Global aquaculture and food security. The future passes through Africa – Aquaculture is now one of the key strategic assets to ensure global food security. With the global population constantly growing and the demand for protein increasing, the sector is called upon to provide concrete, efficient and sustainable responses. Yet, while RAS (Recirculating Aquaculture Systems) projects with exorbitant costs and questionable results flourish in the global North, in Africa the approach to fish production demonstrates extraordinary effectiveness with much less investment.
A prime example is Tropo Farms, a Ghanaian company specialising in tilapia production. With shrewd management and targeted strategies, it has managed to double its production capacity without a commensurate increase in infrastructure costs. An achievement that shows how sustainable growth is often not necessarily linked to disproportionate investments, but to intelligent management of available resources.
The global investment paradox
Francisco Murillo, former CEO of Tropo Farms, points out an alarming paradox: while North American and European companies invest hundreds of millions of dollars in often unsuccessful RAS projects, established companies in Africa could increase their production with a fraction of these sums. The numbers speak for themselves: Tropo Farms has gone from a production of 7,200 tonnes in 2021 to 15,000 tonnes in 2024, without expanding its infrastructure and relying on increased operational efficiency.
In contrast, RAS projects such as Atlantic Sapphire, despite colossal investments of over 700 million dollars, have produced disappointing results, putting the financial sustainability of the entire model at risk. The same is true for initiatives such as Soul of Japan, which recently attracted investments of $460 million for a production yet to be proven.
Africa as a new horizon for aquaculture
Looking to the future, it becomes clear that the African continent represents an extraordinary opportunity for aquaculture development. Ghana, with its 33 million inhabitants and a per capita fish consumption of around 25 kg per year, offers a thriving and expanding domestic market. Yet, domestic production is still far from meeting demand: while about 800,000 tonnes of fish are consumed per year, aquaculture and local fisheries only manage to supply 40,000-50,000 tonnes.
The potential is enormous, yet difficulties in accessing credit and unstable macroeconomic conditions make large-scale development complex. In the case of Tropo Farms, a USD 10 million loan from AgDevCo in 2024 enabled the introduction of crucial technological innovations, such as advanced environmental sensors and more efficient processing plants. However, the sector needs further investment to grow and consolidate.
A necessary change of course
The strategic error of global investors, Murillo points out, is obvious: while closed systems such as RAS promise hyper-controlled production, they come up against prohibitive operating costs and operational fragilities. Africa, on the other hand, offers favourable natural conditions and markets ready to absorb local production, with less risk and greater economic and environmental sustainability.
If the world really wants to address the food security challenge with effective and affordable solutions, it is time to look beyond the boundaries of over-engineered technologies and invest in more resilient production models. African aquaculture could be the key to a more sustainable future, and investors looking at real opportunities should not miss this opportunity.
Global aquaculture and food security. The future passes through Africa
