In recent years Aller Aqua has grown significantly in the African markets and now has factories in both Egypt and Zambia, as well as subsidiaries in Kenya, Ghana and Nigeria. They distribute feeds to Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, Senegal, Benin, Cameroon, Angola, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda and Madagascar.
“It is important for us to continue to have a positive impact on aquaculture globally. Aquaculture is experiencing significant growth, particularly in Africa, and it is vital to support initiatives which help ensure that growth of aquaculture is facilitated all over Africa. This is done through research as well as sharing knowledge. Besides our own activities, we can help achieve this through our support of the WAS African Chapter and their efforts. I am pleased that the WAS have chosen to focus on aquaculture in Africa and through the African Chapter recognize the large diversity on the continent. We experience it when meeting with customers from the various African countries,” Niels Lundgaard, Aller Aqua’s commercial director for Africa, explains.
CEO of Aller Aqua Egypt, Hussien Mansour, is also positive about the cooperation, saying: “It is good to see the focus African aquaculture is experiencing. We see the growth first hand when talking to customers and we experience a great interest in our feeds. This has enabled us to double our production facilities. The African Chapter of the WAS will increase focus and capabilities within the sector, as well as ensure further spread of an environmentally friendly method of producing protein for our growing population.”
In 2017 Aller Aqua inaugurated it’s second factory on the African continent, namely Aller Aqua Zambia. Lewis Ngwenya, CEO of Aller Aqua Zambia is happy about the cooperation with WAS and the upstart of an African Chapter: “I truly believe that the African chapter will make a positive difference for increased knowledge and research in aquaculture in Africa. We see many fish farmers who are eager to increase their businesses and thereby make a positive contribution to the local society as well as their own earnings. We have therefore created a learning center by our factory, as well as a research module. At the same time, we have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with WorldFish. Our companies will cooperate to strengthen the aquaculture sector through R&D to create increased benefits for resource-poor parties in the value chain. The upstart of and cooperation with the WAS African Chapter will add to the good work already carried out.”
Maria Celia Portella, president of the World Aquaculture Society, added:“It is with great pleasure and excitement that we announce that on November 7, 2018, all requirements for formation of the African Chapter, WAS were completed and the WAS Board voted the African Chapter into official status. This result follows much hard work by many people and organizations after the African Chapter concept developed initial momentum during World Aquaculture 2017 in Cape Town, South Africa.
"The African Chapter will quickly develop its official organization structure and begin to operate throughout the whole of the African continent. The initial operation will be guided by the interim Board of Directors:
- The Interim Board President is Dr Sherif Sadek from Egypt
- Dr John Walakira from Uganda is the Interim President Elect
- Dr Flower Msuya from Tanzania is the Interim Treasurer
- Zukiswa Nkhereanye is the Interim Secretary.
- Blessing Mapfumo is the AC Secretariat.
"A very import part of the future success of the African Chapter is the belief and support of Aller Aqua for the African Chapter. Aller Aqua has agreed to support the African Chapter, World Aquaculture Society (WAS) as a founding gold sponsor, thereby contributing to the activities of the Chapter and Society, and specifically to the development of its World Aquaculture activities in the African region for a period of three years. Aller Aqua will sponsor the Chapter activities as well as future workshops and meetings.
"The African Chapter has begun participating in other African aquaculture events and will begin planning workshops and meetings organized by the African Chapter. The African Chapter will do whatever it can to promote the growth of aquaculture in Africa!"
