American Soybean Association, KSU partner to launch aquafeed program in the US

USA – The American Soybean Association’s (ASA) World Initiative for Soy in Human Health in partnership with Kansas State University (KSU) have launched aquafeed program in a bid to increase productivity in aquaculture farms in the United States.

The Commercialization of Aquaculture for Sustainable Trade Cambodia (CAST) program is a five-year project with mandate to connect the private sector and universities with U.S. soybean growers, businesses and academic and non-governmental agencies.

According to the World Grain report, the project, funded by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food for Progress initiative, will provide training to increase productivity in aquaculture farms in six provinces of Cambodia.

The partners will work to enhance increase in the quality and access to resources and markets, as well as promoting policies that will better support aquaculture farmers and their needs.

Speaking during the launch, Veng Sakhon, Cambodian Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries said such kind of initiatives are geared towards promoting economic stability and livelihoods of Cambodians.

According to Lyda Hok, director at the Royal University of Agriculture’s Center of Excellence on Sustainable Agricultural Intensification and Nutrition (CE SAIN), the CAST project will benefit from the expertise of SIIL and its linkages with the center.

“This is a great opportunity to continue to build capacity within the Royal University of Agriculture and strengthen our partnership with Kansas State University and other U.S. institutions,” said Hok.

CAST will be managed through SIIL by associate director Jan Middendorf and research professor Manny Reyes.

“Connecting the CAST partners with SIIL and CE SAIN provides an effective knowledge-sharing platform designed to extend Cambodia’s private-sector network, especially related to feed mills and hatcheries,” said Vara Prasad, University Distinguished Professor and SIIL director.

Ernie Minton, interim dean of the College of Agriculture and interim director of KSU Research and Extension said, promoting food and nutrition security both at home and abroad is important to KSU.

“Anytime the university can participate in improving the lives of farmers and increasing the capacity of the agricultural sector, we are fulfilling our role as a world-class university and research institution,” said Minton.