Aquaculture is the fastest growing food production industry and now accounts for nearly half of the global food fish supply. In Asia, where future fish food is projected to come from, finfish dominates 64% of the total aquaculture production. The sector continues to increase production at 5% per annum. The potential, however, is disadvantaged by rising costs in small scale production systems, lack of controlled environments, cyclic demands, poor marketing and the negative image of Asian finfish. The Third Aquaculture Roundtable Series (TARS 2013) will address current and emerging challenges, as well as opportunities to ensure the economic sustainability of Finfish Aquaculture production in Asia.
"The global nature of the white fish trade also requires that the complex intersection of changing market conditions with production methods address issues such as food safety and quality standards, as well as the evolving aquaculture systems in terms of ecological and genetic risks to the environment," says Dr Zuridah Merican, Editor of Aquaculture Asia Pacific magazine.
She adds, "With the market of central importance to the direction of future development, there is growing momentum to educate and influence market demand to play a more responsible role in shaping future finfish production systems - industrialisation and integrating production, from breeding to farming to market distribution may just be the solution."
This is the premise behind the third Aquaculture Roundtable Series (TARS 2013). To be held in Singapore from August 21-22, 2013, the theme for TARS 2013 is Finfish Aquaculture: Industrialisation and Sustainability with specific emphasis on controlled production and science, rather than empirical production methods.
Following two successful meetings held in Singapore (2011) and Thailand (2012), the annual TARS roundtable format has become one of the industry's foremost opinion-leading aquaculture events in Asia. TARS provides a neutral platform for multiple stakeholders to come together to share knowledge and expertise in the different aspects pertaining to the aquaculture industry in Asia, prioritise areas for research and development and formulate strategies in light of current and emerging challenges facing the industry.
A host of international speakers from Asia, Australia, Europe and USA will facilitate the plenary and breakout sessions that are hallmarks of this critical roundtable series. At TARS 2013, They will share updates on developments in monoculture, integration and standardisation of production methodologies, economies of scale, risk management, business models, investment and market opportunities to support the profitability and sustainable farming of finfish aquaculture in Asia.
Breakout Sessions:
The breakout session provides the opportunity for participants from the region to deliberate on challenges, opportunities and priority research area to steer the sector forward. The deliberations will focus on four themes, namely: Breeding and Hatchery Management, Production, Health and Environment, Feeds and Feeding, and Marketing and Certification.
Organized by Aquaculture Asia Pacific and Corporate Media, and supported by the Agri-food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA), TARS 2013 benefits multiple stakeholders from the academia, policymakers, NGOs, integrators, investors, farmers and technical staff, feed suppliers, ingredient and equipment specialists.
More information on TARS 2013,
Or contact: Zuridah Merican or Irene Gomez.
