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Vietnam is aiming for up to 12% growth in shrimp exports by 2020 – and the expansion will be realised through a sustainable, environmental-friendly and climate change-adaptable industry. 

 
 

UP TO 12% GROWTH TILL 2020

 

Vietnam targets US$4.5B earnings from shrimp exports by 2020

 

Vietnam is targetting earnings of US$4.5 billion from shrimp exports between 2017 and 2020 and an annual average growth of 9.5-12%, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) said Tuesday, March 21.


The Vietnamese state-run news agency VNA reported that MARD had drafted a national action plan for shrimp development through 2025, which aims to develop a sustainable, environment-friendly and climate change-adaptable shrimp industry.


Under the action plan, shrimp export turnover during the period 2021 to 2025 should reach $10 billion, echoing Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc who has said that Vietnam's shrimp sector should aim for that export value by 2025.


The plan also targets an annual average export growth of 12% to 14% within the 2021-2025 time frame.


The total area used for brackish-water shrimp farming should reach 710,000 hectares with a total output of 850,000 tonnes of shrimp by 2017-2020. These figures should increase to 750,000 hectares and 1.1 million tonnes of output by 2020-2025.


To attain these goals, the MARD is to improve irrigation and transport systems at large-scale shrimp farming areas. Small-scale production facilities would be encouraged to join cooperatives to create large material production areas.


MARD would also invest in research to produce quality breeding shrimps. It would encourage and support the development of the domestic feed industry and application of modern technologies in shrimp farming and processing.


Last year Vietnamese shrimp exports reached $3.15 billion in value, up 6.7% from 2015, according to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (Vasep).


In 2017, Vietnam's shrimp export revenue is expected to rise 9% year-on-year to $3.4 billion, per Vasep.

  


EXPANSION IN NORWAY AND CHILE


Skretting to invest US$6.4 million in expanding R&D capacity


Skretting will invest EUR6 million (US$6.4 million) to increase its research capacity, with an expansion of the Skretting Aquaculture Research Centre (ARC) Lerang Research Station in Norway and a new facility at Pargua in Chile, the company announced in March.


Skretting has research facilities in Norway, China, Italy, Japan, Australia, Egypt and Ecuador. To match the rapid growth of aquaculture and the technological advancements of the industry, the decision has been taken to invest in expanding its research capabilities to continue to support the ever-changing industry's progress.


Skretting's R&D expansion will focus on two key areas. Recirculation aquaculture systems (RAS) are becoming increasingly popular, not only for salmon, but also other species. Today, companies in all of the world's main production regions are increasingly looking to extend the use of RAS beyond the hatchery and early life stages to cover entire production cycles. Skretting ARC's upgrade to its facility at Lerang in Norway will primarily be focused on the process of recirculation – examining and optimising the whole system while taking into consideration inputs and outputs.


At the same time, another major change taking place across the entire aquaculture industry is the expanding raw material base.


"Things have changed rapidly, from the early days of diets with only fishmeal and fish oil to now where Skretting has achieved full flexibility with regard to fishmeal with our FLX diets. We expect similar results in the near future from our investigations into fish oil alternatives," says Alex Obach, Skretting ARC managing director.


Launched in 2016, Skretting's FLX diets proved that equal health, growth and performance could be achieved using zero fishmeal in carefully formulated feeds, the company states. This work is now being progressed through investigation into additional alternative raw materials.


"Chile has the second largest salmon farming industry in the world. It is also able to use a different set of raw materials in its salmon feeds than Europe does, including land animal proteins. So it makes sense for Skretting to invest in research facilities in this region," Obach says.


The Chilean facility will cover the entire production cycle, and focus on raw materials and challenges that directly affect the local industry, he adds.


In the interest of sharing knowledge and progressing the sector, both facilities will also explore possible collaborations with specialist research centres, universities and other stakeholders.
 

 

 

US$9 MILLION SUPPORT FOR AQUACULTURE RESEARCH

 

Chile allots US$9M for 2017 fishery, aquaculture research projects


Chile will invest this year nearly 6 billion Chilean pesos (US$9.06 million) for its annual sectoral research programme, which includes new 70 research projects, of which 35 are associated with aquaculture and 25 with fisheries, the Office of the Undersecretary of Fishery and Aquaculture (Subpesca) said recently.


The undertaker of the research programme-the Fisheries and Aquaculture Research Fund, or Fipa-highlighted the programme's research projects aimed at national aquaculture, such as "updating its national policy, detecting new areas for its development, a study on animal welfare, organic aquaculture and a review of evolution and prospects of oyster cultivation.".


Luis Carroza, Fipa executive director, said the research will also cover new areas of studies that began last year on small-scale aquaculture and its relationship to management areas.


In fisheries, research projects to be undertaken are related to coastal fish and emblematic benthic resources such as clam, as well as projects oriented to productive development, studies on value added in algal resources, and studies on export-oriented processing plants, among others.


In February, the public bidding process for the first eight research projects under Fipa 2017 began. With a total budget of CLP710 million ($1.072 million), the projects include an update of the National Policy of Aquaculture, studies on crustacean fisheries, studies on algae in the north, a health study in aquaculture, and a historical evaluation of the industrial oyster of the north.

 

 

BOOSTING SOLUTIONS FOR AQUACULUTRE THROUGH PARTNERSHIP


Alltech fosters strategic collaboration between two leading aquaculture feed producers


The outlook for aquaculture, the fastest-growing sector in the feed industry, is strong, according to Alltech.


Yet, challenges loom as aquaculture producers find themselves dealing with pressures on all sides, the company adds. They face a limited supply of fish oil from overfished oceans. Meanwhile, increasing consumer demand for more sustainable seafood is causing ripples in the supply chain.


It is at this pivotal tipping point where a new collaboration is seeking to provide sustainable aquaculture nutrition solutions.


Coppens International, an innovative Dutch aquatic feed and nutrition company that joined Alltech in 2016, will be collaborating with Guabi, a leading fish feed producer in Brazil. Guabi, a 43-year veteran in the animal feed business, entered into a strategic partnership with Alltech earlier this year, and now Alltech is linking the two leading aquaculture feed producers from opposite sides of the ocean together to accelerate solutions for the aquaculture industry.


"The opportunities between Coppens, Guabi and Alltech are exciting," said Paulo Rigolin, strategic director for Alltech. "You have leaders in two different regions -- Latin America and Europe -- combining technology and expertise from more than 20 years of working in aquaculture. This strength is underpinned by Alltech, a leader in numerous agricultural sectors, including aquaculture."


Guabi and Coppens have already begun discussing new opportunities, and it is expected that algae technology will be a significant focus.


"It's a great opportunity to further apply new technologies to maximise performance for aquaculture species, but more importantly to bring profitability to producers and the highest quality products to consumers," Rigolin commented.


Guabi has a particular expertise in extruded feeds and unique solutions for a wide variety of aquaculture species, from shrimp to native South America freshwater fish. In addition to a range of feeds incorporating Alltech's sustainable alternatives to fish oil and inorganic trace minerals, Coppens specialises in nutrition for recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) and recently announced a major US$1 million expansion of their research center in the Netherlands.


"The new Coppens Research Centre will enable us to do more relevant studies and, more importantly, work with more species than previously whilst also providing a training centre for our staff around the world and customers alike," said Anno Galema, managing director for Coppens.


Coppens and Guabi will share information on formulations, manufacturing techniques, and raw material and ingredient utilisation.


"These are two leading companies in aquaculture feeds, each with unique local expertise," said Patrick Charlton, CEO of Coppens. "We are very optimistic about what we might deliver to our customers through a collaborative approach to the pressing issues aquaculture faces."


According to the 2017 Alltech Global Feed Survey, the aquaculture industry experienced a 12% increase in feed production in 2016, reaching 39.9 million tonnes.


"We have seen aquaculture as key to our global growth for many years now, and the work with Coppens and Guabi allows us to be able to provide our customers with feeds incorporating the Alltech technologies that we believe are most critical to improving health and performance," said Dr. Pearse Lyons, president and founder of Alltech. "Through these relationships and our shared commitment to innovative research, we believe we are well-equipped to provide our customers with a level of support and expertise that is unrivaled in our industry."


This expertise is reinforced through a series of research alliances with several universities and a research institute, all of which have focused on examining the impact of Alltech's algae solutions in a variety of species. These partnerships include: Alltech-Kochi University Research Alliance (Japan) in Japanese yellowtail; Alltech-Ocean University of China Research Alliance (China) in turbot and shrimp; Alltech-Federal University of Santa Catarina Research Alliance (Brazil) in tilapia; Alltech-Kentucky State University Research Alliance (U.S.) in largemouth bass and shrimp; and Alltech-Nofima Research Alliance (Norway) in Atlantic salmon.


The research alliances' findings to date have observed that Alltech's All-G Rich™ could replace fish oil in the diets of marine, freshwater and salmonid species while maintaining performance and DHA levels in the fillet.


According to Dr. Lyons, the aquaculture industry should expect a long-term commitment from Alltech.


"We are already looking to add one or two more complementary partners to our aquaculture program," said Dr. Lyons.

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