Aquaculture

With a world population that could reach 9 billion people by 2030, we anticipate the growing importance of aquaculture as an essential source of protein for humans in the years to come. We have been present for several years in all the key segments of the sector, in both warm and cold waters, and we are continuing our actions to help farmers meet this growing demand in a sustainable manner.

BRINGING SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS TO AQUACULTURE

Prevent the main aquaculture diseases, for a more harmonious and sustainable growth of species
Protocols adapted to the specificities of the farms
Invest in research to develop innovative preventive solutions

SUPPORTING COLD AND WARM WATER AQUACULTURE

With more than 300 species farmed throughout the world, in cold or warm waters, there is not one but many aquacultures! Today, cold water aquaculture concerns mainly the production of salmon and is concentrated in Northern Europe, Norway in the lead, and in Chile. Warm water aquaculture, on the other hand, consists essentially in the breeding of carps, shrimps and tilapias and is mainly located in South-East Asia, Latin America and Africa. Growing in very different environments, these aquaculture species are exposed to a wide variety of diseases. Providing animal health solutions that address this diversity and ensure a more harmonious and sustainable growth of the species is our priority. Around the world, our teams provide aquaculturists with solutions tailored to their specific needs, enabling them to meet the requirements of growth, sustainability and traceability, while preserving animal welfare and the environment.

ADVANCING THE SEARCH FOR SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS

We are constantly investing to bring innovative solutions to prevent the main aquaculture diseases and to help all farmers to meet the growing demand of the planet in a responsible and sustainable way. For several years now, we have been supporting salmon farmers in Norway and Chile, the world's second largest producer. We have an important industrial and R&D infrastructure there with the ambition to bring more innovative solutions and to look for additional synergies between the cold and warm water fish segment. To support the advancement of warm water aquaculture and accelerate our ability to develop solutions for the prevention of major aquaculture diseases, we have inaugurated the Virbac Aquaculture Technology Center (VATC) in Vietnam in 2021.

REDUCING MORTALITY BY FOCUSING ON PREVENTION

On a global scale, mortality in aquaculture farms is estimated to be between 10 and 20% in salmon and up to 60% in tilapia. Our teams are committed to contributing to significantly reducing this rate and reducing the use of antibiotics by proposing alternatives to ensure a more harmonious and sustainable growth of species. This is done primarily through the development of vaccination. For example, for tilapia farms, the fastest growing segment of aquaculture, we offer a wide range of vaccines developed in collaboration with external partners. Prevention also means monitoring water quality and adopting bioremediation solutions, which improve the living environment of the animals, and combating nutritional imbalances with nutraceuticals to strengthen their natural defenses.

PROTOCOLS ADAPTED TO THE PROBLEMS OF THE FIELD

Our approach is not limited to products. We also provide aquaculture professionals with services such as the analysis of the germs involved in their farm, to define with them the best protocol to adopt. Our research center in Vietnam (VATC) has as a second vocation to help the farmers to identify the cause of the diseases they are confronted with in order to better manage them. We also offer them technical training and tools to optimize the efficiency of the solutions implemented. Finally, we are increasing the number of opportunities to meet with professionals in the sector to make them aware of the long-term benefits of prevention and encourage them to develop vaccination.

Farm animals