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Blue Aqua
Blue Aqua owns and integrates every step of the aquaculture ecosystem and implement environment-conscious practices across its businesses. The foremost priority is to feed the future safely and sustainably. Blue Aqua believes in the power of food to change the world and takes on this challenge by providing real, tangible solutions to combat global food insecurity.
This mission is supported and scaled by five Blue Aqua business units and a Centre of Excellence for the shrimp industry. This includes innovations in farm care, feed and nutrition, farming, fishmeal replacement and food supply. With Singapore’s ‘30 by 30’ food security goal in mind, Blue Aqua is committed to home in on super-intensive and sustainable technologies to produce more with less.
The group currently runs a multi-species shrimp farm and hatchery in Singapore, supplying fresh shrimp daily to major grocery chains across the country. Since 2009, Blue Aqua has built a strong track record in sustainable urban farming, with a presence in 14 countries. To further contribute to Singapore’s vision for food security, it has developed an integrated business model across the aquaculture supply chain.
Blue Aqua’s super-intensive shrimp farm in Neo Tiew, Singapore. Blue Aqua’s approach is rooted in research, entrepreneurship and community development. It works closely with farmers, scientists, and customers to build better solutions that shape the future of food.
Innovation is driven through the group’s foundation of a patented culture method and three levers of technology. • MixotrophicTM System - a patented methodology for sustainable intensification of aquaculture • Super-intensive urban farming techniques • Utilisation of AI and blockchain technology • Sustainable protein for fishmeal replacement
These levers enable the group to achieve high yields and quality produce, reduce the environmental footprint and in addition, create a circular economy by completing a closed-loop aquaculture ecosystem. Blue Aqua recognises the need to collaborate to positively to change the future. Through Doctor ShrimpTM it shares knowledge and practical learning opportunities and builds a team of futurists to grow the industry, whether they choose a career with Blue Aqua or beyond. “Only by joining hands can we create significant change and effectively protect our future,” said Dr Farshad Shishehchian, President and CEO. “We strongly believe that how we grow our food is how we grow our future. Given our global influence, we have an important role to play and made it our goal to champion sustainability efforts across the global food supply chain.”
Blue Aqua’s sustainability efforts include: • Partnership with VeChain to improve supply chain traceability with the integration of blockchain technology for food security, safety and quality • A patented multi-species zero water waste RAS • R&D in alternative protein for fishmeal replacement for aquafeed • Green energy utilisation with solar across our inland farming operations • Doctor Shrimp Academy – for skills transfer of sustainable and effective farming methods in support of the aquaculture industry globally
The group’s farming arm is also developing a smart farm capable of producing 3,000 tonnes of rainbow trout annually in Singapore. A key workaround for Singapore’s land limitation is its access to water as an island nation. Given its geographic advantage, Singapore should integrate seafood farming as a major component of its food supply. The country produces only 5% of its seafood consumption today. The project looks to develop Singapore’s first hightech fish farm to cater to local demand for fresh, sustainable, premium fish daily. Local, sustainable, aquaculture is imperative to decrease reliance on imports and increase Singapore’s food security.
