GenoMar ASA, Temasek announce R&D tieup

SINGAPORE – The Norwegian company, GenoMar ASA (GenoMar), one of the world’s leading science companies specializing in aquatic species, has signed a long-term research collaboration with Temasek Lifesciences Laboratory (TLL). The research and development work will be focused on the Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) and Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). They also intend to pursue further long-term joint R&D on other fish with high economic potentials in the near future.

Nile tilapia, a herbivorous species, does not compete for scarce marine resources for feed. It is easy to grow in safe sustainable eco-friendly systems. For these reasons, the Nile tilapia is the world’s fastest growing fish farming industry with an annual growth exceeding 20 percent. Due to its mild taste and firm texture, the tilapia fish has become the second most preferred fish in the USA with an annual growth rate exceeding 40 percent over the last four years. It has been dubbed the aquatic chicken. Last year, world tilapia production exceeded two million tons.

The president and founder of GenoMar, Prof. Oystein Lie, said "GenoMar believes that a long term collaboration with Asia’s leading life science company will secure GenoMar access to the latest state-of-the-art life science technology. Furthermore, we believe that TLL will be a front-runner in life sciences and together we want to set the agenda for sustainable aquaculture and food safety."

TLL will participate with GenoMar in a QTL mapping project on their tilapia broodstock. In addition, TLL will also assist GenoMar with genotyping to augment their partnership with salmon breeding operations. According to Dr. Jose Natividad, vice-president and CEO of GenoMar Supreme Philippines (a subsidiary of GenoMar), "this collaboration between GenoMar ASA and Temasek Lifesciences Laboratory will accelerate the company’s tilapia breeding research projects, specially the development of the salt tolerant tilapia and its continuing tilapia genetics improvement program. Ultimately, this collaboration will benefit the Filipino tilapia farmers in increasing their production and profitability."