Oxford, U.K.-based animal welfare data consultancy firm Food Animal Initiative (FAI) has launched “The Tilapia Hub,” a new platform designed to help tilapia supply chain professionals think about fish welfare when doing business, the company said in a release.
“We are already influencing thousands of tilapia farmers worldwide,” FAI E-Learning and Aquaculture Program Manager Sara Barrento said. “The Tilapia Hub accelerates this progress by translating our global welfare program into a user-friendly digital platform.”
The program is hosted on FAI Academy, the firm’s global learning platform that works with food professionals. It’s available in the six most popular languages amongst tilapia farmers – Portuguese, Spanish, Thai, Vietnamese, Arabic, and English. The app includes multilingual online training, practical welfare assessment tools, and face-to-face learning, and allows specialist tilapia partners and suppliers to share the latest research, innovation, and technology on the Hub.
FAI already launched five online training courses tailored for tilapia by January 2025, but the dedicated application combines all of the information with additional resources as a part of its ongoing Tilapia Welfare Project.
FAI added that tilapia is among the world’s top three farmed species, and the second most produced globally behind carp. By 2030, researchers forecast 9 million metric tons of tilapia will be produced annually. The firm said good welfare practices are linked with improved productivity and a reduction in fish lost, so prioritizing education globally will only help commercial farmers and promote ethical practices.
“Importantly, the Hub not only provides the training and assessment tools producers need but also supports them prepare for certification with leading bodies such as the Aquaculture Stewardship Council and the Global Seafood Alliance,” Barrento said. “This enables companies to gain recognition for their commitment to high welfare standards.”
As commercial farmers and producers use the app, progress is awarded through two different earned “welfare badges,” after completing the FAI Tilapia Welfare Trained Foundation course and successful implementation and independent assessment of welfare outcomes.
“FAI's science-based training and welfare assessments complement our mission to deliver robust and sustainable tilapia genetics,” Brazil-based GenoMar Genetics Fish Health and Quality Solutions Manager Marina Delphino said. “By combining genetics with welfare practices, we are helping farmers achieve stronger performance while upholding standards that benefit both the animals and the industry.”
FAI launched a similar program in January 2026, called “Shrimp Hub,” with the same goals of ethical commercial farming and sustainability in mind. FAI started as a project to improve tilapia farming in Brazil, and has since expanded to a multi-national platform focused on aquaculture operations and animal welfare. In December 2025, the firm said enrollment in welfare courses has increased 50 percent year over year.
