The Austral University of Chile (UACh) was founded by Supreme Decree No. 3,757 on September 7, 1954, in Valdivia, in response to the urgent need for a university-level higher education institution in the south of the country. In line with its founding mission, UACh places special emphasis on the study of natural resources in the southern-austral region, striving to conserve its ecosystems. It also promotes research aimed at addressing human well-being challenges in the southern-austral zone, particularly those related to education, health, and community life, while also giving priority support to the preservation of its historical heritage and cultural development.
UACh in NATUR-EXT: UACh works closely with the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) and the Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO-CSIC) to improve the diet of marine species (such as octopuses, crustaceans, and tropical fish) through the use of high value-added bioactive extracts. Its involvement is focused on developing sustainable solutions in the field of advanced aquaculture, evaluating the nutritional, physiological, and productive effects of these new compounds in controlled environments.