As the organisers point out: “Shrimp aquaculture continues to be challenged by low prices, due to oversupply, while constant disease outbreaks lower survival rates and productivity. Inflation pressures and rising input costs reduce margins. Prices are not expected to rise in the near future. Our Asian model is no longer tenable nor economically sustainable. Gone are the days when farming mistakes could still yield good margins.”
TARS 2025 serves as the platform for industry stakeholders to come together to explore new options and chart a new path for long-term economic sustainability, that is based on precision farming for higher productivity, leading to better profitability.
Zuridah Merican, editor of Aqua Culture Asia Pacific and chair of TARS 2025, said in a press release: “TARS 2025 will be the most important in the recent history of shrimp aquaculture in Asia because the industry has reached a fork in the road. Supply has exceeded demand, and prices have fallen below the breakeven point in many countries. Cost of production will continue to creep upwards. We need unity and reflection among stakeholders, because the current state of the industry in Asia is the primary concern of the entire shrimp industry. Without farming, there cannot be any ancillary business and the whole value chain will shut down.
The startup sector has mainly focused on real-time monitoring, alternative feed ingredients, feeding technology and simplifying the marketplace but very few have looked for a new farming model. Our call to startups in shrimp farming is that when there are challenges, there are opportunities.”
The format for TARS has been evolving to suit the needs of industry and provide a more interactive experience. TARS 2025 will present trends and knowledge exchange through technical and panel sessions in the following areas:
- State of Supply and Demand
- Precision Farming and Gap Analyses
- A New Model and Building Sustainable Asian Shrimp
- Disease Mitigation for Higher Productivity
- Technology and Innovations
- Marketing, Branding and Sustainability
- Future-Proofing with the Next Generation
Interactive breakout sessions
This year's breakout sessions will dive into Future Proofing: Precision Shrimp Aquaculture and the New Deal. There will be three groups: Genetics, Hatchery & Farming (GHF); Nutrition, Feeds & Feeding (NFF); Processing, Marketing & Branding (PMB).
