Shrimp Robustness: A Three-Pillar Approach – Session 1 (AM)

Moderator: Ryan Hines, Manager Media Global, dsm-firmenich ANH

Shrimp farming is not easy, but if done correctly it can be extremely profitable. The biggest challenge facing producers is disease, where mortality can be anywhere from 30 - 80%. These unpredictable harvests increase the risk of shrimp farming, and there is also a financial cost. Although difficult to quantify, high mortality rates cost the shrimp industry billions of US dollars every year. Despite extensive research, no silver bullet has been found to address these complex challenges, and it is an unrealistic objective. Therefore, a multifactorial approach is needed across the value and production chain and through collaboration of different stakeholders.

Main Points:

• Shrimp robustness is key to stress and disease management
• No silver bullet, a holistic approach is needed
• Importantly, strategies focusing on the host, pathogen and environment must be considered