Facility will be first of its kind for the production of Atlantic salmon in Singapore.
The British aquaculture genetics company Benchmark Holdings and the fish farming company Singapore RAS have signed a long-term agreement for the delivery of Atlantic salmon roe to a land-based RAS facility in Singapore.
Singapore RAS is in the final stages of financing the first construction phase for a plant with an annual production capacity of 1,000 tonnes of salmon. Further plans are in place for an expansion of the capacity to 3,000 tonnes.
The Singapore company has close connections with Norway and has been working on the plans to realise a land-based facility since January 2020. The project is the first of its kind for the production of Atlantic salmon in the country and has distribution to the domestic market as a goal for the entire production volume.
Benchmark will deliver roe from its facilities in Iceland as soon as the RAS unit in Singapore has put in place a hatchery and a freshwater unit – by 2023 according to plans.
“We will build a RAS unit for Atlantic salmon in Singapore with a strong focus on sustainability and circular economy. Our experiences from similar projects in Northern Europe indicate that we must succeed in this. Our goal is to create a commercially profitable company that can function as a regional centre for knowledge and application of RAS technology in Southeast Asia,” explains Esben Johnsen, CEO of Singapore RAS, in a press release.
“The conclusion of the agreement with Benchmark is in line with our broad commitment with key stakeholders. We have already signed ten MoUs and important agreements with future suppliers and partners,” says Johnsen.
Geir Olav Melingen, Commercial Director of Benchmark Genetics, says that he found this agreement exciting.
“We are very pleased to have signed another delivery agreement with a RAS project in Asia, as we have great faith that this region will be at the forefront of global growth for this segment in the future.”
“The fact that Singapore RAS has a high focus on sustainability, R&D, and the development and implementation of new technology, makes the company a perfect partner for Benchmark,” he concludes.
Singapore RAS was established in 2008, and rebranded and refocused on RAS-based farming in 2020. Most of the first construction phase will be funded.
Founded in 2000, and listed on the London stock exchange, Benchmark develops products that help fish and shrimp to improve their sustainability and profitability by improving yield, quality, and by reducing mortality. The company’s products include high genetic quality ova for salmon, shrimp and tilapia, and breeding, program, specialist feeds for early-stage shrimp and fish; probiotics, biocides and medicines.
