UK-based Ocean 14 Capital has invested €10 million to finance the entirety of a leading producer of sustainable tilapia in Brazil.
The investment will allow Tilabras to undertake its growth plan - to expand production, continue its vertical integration and increase employment.
“Wild fish catches have been stagnant for nearly twenty years, despite huge growth in fishing efforts and technology. So the only way demand for fish can be met without stripping the seas is to scale sustainable aquaculture production methods,” said Chris Gorell Barnes, founding partner of Ocean 14 Capital.
“Our partnership with Tilabras focuses on enabling this transition to large scale, low impact fish farming, harnessing the best of modern technology. Tilapia is set to grow to a US$9.2 billion industry by 2027 - it really is the future in terms of how we can feed the world.”
Sure investment
Tilapia farmed inland in high carrying capacity man-made sites is seen as one of the most sustainable alternative to whitefish caught from the ocean.
Brazilian producer Tilabras responsibly farms Tilapia, offering a low impact alternative to other forms of wild caught marine white fish
A family owned company, Tilabras has developed a planet friendly model for farming Tilapia by focusing on its local impact and sustainable feeds.
Tilabras’ location and production model, allows the fish to be fed on a fully sustainable, vegan diet, while minimising the CO2 footprint.
Nicolas Landolt, founder, Tilabras, said: “Ocean 14 Capital’s expertise, knowledge, and the fund’s ability to execute will help us enhance growth while improving resource efficiency. The period ahead of us is one of great expansion and development and we must do so with an ever-stronger commitment to sustainability.”
First launched in December 2021, the Ocean 14 Capital impact investment fund has already made three investments this year.
SyAqua, a shrimp breeding technology specialist was among the first beneficiaries of the fund along with AION, a Norwegian plastic management platform that uses proprietary technology to offer ‘Circularity As A Service’ to large-scale industries and MITO, a clam hatchery and breeding Italian company.
This month, the Ocean 14 Capital fund received a commitment for €10 million from the Constitutional Reserve Fund of Monaco to support its mission of funding sustainable solutions to improve ocean health.
