Bangladesh Launches Aquaculture Center of Excellence to Boost Fisheries Productivity

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The “Foodtech Bangladesh” initiative, a five-year program supported by the Embassy of the Netherlands, has officially inaugurated an “Aquaculture Center of Excellence” in Tarakanda, Mymensingh. Located in Majhiali village, the new center aims to modernize the nation’s fisheries sector by introducing advanced aquaculture technologies, providing specialized training, and enhancing the commercial viability of fish farming across the country.

The launch event, held on Tuesday, drew approximately 200 participants, including representatives from government and private agencies, researchers, academics, and local fish farmers. The initiative reflects a strategic effort to bridge the gap between Bangladesh’s high annual production—which exceeded 5 million metric tons in the 2024 fiscal year—and its currently untapped potential in the international export market.

The Foodtech Bangladesh program, implemented by Larive International and LightCastle Partners, seeks to facilitate technology transfer and market integration through collaborative efforts between Dutch and Bangladeshi organizations. Dutch Ambassador Joris van Bommel underscored the partnership, noting that while Bangladesh is already a global leader in fish production, there remains significant scope for improving sustainability, quality control, and productivity through technological innovation.

Director General of the Department of Fisheries, Khaled Kanak, emphasized that the project offers a blueprint for maximizing yield on limited land, drawing on Dutch expertise in resource efficiency. He pledged the department’s full support to entrepreneurs and researchers engaged in testing and scaling these methods.

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The center serves as a hub for demonstrating cutting-edge systems such as the In-Pond Raceway System and Recirculating Aquaculture Systems. These technologies allow for significantly higher stocking densities and reduced water and feed wastage by recycling water within a controlled environment. Local farmers, including long-time practitioners, noted that these methods represent a major shift from traditional pond farming, offering the potential for substantially higher yields in smaller areas.

Since its inception in 2022, the Foodtech Bangladesh project has implemented more than 60 demonstration activities and provided training to approximately 1,400 fish farmers through a combination of online and in-person sessions. Additionally, the project has introduced a digital tool called “Aqua Coach” to assist farmers in optimizing farm management practices. The project continues to work toward its goal of elevating the standard of local aquaculture to meet international requirements while bolstering the livelihoods of the nation’s fish producers.