Global aquaculture production of aquatic animals surpassed 100 million tonnes for the first time in 2024, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization’s latest State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture report. Asia remains the world’s aquaculture powerhouse, accounting for 91.4% of global aquaculture production in the latest regional production data.
As demand for aquatic protein continues to grow, building resilience has become as important as increasing production. Across the industry, producers are rethinking how they manage health, nutrition, and farm performance—not simply to respond to emerging challenges, but to anticipate them.
From reactive to proactive health management
As the aquaculture industry moves beyond traditional production-focused approaches, producers are adopting more holistic strategies that improve resilience, productivity, and sustainability across the entire farming system.
Operating across eight Asian markets, food and agribusiness company Aboitiz Foods has observed this shift as customers increasingly seek integrated solutions that help them adapt to increasingly interconnected challenges while building long-term resilience.
For Dr. Rajeev Jha, Aboitiz Foods’ Aqua Farm Solution Lead, these emerging realities reflect a broader change taking place across the industry.
He said, “I would describe the industry as undergoing a transformation from traditional volume-driven production to a more technology-enabled, sustainability-focused, and efficiency-driven sector.”
One example of this shift is the industry’s approach to disease management, with producers increasingly prioritizing prevention over treatment.
“The industry’s approach to disease management has evolved significantly over the past two decades, shifting from a reactive treatment-based model to a proactive prevention-based strategy. Today’s focus is on Integrated Health Management, in which disease prevention begins long before pathogens are detected,” said Dr. Jha.
According to Dr. Jha, bringing together nutrition, biosecurity, water quality, animal health, and farm management helps improve resilience, optimize production, and reduce biological and environmental risks. This holistic approach enables producers to strengthen animal health before disease occurs, supporting more consistent performance while advancing the industry’s long-term sustainability.
Responding to a changing industry
Across the aquaculture sector, companies are expanding their capabilities to provide more integrated support.
Guided by its purpose of sustainably feeding Asia’s growth from mill to meal, Aboitiz Foods continues to strengthen its technical expertise to translate scientific insights into practical solutions. The company recently acquired an aquaculture research and development facility located at the Singapore Food Agency’s Marine Aquaculture Centre on St. John’s Island. The facility enables controlled research and performance validation, helping accelerate the development of evidence-based nutrition solutions tailored to diverse farming conditions across Asia.
According to Dr. Jha, these investments reflect the company’s continued evolution in response to the changing needs of the aquaculture industry.
“We continue to evolve beyond being a feed supplier. As an integrated food and agribusiness company, we strive to be a trusted aquaculture solutions partner that helps customers improve productivity, profitability, and sustainability throughout the entire production cycle.”
As the aquaculture industry continues to evolve, success will increasingly depend on collaboration among producers, researchers, nutrition experts, and technology providers. Through continued investments in research, innovation, and integrated farm solutions, Aboitiz Foods aims to contribute practical, science-based solutions that help build a more resilient and sustainable aquaculture sector.