduate program directors and professors also attended.