Brazilian fish develops the first genetically edited tilapia
BRAZIL – Brazilian Fish, a tilapia producer, has successfully created the first genetically edited tilapia, using advanced technological tools to induce a genetic variation that can naturally occur in animals.
The company worked with the Center for US Aquaculture Technologies (CAT) to carry out the genetic modifications, completing a process in just one year that typically takes up to two decades.
Scientists from CAT, along with Brazilian Fish’s research and development team, spent two years obtaining the first batch of genetically edited fish, which are now kept in secure facilities for performance and genomic testing.
Brazilian Fish, founded in 2007, is a family-owned business under the Ambar Amaral Group.
The company specializes in tilapia fillets, ready-to-eat fish dishes, appetizers, and a variety of tilapia-based products, including its well-known fish cracklings.
The Ambar Amaral Group has been operating for over 40 years and is involved in economic, environmental, and social initiatives that generate jobs and income for local communities.
Potential Impact on Aquaculture
The genetically edited tilapia is expected to have improved traits compared to fish raised under conventional aquaculture practices in Brazil.
With better growth and fattening efficiency, the fish will require less time to reach market size and consume less feed, which could lower production costs for farmers.
The development is part of a broader effort to modernize fish farming in Brazil, making it more technologically driven and sustainable.
Beyond efficiency improvements, Brazilian Fish believes the project will contribute to a more competitive tilapia industry, potentially positioning the species as a stronger alternative to other animal proteins in international markets.
Brazil’s overall production
According to recent data, Brazil produced approximately 579,080 metric tons of tilapia in 2023.
This marked a 5.28% increase from the previous year, solidifying its position as a major global tilapia producer, with tilapia constituting the largest portion of its farmed fish production at 65.3% of the total output.
Out of all farmed fish in the country that year, Farmed tilapia took up 65.3 percent of total production, followed by native species such as tambaqui and pirarucu coming in at 263,479 MT and comprising 29.7 percent of the total.
Other fish including carp, trout, and pangasius came in at 44,470 MT, or 5 percent of the total.
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