Demonstrating Dutch sustainable aquaculture solutions in Tanzania

• Region: Tanzania
• Sector: Aquaculture
• Duration: 2018-2022
• 5 Project partners
• Public-private partnership co-financed by the Dutch government

Key Achievements

• Showcased sustainable aquaculture solutions through a real-life fish farm.
• Demonstrated the effectiveness of recirculation technology in East Africa.
• Highlighted the importance of integrated solutions for successful fish farming.
• Increased awareness and interest in fish farming in Tanzania.
• Established a functioning model for future growth and development.

FoodTechAfrica Tanzania: Unlocking Sustainable Aquaculture Potential

The Tanzanian aquaculture sector has great potential. The market demand for fish has long been substantial, yet never met by local supply. This presented both a challenge to food security but also a business opportunity for fish farming. Larive International gathered a group of companies to showcase fitting solutions.

FoodTechAfrica was built to unlock this potential profitably, combining powerful aquaculture solutions with market requirements. The partnership brought a powerful mix of knowledge, practical skills, and technology to the table, enabling fish farmers to overcome farming constraints and increase the yield of high-quality fingerlings and fish.

Objective Achieved

FoodTechAfrica demonstrated aquaculture solutions on a real-life demonstration fish farm in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The recirculation-based technology was specifically developed for the East African aquaculture sector. Its closed and compact design offered full control of the culture environment, enabled production in urban areas and efficient use of inputs such as feed and water.

The solution was demonstrated in Tanzania from 2019 onwards and aimed to inspire entrepreneurial minds to get involved in fish farming. The project emphasized that successful fish farming goes beyond purchasing individual solutions but lies in providing the full package and adopting an integrated approach. The continues to be successfully operated today.

Partnership for Success

FoodTechAfrica Tanzania was a public-private partnership bringing together the skillset of multiple partners:

• Fishion
• Larive International (coordinator)
• Lattice Consulting
• Til Aqua
• Viqon

Through their collective efforts, the partnership successfully demonstrated sustainable and efficient aquaculture solutions in Tanzania, paving the way for future growth and development in the sector.

This Partnership contributes to the following SDGs:

SDG 8 – Decent work and economic growth.
By showcasing profitable, real-life aquaculture solutions, stimulating entrepreneurship in fish farming, and building a model for sector growth, the partnership strengthens a new productive sector in Tanzania in line with SDG 8’s focus on higher productivity, decent job creation and private-sector–driven growth. Demonstrating integrated technological solutions that enable viable fish farms reflects SDG 8 targets on development-oriented policies and value-adding activities in developing countries.

SDG 9 – Industry, innovation and infrastructure.
The project demonstrates recirculation-based aquaculture technology specifically developed for East Africa, using a compact, closed system that enables controlled production in urban areas with efficient use of feed and water. SDG 9 seeks to build resilient infrastructure, promote sustainable industrialization and foster innovation, matching the introduction of advanced aquaculture systems and an integrated, technology-based farm model.