Singapore launches aquafeed innovation centre to boost sustainable aquaculture production

SINGAPORE – Singapore has announced the establishment of a new aquafeed research and development hub aimed at improving nutrition for tropical marine species, reducing production costs for fish farmers and strengthening sustainable aquaculture across Asia.

The Feed and Feed Ingredient Technology Centre (F2TC), unveiled during the World Aquaculture Singapore 2026 conference, is a joint initiative between the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) and the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT).

The centre is expected to become operational in 2027 and will focus on developing and commercialising advanced feed solutions for species including barramundi, red snapper and shrimp.

The facility will serve as a one-stop platform for testing, piloting and scaling feed innovations, helping bridge the gap between laboratory research and commercial feed production.

“Singapore’s food resilience efforts will require strong academia and industry partnerships to enable translational innovation,” said Chua Kee Chaing, President of SIT.

“By bringing together expertise in feed engineering, digital technologies and aquaculture nutrition, F2TC will strengthen Singapore’s capabilities in sustainable aquaculture and support the development of climate-resilient food systems for the region.”

The initiative comes as aquaculture producers seek ways to improve productivity while operating under increasing environmental, resource and land constraints.

According to Singapore authorities, Asia accounts for approximately 90% of global aquaculture production, making the region central to efforts to improve feed efficiency and farm sustainability.

Speaking at the event, Senior Minister of State for Sustainability and the Environment Dr Janil Puthucheary said future growth in aquaculture would increasingly depend on productivity gains driven by improved inputs.

“This would enable us to produce more with less within tighter land, resource and environmental constraints,” he said.

“High-yield, input-driven productivity is therefore central to building an aquaculture sector that is resilient and ready for the challenges ahead.”

F2TC will conduct research on feed formulation, ingredient evaluation, digestibility and feed efficacy.

Areas of interest include alternative protein sources, such as insect-based and single-cell proteins derived from waste streams, as well as functional feed additives, such as probiotics, that can improve fish health and survival rates.

The centre will also leverage artificial intelligence and digital technologies to better understand fish feeding behaviour and optimise feed performance.

According to SIT Assistant Professor Howard Tang, who leads the initiative, improved feed formulations could help farmers lower operating costs by increasing feed efficiency and reducing the amount of feed required to achieve target growth rates.

Feed is typically the largest operating expense in aquaculture production, accounting for more than 60% of total farming costs.

To accelerate industry adoption, the centre will initially collaborate with Clextral and INVE, combining research expertise with commercial application capabilities.

F2TC also plans to work with local farms and academic institutions on at least 10 projects over the next five years.

Alongside the launch of the centre, Singapore announced an additional US$6.3 million in funding for the AquaPolis Programme, bringing total investment in the marine aquaculture research initiative to nearly US$25 million.

The new funding will support improvements in marine tilapia production through selective breeding programmes focused on faster growth, enhanced disease resistance, and improved tolerance to saline environments.

It will also support the development of genetic traceability tools to authenticate fish marketed under The Straits Fish brand, Singapore’s collective label for locally farmed marine tilapia.

The investment reflects Singapore’s broader strategy of using technology, nutrition and genetics to strengthen aquaculture productivity while improving food security and sustainability across the region.

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