Tilapia production in Colombia has doubled in volume over the last decade and it is now one of the main exporter countries of tilapia to the US. This Strategic Partnership project, funded by NORAD (Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation) and PHARMAQ part of Zoetis recognizes the importance of adoption of best aquaculture and fish health management practices are important for continued sustainable growth, together with the wider societal and economic benefits of a profitable and productive aquaculture sector. The project was led by Caritas Norway and involved key partners from the private sector, PHARMAQ AS, Zoetis Colombia, the Colombian-Norwegian Chamber of Commerce, and Piscícola Botero, one of the largest Colombian producers and exporters of tilapia.
The overall aim of the project was to increase productivity, profitability, and sustainability in the tilapia value chain in the regions of Huila and Caquetá, by using a combination training in fish health management and fish vaccination; disease surveillance, promotion of environmental sustainability and the formalization of businesses; and the stimulation of business alliances between producers and buyers at local, national and international level.
The project provided a framework for partners to cooperate and deliver agreed project outcomes, which included delivery of theoretical and practical training in fish health management, the first use of vaccines on 7 tilapia farms in Huila, and the execution of a disease surveillance program. These outcomes and some of the wider benefits of the project will be discussed.
The Strategic Partnership model proved to be effective at encouraging collaboration between private enterprises and public/non-commercial organizations, enabling participants to share knowledge, experiences, know-how, and expertise. The project outcomes provided measurable contributions to several of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals SDGs. The project demonstrated that the Colombian tilapia farming industry is very open to improving in fish health management, including adoption of vaccination to prevent and control diseases. There was an obvious appetite for more technology and implementation of better routines in fish farms to further improve the productivity and sustainability of the tilapia production in Colombia.