Lagos, Nigeria-based aquaculture consultancy firm Sejfarms Consult has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the American Soybean Association (ASA).
Under the three-year MoU, the ASA, through its World Initiative for Soy in Human Health (WISHH) program, will support Sejfarms in providing Nigerian fish farmers with training on the production and use of high-quality fish feed that contains higher soybean content.
The initiative helps advance broader ASA goals to create increased global demand for the grain, help diversify the main raw materials used in aquafeed production, and open up more export opportunities for U.S. soybean producers.
Sejfarms, through its three subsidiaries – Sejfarms Ventures, Mosnerifoods, and the Agriculture Incubation Innovation and Development Initiative – provides aquaculture training programs and other services, such as aiding in setting up fish farms and hatchery operations.
“This MoU demonstrates that we are strengthening our commitment to encourage the growth of Nigerian aquaculture and create new opportunities for young people to be trained in aquaculture, including high-quality feeds,” Sejfarms Managing Director Sejiro Michael Oke-Tojinu said.
According to Chris Bielecki, a counselor for agricultural affairs under the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service, the expanded partnership between Sejfarms and the ASA will further strengthen the commercial and investment linkage between the U.S. and Nigeria by “fostering innovation and promoting best practices.”
"The U.S. soy industry is helping to build a resilient agricultural sector in Nigeria, ensuring long-term food security and economic stability,” Bielecki said.
Shifting to increased use of soybean as a key raw material in fish feed production would ease the pressure on maize supply, which is a top field crop in Nigeria but has experienced declines in production due to civil conflict in producer areas.
It would also help ease the cost and widen the availability of feed for aquaculture farmers, which has been a growing issue in Nigeria and other parts of Africa.
The U.S. soybean and larger grain industries have attempted to court several global aquaculture sectors as possible partners, including China, Morocco, and more.
The U.S. Grains Council (USGC) in particular announced plans last year to seek partnerships across the African continent.
“The council is already planning more programs targeting the aquaculture sector in Africa, as we all see the massive potential in this market – both in improving the lives of local producers and consumers and in developing a new, diversified market for U.S. agricultural exports,” USGC Regional Deputy Director for Africa Mohamed Salah Bouthour said.
