On December 8, Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken presented the 2021 Award for Corporate Excellence (ACE) in the Climate Innovation category to Australis Aquaculture, an American company that has pioneered climate-smart ocean farming in the marine tropics of central Vietnam. Based in Khanh Hoa Province, Australis is also developing technology to cultivate a seaweed species with the potential to eliminate methane emissions from cattle when included in their diet.
“The combination of ocean overfishing and climate change poses accelerating risks to our global food supply and to marine economies around the world,†said Chargé d’Affaires, a.i. Marie C. Damour at the December 8 virtual ceremony. “Through its innovative approach to fish farming and processing, Australis has developed a new model for large scale ocean aquaculture that creates economic benefits for workers and coastal communities, enhances global food security, protects wild fisheries, and builds climate resilience.â€
“It is truly an honor to accept this award on behalf of Australis Aquaculture, and we are tremendously proud to have our efforts to bring a new model of sustainable aquaculture to the marine tropics recognized by the U.S. Government,†said Josh Goldman, CEO of Australis Aquaculture. “We also wish to express our deep appreciation to the Government of Vietnam and Khanh Hoa Province for their abiding support of our vision for climate-smart aquaculture.â€
The Secretary of State’s annual ACE award recognizes and honors U.S. companies that uphold high standards as responsible members of their communities. Established in 1999, the award highlights the ways in which U.S. companies represent American values in how they do business, in line with international best practices.
In May, Australis Aquaculture announced that it has achieved Fair Trade Certification™ and will commit 100% of its Barramundi sales to the program. The company is the world’s first Barramundi farmer and Asia’s first aquaculture finfish producer to be Fair Trade Certified. The initiative will support the expansion of Australis’ community-focused programs in Vietnam. On this commitment during a period of rapid growth, Goldman said that Australis began pursuing certification two years ago, and while
the process was delayed by COVID, it was thrilled to launch Fair Trade Certified Barramundi on the heels of a recent ASC Certification. The Fair Trade Certified seal will be carried on all The Better Fish® Barramundi sold in over 6000 retail locations in the US, on company branded foodservice products, as well as on Clean Harvest® Barramundi in international markets beginning this summer.
Australis joins five other companies as the 2021 ACE Award Winners: Purnaa of Nepal and Mastercard India for the Economic Inclusion category, Zipline Ghana and 3M Singapore for the Health Security Category, and Patagonia Argentina for the Climate Innovation Category. 
