Leading Circular
Bio-Mining in Patagonia

Deeptech | Blue Economy | Upcycled Ingredients

01 Executive Summary: The Pitch

Chile processes 400,000 tons of mussels annually, generating 160,000 m³ of environmental liabilities for which plants pay up to 3x in tariff surcharges. AquaBiotics Sur is a deeptech startup transforming this operational cost into biotechnological assets. Through circular bio-mining, we project recovering 2.4 g/L of natural taurine while simultaneously reducing 98% of the organic load in the effluents.

02 The Problem: An Invisible Liability

The mussel industry in the Los Lagos Region faces a sustainability and cost crisis:

  • Critical Volume: 160,000 cubic meters of cooking water discharged annually.
  • Financial Hemorrhage: Severe penalties for excess organic load (DS 609).
  • Synthetic Dependency: The global market relies on petroleum-derived taurine, lacking traceability and carrying a high carbon footprint.

03 Market Opportunity SOM: US$ 40M

We target strategic import substitution in three high-growth verticals:

  • Premium Pet Food: Mandatory ingredient for feline diets with Clean Label certification.
  • Aquaculture (Salmon): Higher growth and metabolic energy savings by avoiding endogenous synthesis.
  • Nutraceuticals: High-purity supplements with Patagonian origin and full traceability.

04 The Solution: Organic Bio-Mining

Our modular nanofiltration technology enables in-situ intervention without disrupting plant operations:

  • Valorization: Selective recovery of essential amino acids (Blue Taurine).
  • Sanitization: Removal of 98% of COD (Chemical Oxygen Demand), eliminating surcharges.
  • Efficiency: Low energy consumption process with a negative carbon footprint.
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Dirty Effluent (Liability / Cost)
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AB Membrane (Bio-mining)
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Premium Taurine (Asset / Value)

05 Strategic Roadmap 2026

  • Phase 1: Scientific de-risking and analytical yield validation (TRL 3).
  • Phase 2: Industrial piloting at a Los Lagos Region plant (TRL 5).
  • Phase 3: Commercial scaling and first export of Upcycled Blue Taurine.