Aker Qrill Company targets stronger foothold in Ecuador as krill gains traction in shrimp farming

ECUADOR – Aker Qrill Company is accelerating its expansion in Ecuador by positioning Antarctic krill as a core ingredient across all phases of shrimp farming, leveraging its performance benefits and rising demand for sustainable feed solutions. 

The company outlined its plans during AQUAEXPO 2025, where it engaged shrimp producers and feed manufacturers to deepen partnerships and highlight new research findings.

The initiative comes as Ecuador’s shrimp sector continues its rapid shift toward more technological and efficient farming systems. 

Aker Qrill Company views Ecuador as a strategic market where krill-based inputs can support the industry’s growing focus on feed efficiency, functional nutrition, and sustainability.

Valentina Tapia, the company’s Vice President of Sales for Norway and Latin America, said Ecuador has already been an important market for more than five years, particularly for starter diets where high nutritional quality is essential. 

“Ecuador is an important market for Aker Qrill Company. We have had clients for more than five years, mainly for starter diets, where nutrition and feed quality are essential. Our ingredient is widely recognised and valued as natural, attractive, and highly palatable,” Tapia explained.

Efficiency, disease resilience, and higher-intensity production

The company argues that krill ingredients are increasingly relevant as Ecuador adopts automatic feeding systems and intensifies production. 

In farms using automated feeders, feed attractiveness is critical to reducing waste and improving feed conversion. 

Krill, known for its strong palatability, is positioned as a reliable attractant compared to options like squid meal or variable byproduct derivatives.

Tapia noted that krill meal provides consistent and controlled quality, a factor that becomes essential as farms move toward higher stocking densities. 

She said, “The intensification of shrimp production, with higher densities and high levels of efficiency, also makes nutritional density and nutrient quality essential, and that’s where krill ingredients fit perfectly.”

Beyond palatability, Aker Qrill Company cited research from other markets showing krill’s functional benefits, including immune support, improved stress tolerance, better osmoregulation, and higher survival rates. 

The company is currently evaluating optimal inclusion levels for grow-out diets to maximise these effects.

At AQUAEXPO, the company presented new results on disease resistance linked to krill inclusion, generating interest among producers seeking to improve farm resilience.

Tapia said the company aims to conduct joint trials in Ecuador to assess cost-benefit outcomes and ensure farmers see direct production advantages.

Sustainability and local engagement

With sustainability targets tightening globally, Aker Qrill Company underscored its alignment with Ecuadorian producers pursuing Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) certification, which requires certified inputs throughout the value chain. The company holds both ASC and Friends of the Sea certifications.

However, Tapia emphasised that the company’s approach goes beyond certification. She highlighted its investments in responsible fishery management, participation in organising regional fishing associations, and long-term support for the Antarctic Wildlife Research Fund. She said sustainability must be industry-wide and “a shared responsibility.”

Although the company acknowledges that growth in Ecuador has been slower than in other regions, it remains committed to expanding its footprint. 

Aker Qrill Company is now hiring a local representative and establishing a distributor network to improve market understanding and provide closer support to Ecuadorian customers.

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