Chilean Company AcuaNativa's AcuaPathTM Receives Avonni 2026 Special Biotechnology Mention

Chilean company AcuaNativa's R&D achievement AcuaPathTM received the CBT SOFOFA Hub Special Mention at the 2026 Avonni National Innovation Award. The award is organized by ForoInnovación together with the Ministry of Science, Technology, Knowledge and Innovation, El Mercurio and TVN. 2026 marks the 20th anniversary of the Avonni Award, and this edition received more than 1,000 applications, a record high.

The CBT SOFOFA Hub Special Biotechnology Mention is awarded for the second consecutive year, aimed at drawing more attention to bioscience-based, production-oriented solutions. This year the mention went to AcuaNativa and its AcuaPathTM. According to the source, AcuaPathTM is a biotechnology that can deliver natural molecules directly into fish cells without modification, in order to activate specific biological responses. Precision additives developed on this platform are administered through feed to address parasite problems and improve indicators such as survival rates and feed efficiency; the technology was also recognized for its degree of precision and its practical applicability in industrialized markets.

María Paz Merino, Executive Director of SOFOFA Hub's Center for Translational Biotechnology (CBT), said that this recognition highlights, from an industry perspective, biotechnologies in Chile that have already been applied to concrete production challenges, and that cases like AcuaPath demonstrate their potential to enhance companies' productivity and sustainability.

Among this edition's Avonni Award applications, 50.2% came from outside the capital region, and 42% were women-led innovations. The award ceremony brought together government ministers, heads of public institutions and business leaders. At the event, Avonni also announced the launch of the Avonni Latam regional award in partnership with CAF, and confirmed Chile as the host location of the Innovation Center for Latin America and the Caribbean.