As part of its commitment to the community, the State Technical University of Quevedo (UTEQ), through the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and the Zootechnics Degree Programme, successfully concluded the community outreach project entitled “Aquaculture for the Socioeconomic Development of Peasant Families in Quevedo and UTEQ's Zones of Influence”.

The event, held on 21 October 2026, took place at the Cantonal Agricultural Centre of Quevedo (Cañalito sector) and the “La Florida” Neighbourhood Assembly in the San Cristóbal parish. During the activity, academic staff and students from the institution guided participants in strengthening their productive capabilities by establishing family tilapia farming systems, driving self-sustainable production.

The theoretical and practical workshops addressed key aspects of sustainable aquaculture management, such as water quality monitoring, balanced nutrition, biosecurity, aquatic health, and cost and production logging. Additionally, beneficiaries attended guided technical visits to UTEQ's aquaculture facilities, allowing them to gain first-hand knowledge of high-performance farming standards.

As part of the project's direct impact, demonstration aquaculture production systems were installed and technical tools were delivered to attendees. In total, the initiative benefited 51 participants (30 from the Cañalito community and 21 from La Florida), who received accreditation certificates at the closing ceremony.

Through the execution of these actions, UTEQ consolidates its institutional leadership in the Los Ríos province, connecting scientific research with social progress, rural income diversification, and food sovereignty in its zone of influence.