Grupo Almar partners DSM-Firmenich to promote sustainable shrimp farming

NETHERLANDS – Grupo Almar, one of the leading shrimp producers in the world has joined forces with a global leader in health and nutrition, DSM-Firmenich, to launch a multi-year commitment aiming at revolutionizing the shrimp farming industry.

The executive partnership seeks to measure and enhance Grupo Almar’s environmental footprint through the utilization of Sustell™, DSM-Firmenich’s innovative sustainability service.

The initiative will encompass a comprehensive environmental footprint analysis of Grupo Almar’s shrimp production, commencing in January 2024, ultimately providing internationally validated footprint results for the entire year onwards.

Aligned with Grupo Almar’s vision to become a global leader in sustainable aquaculture grounded on our high quality and efficiency standards, the company plays a significant role in Ecuador’s exports, contributing approximately 10% by weight, all achieved with just 2% of farmable land.

Grupo Almar’s commitment to sustainability motivated them to select DSM-Firmenich and Sustell™ to measure and validate their carbon footprint within the framework of a full ISO 14040/44 compliant lifecycle assessment (LCA)-based environmental footprint.

Drawing inspiration from the salmon industry’s notable progress in environmental footprint measurement and improvement, Grupo Almar aims to chart a similar path.

“Almar is making important and incremental progress to improve the sustainability of its shrimp production, by learning from others and by investing in technology – with tangible improvements already made,” Wolfgang Harten, Chief Operating Officer of Grupo Almar said.

“We are committed to continue moving forward, both in technology and in sustainability. Through our partnership with a global heavyweight in animal nutrition and health, DSM-Firmenich, we have our sights set firmly on improving the sustainability of our industry.”

According to Dr David Nickell, Vice President of Sustainability and Business Solutions, Animal Nutrition & Health at DSM-Firmenich, Grupo Almar is a first mover in the shrimp industry, with Sustell™ it will possess an accurate environmental footprint and testing capabilities to map and make tangible improvements in sustainability.

“As seen from Sustell™ users around the world and across multiple industries, this then opens the door to greater production efficiency and farm profitability while unlocking new value opportunities, such as product eco-labelling, and access to sustainable finance,” he added.

He also noted that the collaboration between Grupo Almar and DSM-Firmenich is not limited to reducing Grupo Almar’s environmental footprint alone.

“By validating the shrimp module for Sustell™, this partnership will empower the broader shrimp production value chain to elevate its sustainability efforts,” he said.

Pamela Nath, Director of the Sustainable Shrimp Partnership (SSP), also welcomed the announcement, emphasizing its significance in showcasing Ecuadorian shrimp production’s commitment to sustainable practices.

She expressed hope that this partnership would inspire and motivate the industry to further enhance the sustainability of shrimp production, setting a positive example for the future of the sector.

For all the latest food industry news from Africa and the World, subscribe to our NEWSLETTER, follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn, like us on Facebook and subscribe to our YouTube channel.

Further Reading:

Olam Food Ingredients’ AtSource system receives FSA gold and silver level recognition for sustainability Serengeti Breweries wins top alcoholic manufacturer award, calls for supportive tax policies EABL invests US$45.7M in youth, women, PWD-led businesses in FY 2024  Investigation uncovers bias in Dutch government’s rejection of Meat Tax