1st International Workshop on Silk: Sericulture as a development tool and as a tool to add local value
On 30th and 31st October 2017, the 1st International Workshop on Silk was held in Buenos Aires. Authorities from the National Institute of Industrial Technology (INTI) and representatives of the National Institute of Agricultural Technology, University State of Maringa, Brazil, the Indio Hatuey Experimental Station of Cuba, the Patronage of the Sericulture Tourism Centre and the Rebocería de Michoacán in Mexico, the Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana in Colombia, the co-operative Sociolario of Italy and the Faculty of Agronomy of the University of Buenos Aires, participated in the official launch of the Seda Project, which aims to contribute to the reduction of poverty in the Latin America and the Caribbean region through sericulture with a sustainable approach and the addition of local value.
On 30th and 31st October 2017, the 1st International Workshop on Silk was held in Buenos Aires. Authorities from the National Institute of Industrial Technology (INTI) and representatives of the National Institute of Agricultural Technology, University State of Maringa, Brazil, the Indio Hatuey Experimental Station of Cuba, the Patronage of the Sericulture Tourism Centre and the Rebocería de Michoacán in Mexico, the Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana in Colombia, the co-operative Sociolario of Italy and the Faculty of Agronomy of the University of Buenos Aires, participated in the official launch of the Seda Project, which aims to contribute to the reduction of poverty in the Latin America and the Caribbean region through sericulture with a sustainable approach and the addition of local value.
The opening of the event oversaw the president of INTI, Ing. Javier Ibañez with the head of the section Economy and Trade of the European Union (EU), Martin Pouliot, and the Consul Ana Sarrabayrouse, representative of the General Directorate of International Cooperation of the Argentine Chancellery. Silk Project is co-funded by the European Commission through the ADELANTE Program, "this Program is the political framework to work together with partners in the region in favor of less industrialized countries, to achieve development objectives," said Pouliot.
The presentation of the Silk Project was in the hands of its Director, Ing. Patricia Marino of INTI, coordinating entity, who explained the importance of the work in the development of the silk value chain for the economic strengthening of the Latin American region, since it involves actors from all sectors. In that sense, he developed, "the different institutions that are part of the project can work from the genetic improvement of the bombyx mori (silkworm), the production of eggs, the implantation of mulberry trees, the agricultural production of the cocoons and then in the utilization of textile fibers that has two facets, for industrial use and an opportunity for handicraft development for small producers".
The event was attended by 200 participants who during the two days could participate in the 12 panels with dissertations of professionals from the institutions that are part of the Project, tables of producers and national silk craftsmen to discuss sericulture as a tool for economic development and added of value for entrepreneurs and their regions.
Simultaneously to the Workshop an exhibition was held on silk art and technology with producers, designers and entrepreneurs. "When you think about silk, you imagine a satin, but there is tissue paper, jewelry, dental floss, in our country an artisan makes silk soap and there is facial massage with flower buds," explained Hugo Enciso, head of the Silk Laboratory of the Center. INTI -Textiles, in relation to the exhibition that was held in parallel to the day. From the experience, there were numerous networkig spaces among the participants.
