A major objective of the Progressus Agri Schools programs is to support the ability of still-developing countries in Asia by providing the knowledge and technologies to increase their supply of healthy poultry, eggs, livestock, and fish.
The Progressus Aqua Nutrition in-person training program has the goal of assisting sustainable development and expansion of aquaculture in countries with limited access to knowledge about fish nutrition and hence successful aquafeed production.
Notably, the FAO has reported that more than 50% of seafood consumed worldwide is now coming from aquaculture. Hence, aquaculture has become an important activity for food security and sustainability almost everywhere in the world.
Large-scale commercial aquaculture of rainbow trout and channel catfish in America, and salmon in America and Europe, was only able to start in the 1960’s and 1970’s when researchers began to study the nutritional requirements of fish. That this knowledge led to the development of commercial aquaculture feeds shows the importance of aquaculture nutrition.
Similarly, expansion of black tiger prawn farming across Asia was only possible after shrimp nutrition research commenced in Japan and Taiwan at about the same time.
The 2025 Aqua Nutrition Agri School will provide participants from Asian feed companies and other related businesses a basic understanding of the fundamentals of aquatic animal nutrition and aquafeeds, with a focus on Asian species such as tilapia, catfish, Pangasius, marine shrimp, and Asian seabass.
In addition to providing such important knowledge to support aquaculture nutritionists and others, multiple Q&A sessions and several hands-on sessions are offered:
- 🐟 Beginning aquaculture feed formulators learn about feed formulation software and how to prepare feed formulas for their own fish and shrimp species of interest.
- 🐟 Using the right tools for inspections of commercial fish and shrimp feeds to determine applicable physical pellet quality requirements.
- 🐟 Inspections of samples of common Asian feed ingredients.
The instructors for the 2025 Aqua Nutrition Agri School include:
- 🦐 Dr Thomas Wilson, a well-known fish nutrition expert in Thailand who has practical knowledge and expertise from 30+ years in aquatic feed production in the Thai feed industry. Dr Wilson has been involved with the Aqua Nutrition Agri School since the beginning in 2015.
- 🦐 Dr Daranee Seguin, who worked for a shrimp feed company as a shrimp nutritionist and formulator for many years, is the owner of a small innovative shrimp farm in Eastern Thailand, and shares her knowledge and experiences.
- 🦐 Dr Noratat Prachom, currently an assistant professor (aquaculture nutrition) at the Faculty of Fisheries, Kasetsart University, has also worked in the Thai shrimp feed industry.
The course will be held from July 15-18, 2025, at Four Points by Sheraton, Bangkok, Thailand. For more information or to register, contact +66 61 393 5776 or visit www.progressus.asia