FoodTechBangladesh, a Bangladeshi-Dutch aquaculture partnership, has achieved two major milestones with the help of the Dutch government.
On 9 December, the organization and local stakeholders came together for a groundbreaking ceremony with aquaculture firm FishTech in Mymensingh, attended by Dutch First Secretary of Economic Affairs Sara van Hoeve and Senior Policy Officer Haruni Osman.
On 11 December, a new recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) facility officially opened in the city of Kulna. Dutch Ambassador Andre Carstens and First Secretary of Water and Climate Inge Klaasen attended the event.
In his speech at the latter event, Carstens emphasized the Bangladeshi aquaculture sector's important role in ensuring food security for the nation.
Dutch company Viqon designed the facility, which will primarily serve to educate local fish farmers in sustainable production methods.
FoodTechBangladesh, which is led by Dutch B2B firm Larive International and Bangladeshi business consultancy firm LightCastle Partners and co-funded by the Dutch Embassy in Bangladesh, intends to introduce Dutch technologies and innovations into the developing Bangladeshi aquaculture sector through public and private partnerships.
The project has brought together major players in the aquaculture sector both locally and globally, including Bangladeshi seafood processor Gemini Sea Food, Dutch aquaculture farm builder Viqon, Dutch animal feed supplier De Heus, and Dutch aquaculture supplier FishTech, to develop a sustainable aquaculture industry in Bangladesh.
Over 1,800 Bangladeshi fish farmers have received both online and in-person trainings through the work of FoodTechBangladesh.
The organization also holds conferences, sponsors research projects to address challenges, and runs four educational Centers of Excellence in Khulna, Mymensingh, Cox’s Bazar, and Patuakhali.
