Building the future of aquaculture through short value chains: Orazio Albano speech in Meghreb BlueTalk – Aquaculture is at a turning point! While the sector has already proven its importance for food security, employment, and innovation, many producers still face the same obstacle: dependence on wholesale markets. This dependence often results in long payment delays, reduced margins, and limited control over how products are presented to consumers.
To move forward, aquaculture must not only focus on producing more, but also on selling better.
A growing number of initiatives show that success can be achieved by rethinking the value chain and moving closer to the consumer. Instead of endlessly scaling up production, producers can create new links in the chain that enhance value, visibility, and trust. One of the most effective approaches is the development of direct sales models.
Inspiring Models
Concrete examples from the Mediterranean highlight this trend. In Italy, seabass, seabream, and meagre farms in Gallipoli (https://www.inmare.eu/) sell their fish through a widespread direct distribution system to local fishmongers in nearby provinces. This ultra-short value chain, supported by efficient logistics, ensures that fish reaches consumers within 24 hours of harvest. These are not large volumes, but they achieve slightly higher prices than the wholesale rate, with the important advantages of immediate payment and a stronger direct connection with consumers. In the Bay of Castro (https://www.mondomarevivo.com/), mussels are farmed, purified, processed, and sold directly through the company’s own shop and restaurants. This essentially closed-loop system brings the product from production to the consumer within the same enterprise. They also manage direct distribution to households and restaurants on demand, creating added value while reducing dependence on wholesale channels.
What the Sector Needs to Move Forward
This integration can go even further by combining aquaculture with food service. Freshwater farms, for example, can dedicate part of their sites to recreational activities, offering sport fishing ponds and picnic areas. Small restaurants linked to farms can serve simple grilled fish with local side dishes, while mobile seafood restaurants or oyster stands can bring fresh products to urban centers or tourist destinations. These initiatives foster a more resilient market, strengthen cash flow compared to wholesale channels, and help mitigate risks linked to overproduction.
Building the future of aquaculture through short value chains: Orazio Albano speech in Meghreb BlueTalk
