GenoMar Genetics is teaming up with Agroavícola Sanmarino, a Colombian poultry genetics distribution company belonging to the Italcol group, to establish a new company, GenoMar Genetics Columbia.
The joint venture, which has already secured a quarantine and parent stock farm, will distribute tilapia fingerlings and juveniles from a bio-secured land-based facility in Colombia’s Huila province.
The first tilapia fingerlings are expected to market in Q4 2022. “This is an important milestone in our expansion strategy,” said Alejandro Tola Alvarez, chief executive of GenoMar Genetics Group.
Colombia is one of the largest tilapia producers in Latin America. “Both companies have worked hard and patiently over several years with the vision of bringing genetic innovations and supply security to the Colombian tilapia industry,” said Alejandro Tola Alvarez.
The turning point came earlier in the year, when GenoMar got export authorisations for their genetic material from Instituto Colombiano Agropecuario.
Under the agreement, GenoMar will supply the entire parent stock requirement from its breeding operations in Asia and/or Brazil alongside support in the day-to-day management of production and distribution.
Sanmarino/Italcol will play an important role in supporting the commercialisation and data collection of the tilapia performance. “We have no doubt that tilapia will follow a similar path as poultry, where genetics innovation and distribution, carried out by highly specialized companies are transforming the industry year by year,” said German Galvis, managing director in Agrovícola Sanmarino.
