Brazil has the world's richest water resources, and the Amazon River that stretches through the country is home to diverse living resources. However, the country faces the challenge of invasive species, the golden mussel being one of them.
Also known as the marsh clam, the golden mussel is generally no more than 2 centimeters long, has rapid reproductivity and is harmful to water systems in Americas. It has an annual reproduction density of 15,000 clams per square meter. According to the environment impact assessment report, the proliferation of the golden mussel could cause great damage to the water quality, ecological balance and hydropower projects of major rivers in Brazil and throughout the entire Americas.
As the third-largest power producer in Brazil, China Three Gorges Corporation (CTG)'s subsidiary in Brazil has highly valued the concept of sustainable development and actively fulfills its social responsibilities. In order to lower the impact of the invasive mussel on the economy and environment of Latin America, the company inked an agreement with the Technical Center of the Bio Bureau Biotecnolgia in 2017 to carry out the "Golden Mussel Treatment Project" under the framework of the research and development program of the Brazilian Electricity Regulatory Agency (ANEEL). Based on “gene drive" technology, the project intends to provide advanced and economical biotechnological means to control the invasion of the golden mussel.
(Executive editor: Wang Ruoting)
