Maynard, Massachusetts, U.S.A.-based AquaBounty announced it has hired Chris Beattie to serve as the company’s chief scientific officer starting July 2022.
Beattie has more than 20 years of international experience in aquaculture and the nutrition, health and technology sectors. He will replace current AquaBounty Chief Technology Officer Mark Walton.
Prior to joining AquaBounty, Beattie lead the North American and Australasian business for Akva – an aquaculture technology supplier. Previously, Beattie served as the head of global aquaculture at Merck Animal Health, and according to AquaBounty, was responsible for research and development and global aquaculture strategy at the company. He also led the company's precision aquaculture team, developing computer vision-based machine-learning solutions for aquaculture producers. He began his career at Skretting.
“We are pleased to have Chris join AquaBounty as we continue to build our experience and capabilities. He will bring tremendous insight to the design and construction of our farm in Pioneer, Ohio, and will continue to strengthen our expertise in breeding, genetics and fish health,” AquaBounty CEO Sylvia Wulf said in a release. “Mark Walton, AquaBounty’s current chief technology officer, will be assisting Chris with direct focus on critical regulatory projects for the business as he transitions into retirement. We express our sincere gratitude to Mark for his technical contributions and continued leadership in the regulatory space for the organization.”
AquaBounty recently began construction on its planned land-based salmon farm in the U.S. state of Ohio. It is planning to raise up to 10,000 metric tons of genetically-modified salmon annually at the facility once it is operating at full capacity, and it plans to begin stocking the farm by late 2023.
The company posted higher revenue and expenses in 2021, posting USD 1.2 million (EUR 1.1 million) in revenue and USD 23.3 million (EUR 22.1 million) in expenses. The company only recently began harvesting its genetically engineered AquAdvantage salmon, and recently raised USD 127.1 million (EUR 120.5 million) via an underwritten public offering of common stock in February 2021.
Photo courtesy of AquaBounty
