Fernanda Kuschel, Sustainability & Precision Services Manager for Andean Region at dsm-firmenich.
On October 21, at Race to the Top 2025, we crossed the finish line once again…
More than 300 participants learned strategies, experiences, and success stories throughout conversations that reaffirmed a central idea: sustainability is no longer an added value — it’s the new way to compete.
Discover the 15 most valuable lessons the forum left us with:
Pamela Nath, Director of the Sustainable Shrimp Partnership (SSP).
1
The Starting Line: transform, inspire, lead
To transform is not to move faster, but to understand where you’re headed. To inspire is to compete while caring and innovating. To lead is to turn that purpose into collective action.
José Antonio Camposano, Executive President of CNA; Fabricio Vargas, CEO of Vitapro; Marcelo Vélez, International Trade Manager at Edpacif; and Sandro Coglitore, General Manager of Omarsa.
2
Leading from the Top
The growth of the sector depends on developing new leaders. Staying at the top requires pride in what has been achieved, a strategic vision, responsibility, and the ability to sustain it.
Steven González, former NASA executive and keynote speaker at Race to the Top.
3
What Future do you Want?
To lead is also to anticipate. Envisioning the next 20 years requires the courage to challenge current models and make way for new generations of leaders.
Patrick Waty, CEO of INVE Aquaculture; and Andrea Pradilla, Director for Latin America at the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI).
4
From the Framework to the Field
Sustainability stops being just a statement when it is measured, proven, and improved based on science and purpose. It’s not about repeating what works — it’s about doing it better.
Vianna Maino, Investment Projects and Strategic Sectors Specialist; Mauro Intriago, Energy director at GPS Group; Carlos Cabezas, Compliance Officer and Head of Legal and Corporate Affairs at Duragas Abastible; and Pablo Martínez, Primary Industries manager at Banco Guayaquil.
5
Beyond the Engine
The energy transition is not just a technological shift, but a mindset change. It requires partnerships, investment, and a shared vision that turns clean energy into a competitive advantage.
Henrik Aarestrup, Vice President LATAM – Shrimp & hatchery at BioMar Group; Jorge Díaz, Sustainability Director at Skretting; María Alejandra Rivera, Executive manager of ESG and Corporate Affairs at VITAPRO; and Benjamin Weis, Senior Sustainability Manager at Cargill Aquaculture Nutrition.
6
Innovation in Motion
Sustainability is no longer a competitive advantage — it’s an essential skill for staying in business. The future of the sector depends on education, science- and technology-based sustainable solutions, and collective reputation: moving forward together is the only way to grow.
Henrik Aarestrup, Vice President LATAM – Shrimp and Hatchery at BioMar Group; and Juan José Cárdenas, researcher and lecturer at the University of Agder, RMIT, and USFG.
7
Earn the Crowd
Sustainable brands must be clear about what they do, how they do it, and why they do it. Only then does consistency turn into trust, and trust into loyalty.
Jessica Zambrano-Mason and Laura Elsler from the Golden Lab at Harvard University.
8
Can Aquaculture Feed the Future?
Aquatic foods have an outsized potential to nourish both people and the planet. When grown with science, equity, and purpose, aquaculture can feed the future without compromising it.
Paula Rincón, Co-founder of Think & Talk; and Chavanne Hanson, Food Choice Architecture and Nutrition Lead.
9
How Far Can Nutrition Go?
Integrating healthy and sustainable nutrition into business strategy enhances well-being, productivity, and organizational culture, improving the quality of life of your team both at work and beyond.
Paula Rincón, Co-founder of Think & Talk; Sonia Cordera, Director of Market Engagement at IDH; and María Fernanda Vilches, Process Manager at SSP.
10
Same Team, Same Path
Sustainable development is built from the inside out. Ensuring fair wages and growth opportunities strengthens both individuals and the entire value chain.
11
The Footprint We Leave Behind
Sustainability is no longer optional — it’s a shared obligation. Measuring, reducing, and transparently reporting the environmental footprint is key to producing “not just the best shrimp in the world, but the best shrimp for the world.”
María Isabel Alvarez, General Manager of BASF Ecuatoriana; Petter Coutteau, Global Director of Aquaculture at Adisseo; José Duarte, Regional Technical Director (America) – Aqua at Kemin Aquascience; and Lenaïg Richard, Global Business Development Manager for Aquaculture at Corbion.
12
The Pause that Ignites
Reducing the carbon footprint doesn’t mean slowing down — it means moving forward with intelligence and purpose. Innovation, data, and strategic partnerships across the value chain are now the driving force behind a more competitive, low-carbon aquaculture.
Paula Rincón, Co-founder of Think&Talk; Eduardo Reyes, Vice President of Production at Grupo Almar; and Iván Ramírez, Co-founder and President of LarvIA.
13
Turning Vision into Value
Case 1
Artificial intelligence doesn’t replace experience, it enhances it; and in aquaculture, integrating it was a strategic decision.
LarvIA and Grupo Almar combined technology with local knowledge to show how data and a shared vision enable more precise and sustainable decision-making, creating value through collaboration.
Paula Rincón, Co-founder of Think&Talk; Diego Gallo, Wireless Product Manager at Huawei; and Isauro Fajardo, Executive President of Grupo Fajardo.
14
Turning Vision into Value
Case 2
Bringing technology to rural areas is not just a technical challenge — it’s a strategic and human decision.
Huawei and Grupo Fajardo understood this: they joined forces to transform farms into smart, sustainable, and connected spaces, showing that innovation also means planting the future where it once seemed difficult.
Paula Rincón, Co-founder of Think&Talk; Eduardo Arosemena, Global General Director of Kampi; and Raúl Yaranga from Omarsa.
15
Turning Vision into Value
Case 3
Innovation happens when technology makes visible what was previously decided by intuition.
Kampi and Omarsa demonstrated that accurate measurement is not just an operational detail, but the first step toward transforming an industry through data, collaboration, and a shared vision.