IDH seeks to replicate an approach that analyzes pathogen in relation with host and environment and uses those data to formulate mitigating actions. Flavio Corsin, Director Aquaculture at IDH: ‘It is basically epidemiology. When you know what causes diseases and how diseases spread in a fish population, you can also take preventive measurements. It is been often applied in human medicine land-based systems, and has now also proven its value in salmon farming. From the analyzed data they developed a regulatory framework to improve biosecurity, inform on risk factors, and model disease spread to evaluate and improve disease control measures. IDH want to integrate this approach also in tropical aquaculture.’ IDH will set up projects with producers and aquatic epidemiological institutes including the Norwegian Veterinary Institute, the University of Prince Edwards Island, Stirling University, and the University of Zaragoza. IDH is open to have the analysis conducted by others, but those institutes will be scrutinized by IDH before a project starts.
High costs
The costs of diseases, mortality and antibiotics are high in tropical aquaculture. The Early Mortality Syndrome (EMS) outbreaks in shrimp in Asia and Latin America have led to crop failures for several hundred thousand producers, resulting in global price and supply volatility of farmed shrimp. In Tilapia a single disease (streptococcus) is responsible for about one billion US dollar of annual global losses, and Tilapia Lake Virus is affecting production in an increasing number of countries. In pangasius the survival rates vary
enormously, for which explanations like weather and seed quality are generally given, often without concrete evidence. Antibiotic use is still prevalent in large segments of the industry which does not only impact the environment and food safety, but also hampers market access and are very costly.
Call to action
IDH believes these costs can be lowered by collaborating with tropical aquaculture producers and data companies on epidemiological projects. Collaborate with us to invest in healthy aquaculture.
Who can apply
This call for proposal is only open for tilapia, shrimp and pangasius producers and data companies in China, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Ecuador and African countries.
Please contact Aquaculture@Idhtrade.org if you want to apply or if you require more information. This Call for Proposal is open until December 31, 2018.
Disclaimer on data
Individual farm data will only be accessed by the aquatic epidemiological institutes. IDH is only interested in aggregated data and on learning how to make the sector more efficient and on how to tackle diseases in aquaculture.
About IDH
IDH, the Sustainable Trade Initiative drives the joint design of economically viable approaches to realize green & inclusive growth at scale. In 12 agro-commodity sectors and 12 sourcing areas, IDH convenes companies, Civil society organizations, governments and others in public-private partnerships. Providing cofunding and first loss funds, that leverage the interests of businesses and financial institutions, we drive sustainable production and markets from niche to norm. Together we create impact@scale on the Sustainable Development Goals.