ASEAN Committee Visits Quintessence Alpaca Breeding Center in Chile

 Alpacas in the farm segregated after shearing to allow regrowth of fiber. (Santiago PE photo)

SANTIAGO 11 April 2019 – As part of its cultural and trade initiatives, the ASEAN Committee in Santiago (ACS), composed of the Embassies of the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam in Chile, visited the Quintessence Alpaca Breeding Center in Llay Llay to discuss the marketability of garments and other fine materials made using alpaca fiber.

Quintessence Alpaca Breeding Center is a family-owned breeding farm, and is one of the world’s largest exporter of alpaca products.  It prides itself for developing genetic research and a strict breeding and nutritional program for its more than 1,200 alpacas—making their alpacas among the finest in the world.

Farm owner Maria Herlinda De La Garza also shared the farm’s best practices which could be applicable to ASEAN countries’ agricultural sectors, particularly in sheep farming, dairy and poultry farms, and other animal breeding industries.

The activity also served as an opportunity for ACS embassies to strengthen ties and discuss other socio-cultural and trade events earmarked for 2019. END

 Heads of diplomatic missions, officers, staff and family members of the ASEAN Committee in Santiago pose for a photo after the successful alpaca farm visit. (Santiago PE photo)

Quintessence Farm’s heavy processes sheared alpaca fiber into fine threads for knitting. (Santiago PE photo)

For more information, visit www.santiagope.dfa.gov.ph or https://www.facebook.com/PHinChile.