Tilapia producer BioMar and fresh tilapia fillet producer Aquacorporacion Internacional (ACI) on Tuesday announced that they will partner to establish a tilapia feed production facility in Costa Rica.
The factory is expected to start production within the next year and will deliver fish feed to Central and South America. The joint venture will also eventually be central in BioMar efforts to develop new concepts and diets for marine species supporting aquaculture development in Central America.
ACI is the second largest producer of fresh tilapia fillets in the Americas and a major exporter of fresh tilapia to the United States, with an estimated market share of 25 percent.
“One of the main benefits of this important deal is that we will have access to the latest knowledge in nutrition and feed development,” said Carlos Enrique Gonzalez, chairman of ACI. “We will be working with the leading company in starter feeds and with the joint venture factory we can also have the most cost efficient grower diets. On top of this, the joint venture will ensure us complete traceability all through the value chain. This will guarantee the highest possible value of the end product.”
“The Joint Venture is a natural next step in our growth strategy. It offers BioMar an entrance in Central America and an interesting platform for future growth in the Americas and worldwide. Tilapia is one of the most interesting fish species in aquaculture at the moment. It provides a very sustainable way to produce proteins for human consumption. However, it is extremely important to be able to control the quality and food safety aspects, but also to introduce more efficient diets in tilapia production, and these are exactly the points where BioMar can contribute to this joint venture,” added Flipe Ureta, VP of BioMar Americas.
