Three years ago, a group of major shrimp producers in Ecuador decided to transform the future of shrimp aquaculture industry and launched the Sustainable Shrimp Partnership (SSP).
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With a commitment to farming shrimp to the highest standards, fully traceable, with zero antibiotics and in a sustainable manner, SSP members have demonstrated that it is possible to produce the highest quality and safest shrimp while committing to the highest levels of accountability.
In an industry that produces over 5 million tons of shrimp each year, where we often see examples of food fraud and lack of transparency, SSP members saw that it was necessary to lead shrimp industry worldwide and turned into a new direction, embracing a race to the top, promoting changes among producers and offering consumers reliable products.
After developing one of the most demanding protocols for shrimp production with the guidance of SSP Advisory Board, formed by World Wildlife Fund (WWF), The Sustainable Trade Initiative (IDH), and Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC); and by the hand of the Colombian Institute of Technical Standards and Certification – ICONTEC - SSP members are submitted to constant verification during each production cycle to ensure zero use of antibiotics, full traceability, and no negative impact on the local environment, demonstrating the compliance of best production practices.
“It is difficult to move a village, much less the global shrimp sector.†shared Aaron McNevin, Global Network Lead for Aquaculture, World Wildlife Fund (WWF). “By seeking a radical level of transparency in performance and impact, the SSP has challenged the sector in a race to the top.â€
But how to share this key information with our customers and consumers in a way that acquire tangible value for them became one of the most exciting challenges, ultimately was about giving them the power to make informed choices.
For SSP, increasing the capacity for consumers to buy healthy and responsibly farmed shrimp came in the name of Blockchain Technology, the most secure and latest technology available for food traceability.
SSP joined the IBM Food Trust ecosystem, a platform that uses blockchain, and developed a traceability application designed especially for consumers, to enable them to access information on the product and its journey to their plate by simply scanning a QR code, ensuring transparent data about the provenance and quality for every piece of SSP’s premium shrimp.
A milestone achievement for SSP and the shrimp industry for being the first shrimp product on IBM Ecosystem, and for encouraging other seafood industries to join this level of transparency.
“With hard work, commitment, and creativity, SSP has shown the aquaculture world that value can be achieved through collaboration between producers including differentiation and a premium product†noted Marcos Moya, Market Development and Producer Support Manager for ASC.
“I have been fortunate to accompany the development of SSP since its inception and I have seen the tireless effort and the rewards. Although current circumstances around the world are not helping, the pandemic has helped to demonstrate how solid the global commitment is for sustainability. For SSP and the founding partners, the commitment to their objectives and the effectiveness of their team has made this possibleâ€.
As inclusion been one of SSP pillars and a key element to generate a wider impact on shrimp aquaculture industry, SSP alongside its Advisory Board implemented a farm improvement program, which aimed to help small and mid-sized farms in Ecuador work towards the highest levels of environmental and social standards, achieving ASC-certification and ultimately comply with SSP additional criterions.
“With enthusiasm and relentless optimism SSP started a front running race to the top for the whole shrimp industry to follow. We often show the SSP as ‘the best kid in class example’ to others in the sector.†said Lisa Van Wageningen, Program Officer Aquaculture, The Sustainable Trade Initiative (IDH).
“They have really paved the way in showing sustainable shrimp farming is viable. Let’s aim now for the extra mile: measuring and reducing the environmental footprint of shrimp production, including feed ingredients. I challenge SSP to show that this can be done too.â€
There are 12 farms operating under SSP criterions and producing SSP approved shrimp: Agromarina, Lebama and Salmos farms (Songa – Sociedad Nacional de Galápagos); Produmar farm (Grupo Almar); Cachugran farm (Omarsa); Campamento Naturisa and Rio Nilo farms (Naturisa); Greentrail Corp, Lanec and Bellitec farms (Grupo Lanec); Marfrisco and Quiñonez farms (Promarisco, Grupo Nueva Pescanova).
SSP has also Associate Members including Biomar, Skretting and Evonik. ■