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In November 2022, INVE Aquaculture and the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish the INVE-SFA Hatchery Technology Centre at SFA’s Marine Aquaculture Centre (MAC) located on St. John’s Island.

This collaboration brings together SFA’s expertise in tropical marine fish hatcheries and INVE’s advanced knowledge in fish nutrition and health, aiming to set new standards in tropical fish culture by merging Mediterranean and tropical marine fish larvae culture insights. The partnership demonstrates the shared commitment of SFA and INVE for R&D collaboration, and knowledge exchange to level up tropical marine hatchery technology to achieve sustainable aquaculture production in Singapore and the region.

Signing of the MOU in Singapore. From left to right: Mr Lim Kok Thai, then CEO of SFA; Mr Chan Hian Lim, SFA’s Deputy CEO (Corporate, Industry, and Technology); Mr Patrick Waty, CEO of INVE Aquaculture; Mr Peter De Schryver, Director of Strategic R&D Partnerships at INVE.

From left to right: Mr Ong Yihang (SFA), Dr Liew Woei Chang (SFA), Mr Lim Kok Thai (then SFA) and Mr Chan Hian Lim (SFA); Mr Patrick Waty (INVE), Mr Peter De Schryver (INVE) and Mr. Fernando Garcia Abad (INVE)

 

Progress to Date – First Steps

Since the announcement of the collaboration in 2022, the INVE-SFA partnership has made significant advances.

Appointment of Key Personnel: Dr. Young Chul Kim was appointed as INVE’s R&D Trial Manager, stationed at MAC. His role is crucial for linking INVE’s global technical expertise and RD initiatives with SFA’s operational excellence, ensuring daily collaborative progress.

Dr. Young Chul Kim shares his enthusiasm about his pivotal role:

“Being at the forefront of this groundbreaking collaboration is a privilege. Every day, we’re advancing our understanding of the conditions for tropical marine fish culture, paving the way for industry breakthroughs.”

 

Collaboration Workshops: INVE and SFA have hybrid workshops to align on the collaboration’s vision and define the annual work programmes. For 2024, both organisations decided to jointly focus on refining rotifer and Artemia production protocols to enhance live food quality, alongside executing joint trials to improve Asian seabass larviculture.

 

Dr. Young Chul Kim (INVE’s R&D Trial Manager) in a meeting with SFA colleagues, including Dr. Rui A. Gonçalves (Deputy Director of MAC) and Dr. Woei Chang Liew (Assistant Director of MAC).

Dr. Peter De Schryver, Director of Strategic R&D Partnerships, remarked on the progress:

“Our initial focus is on live food under tropical conditions. We have generated valuable data to share with farmers, experts and partners. We are planning our firts local workshop at the Hatchery Technology Centre in July 2024 to set the stage for groundbreaking advancements in the field.”

 

Technical Support Visits: From 11-13 March 2024, MAC hosted a visit for INVE’s technical experts to explore their building complex and Artemia room installation, which are vital for optimizing live food nutrition for early fish life stages. This visit also included a tour at the Aquaculture Centre of Excellence (ACE) Pte Ltd., offering insights into Singapore’s aquaculture industry.

SFA’s Dr Liew (left) giving INVE’s Technical Experts (Francesco Lenzi, Arthur van Amerongen, and Kye Wei Yeo) a tour through SFA’s Marine Aquaculture Centre facilities.

Dr. Olivier Decamp, INVE’s R&D Director, stated:

“The actions described above provide a glimpse into the ongoing efforts resulting from the partnership between INVE and SFA. Through collaboration, dedication, and innovation, we are not just dreaming of a better future for aquaculture. We are actively building it.”

 

Looking Ahead

As we blend Europe’s and Asia’s best practices, our journey into the uncharted territories of aquaculture research continues. The knowledge we aim to generate and the innovations we plan to introduce will undoubtedly influence tropical marine fish larvae culture on a regional and global scale.

Dr. Rui A. Gonçalves, Deputy Director of Aquaculture Department, Urban Food Solutions Division, Head of SFA’s Marine Aquaculture Centre, adds:

“Optimizing Asian seabass larviculture protocols to ensure high survival rates and robust larvae is pivotal for the success of Tropical Marine Aquaculture. The ongoing collaboration between SFA and INVE exemplifies a strategic focus on knowledge creation and transfer, with a clear emphasis on enhancing farmers’ productivity and profitability”

 

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Related news: Singapore Food Agency and INVE Aquaculture sign Memorandum of Understanding to develop SFA-INVE Hatchery Technology Centre

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