On an inspiring second day at GSF 2024, much of the content focused, in various ways, about the continuous transition in the industry from an art to a science. That is to say, how we can harness technology, data and insights to deliver the best results all the way through the value chain.
The Global Shrimp Forum Staple
The day began with a shrimp forum staple: the latest and most detailed import and export statistics from across the industry, expertly compiled and presented by Willem van der Pijl.
We can’t give you all the details (yet), but the data isn’t very surprising. The market is generally low, whether you look at exports or imports. However, we remain cautiously optimistic and are considering possible solutions.
Nate Torch, co-president of CenSea, said, “We need to find a way to increase shrimp consumption around the world,†which is one of the main topics being discussed at the Forum this year.
Travis Larkin, CEO of Seafood Exchange, even suggested that we tell the younger generation they don’t need a kilo of chicken to build muscle—they can get it from a much smaller amount of shrimp. We couldn’t tell if he was serious, but he did have a point.
Shrimp-Feed: A Changing Landscape
Across two sessions led by GSF board member Esther Luiten—paired with the engaging Ronnie Tan—we heard from esteemed speakers on the current and future state of shrimp feed. Starting with Carlos Mera of Rabobank and Helene Ziv-Douki from Cargill, we covered everything from the dangers of ‘Cereal Killers’ to the exciting possibilities of precise nutrition for shrimp-feed, before a fascinating session on the future of insect proteins in shrimp feed formulations highlighted two success stories, Entobel and Protix, to share their stories with our delegates, before a lively panel discussion which also welcomed representatives from Cargill, Albert Heijn, Hatch and International Finance Corporation onto the stage. As our understanding of the holistic benefits of insect protein increase through more in-depth studies and data, the opportunities for adoption of this still comparatively new protein source will surely grow, and it was great to hear perspectives from across the value chain, including from companies at the cutting edge of development in insect proteins.
Later during the day, Esther paired for an electrifying session with the charismatic Anton Immink. The “Shrimp x Tech” event featured three tech providers—Minnowtech, GalaxEye, and Kontali Shrimp—competing against four potential adopters: Devi Sea Foods, Skretting, MER Seafood, and The Fishin’ Company.
What remained of the tech providers after questioning by the “sharks” was then passed to the audience, who, after further questioning, selected the most persuasive pitch.
Driving Consumption: Chicken or Egg?
Before we tackle the question that has intrigued humanity since the dawn of time, let’s discuss two markets you’re all eager to learn about: China and India.
There has been considerable discussion about China in the context of shrimp consumption. As one of only two countries with a population exceeding 1 billion people and a very extensive coastline, China is a significant market for shrimp, though its potential has not yet been fully realised.
We started the “Deep Dive into China’s Shrimp Production and Global Farming Perspectives†session with a truly eye-opening presentation on the market by Luca Micciche. If you enjoyed Guo Fuci’s presentation last year, you’ll find Micciche’s insights equally compelling. While we won’t delve into the details here, it’s noteworthy that shrimp accounts for only 5% of seafood consumption in China.
The farming landscape is particularly interesting. Although high-tech methods offer producers bragging rights, as Robins MacIntosh pointed out, they are unlikely to become the dominant farming method. Small greenhouses, on the other hand, are becoming more prevalent, even if their emergence has slowed. These greenhouses provide excellent biosecurity and flexibility—a small (20 by 9 metre) pond allows for the flushing out of any pond with a failed harvest without jeopardising the entire production, said Guo
On the topic of flushing out, MacIntosh mentioned that the government is particularly strict regarding effluents, more so than in other countries.
Increasing local consumption may be challenging. According to Micciche, shrimp is neither considered a luxury food nor a staple. MacIntosh suggests that in China, we should consider two distinct markets: that of frozen shrimp and that of live shrimp.
Though our focus was on China, we gained incredible insights into several predominantly shrimp-producing Asian markets from a subsequent panel.
Rizky Darmawan explained that Indonesia’s shrimp industry is aging, and it is crucial for the younger generation step in. These young people need to learn from the mistakes of their predecessors. Even with the current low market conditions, success is still possible with good practices.
Similarly, Loc Tran noted that smallholders in Vietnam are facing challenges, but the younger generation—of which he considers himself a part—are beginning to approach shrimp farming as a business. He believes this shift will lead to improvements in the next 2-3 years.
In contrast, Bala expressed a desire for production to decrease, as this would lead to better prices for farmers. He remains optimistic, stating, “When the tide rises, we have to be there.â€
India has potential not only for shrimp production but also for consumption. Despite a large vegetarian population and low annual per capita consumption, India remains a significant potential market for shrimp due to its vast population, as explained by Aditya Dash, the moderator of this session.
Shan Kadavil noted that in India, seafood is more prominent than poultry. The combined fish and meat market in India is only slightly smaller than the Hollywood industry. However, shrimp consumption remains very low. Unlike in the USA, where 60-70% of shrimp is sold through organised retail and 14-15% online, in India, 98% of shrimp is sold in wet markets. Kadavil believes that, partly due to the young population in India, the market may bypass traditional large formats and leap directly to quick commerce platforms like Fresh to Home.
Interestingly, despite the incredibly long coastline, Manoj Sharma pointed out that if you go just 5 km inland, shrimp is relatively unknown. Known for his dedication to the industry and his promotion of shrimp, Dr Sharma successfully operates Zhingalala Restaurants in Gujarat, a predominantly vegetarian state. Dash joked that Dr Sharma won the Indian version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire and immediately reinvested all the prize money into shrimp.
To increase local shrimp consumption, Bala said, “There’s only so much one Shan can do. We need thousands of Shans. We need thousands of Manojes.â€
With shrimp available year-round, Shan pointed out that the main challenge in increasing local consumption appears to be low awareness. Young people can afford shrimp.
Perhaps there are lessons to be learned from Fisher Farms, which operates in the Philippines. Ms Imelda Madarang shared her success story, detailing how the company earned the highest international accolades for its value-added products and won the hearts of local consumers.
Back to the question from the title: chicken or egg? Why choose when you can have both? That’s exactly what we experienced in one of our final sessions of the day. In the session on “Lessons Learned from Other Food Producers,†the fantastic Maisie Ganzler presented a case study on turning a crisis into an opportunity within the US chicken industry. Meanwhile, the brilliant Katherine Bryar shared an equally inspiring example from her experience marketing eggs to Australians. These presentations were particularly relevant as the Global Shrimp Council prepares to launch its first major marketing campaign. It’s clear that there are invaluable lessons to be learned from other food industries about understanding consumer behaviour and needs, and how to market effectively.
Feed Responsibly / Farm with Precision
If we could summarise the two GSF 2024 side events from day 2 in one simple slogan, this would be it: Feed Responsibly / Farm with Precision.
During lunch, ASC explained how their certification is making significant strides in redefining responsible feed practices through a comprehensive approach to assessing the environmental and social risks associated with feed ingredients. Looking ahead, by October 2025, all ASC-certified farms will be required to source their feed from ASC-certified feed mills. This topic was further explored by a panel representing companies across the supply chain, including Albert Heijn, Skretting, and BioMar.
In the evening, Kampi proudly entered the shrimp production supply chain with its innovative value category, Dynamic Precision Farming. They asserted that their approach would transform the way farmers interact with their shrimp, offering next-generation AI solutions that require nothing more than a smartphone with a 5 MP camera.
