Intelligent CIO LATAM Issue 39 | Page 42

COUNTRY FOCUS : PERU
A genetic sequencing project involving 1,500 alpacas from Puno aims to refine the quality and fineness of their fiber .

MGI Tech partners with and Inca Tops to enhance

Peruvian city Puno and lake Titicaca panorama , Peru

In Peru , alpaca fiber has become a flagship product driving the fashion industry .

Highly valued for its exceptional softness , quality , strength and authenticity , this raw material is coveted in the world ’ s most exclusive stores .
In their effort to advance the Peruvian textile industry , MGI Tech Co ( MGI ), a company committed to building core tools and technologies that drive innovation in life science , along with Universidad Agraria de La Molina ( UNALM ) and Inca Tops , are spearheading genetic research on 1,500 alpacas from Puno , Peru .
According to national reports , nearly US $ 200 million worth of products made from alpaca fiber , including fabrics , garments and other derivatives , are exported each year to the United States , Europe and Asia .
This initiative focuses on DNA analysis to identify molecular markers within their genomes , that optimize fiber quality , enhance fineness and maintain natural colors .
The adoption of genomics in the alpaca industry offers many advantages , such as enhancing the quality of alpaca fiber and promoting the growth of thousands of producers .
Carlos Carpio , MGI ’ s Commercial Director for Latin America , said that the implementation of genomics contributes to the development and growth of the alpaca industry , enabling scientists not only to identify
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