Tag investment

Some investors like what they see in aquaculture and its potential to produce wholesome, high-quality food for a growing population. But critical questions must be answered if the industry is to attract the amount of money it needs. 

Investors see the good, bad and ugly aspects of the seafood industry. Experts at the IntraFish Seafood Investors Forum described the headwinds facing the market, like consumer confusion, while offering glimpses into their strategies (hint: patience is a virtue). 

Aquaculture is attractive to investors, but they remain wary of diseases that could stunt projections of massive growth. At the IntraFish Seafood Investors Forum in New York, discussion about the salmon industry and its challenges — antibiotics, genetically modified fish, Chile’s woes, sea lice — revealed both criticism and optimism. 

Dutch investment firm Aqua-Spark has in just two years developed a modest portfolio, but a strategy that is poised for growth and impact across the entire aquaculture value chain, its CEO and co-founder told the Advocate. 

At Fish 2.0, it’s seafood, Silicon Valley style. Aquaculture companies gave their best pitches to investors and two left Palo Alto, Calif., as winners. Founder Monica Jain says the competition highlights a financial gap that must be bridged for the industry to advance. 

A handful of deep-pocketed philanthropic foundations hold tremendous influence on marine conservation organizations and, by extension, the seafood supply chain. At GOAL, a Dutch Sustainable Trade Initiative director will challenge them to engage with the aquaculture industry, not solely fisheries. 

While there are environmental, social and economic benefits from aquaculture facility certification, farms bear most of the costs, at least initially: procedures, equipment and services to achieve compliance. There are risks that new procedures could affect productivity and raise production costs.