ADQ and Finnforel explore feasibility of developing cutting-edge fish farming facility in KEZAD

ADQ, an active global sovereign investor with a focus on critical infrastructure and supply chains, has signed an agreement with Finnforel, a leading aquaculture technology company headquartered in Finland, under which it will explore the feasibility of a land-based fish farming facility with a capacity of three thousand tons per year in the UAE. The potential facility will be strategically located within KEZAD’s dedicated zone for aquaculture and related industries, featuring dedicated infrastructure, utilities and connectivity.

Under the terms of the agreement, it is expected that ADQ and Finnforel will collaborate with the aim to cultivate rainbow trout, a cold-water fish species and popular alternative to salmon, in the UAE by utilizing recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS). These systems employ advanced biofiltration to allow control of all essential environmental factors and ensure stable, safe and clean indoor conditions, while efficiently recirculating and reusing water within a closed system, ensuring zero biowaste and wastewater. The usage of recirculating aquaculture systems facilitates year-round fish production, irrespective of environmental conditions. 

Upon satisfactory conclusion of the feasibility stage, the development of the fish farming facility would mark the inaugural large-scale implementation of recirculating aquaculture systems in the UAE, representing a significant milestone for the food and agriculture sector. The facility will be modeled after Finnforel’s unique indoor aquaculture concept.

Founded in 2015, Finnforel is an innovative aquaculture technology company that currently operates two recirculating aquaculture systems facilities in Finland with a total production volume of three thousand tons per year. Through a high degree of vertical integration from hatchery to farming and packaging, Finnforel achieves significant efficiency and scale, and is seeking to multiply its capacity through global expansion by 2032.

‍Mansour AlMulla, Deputy Group Chief Executive Officer at ADQ, said: “Our collaboration with Finnforel exemplifies our commitment to harnessing state-of-the-art technology to facilitate the expansion of local food production capabilities. With imports currently catering to the vast majority of the demand for protein in the UAE, our focus is to work towards closing supply gaps by introducing a new way of cultivating high-quality seafood that is cherished for its nutritional value.”‍

‍Pekka A. Viljakainen, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Finnforel Group, said: “The current global realities are heightening our awareness of the critical importance of food security. In the foreseeable future, it will become imperative for every nation to ensure the local production of most of their consumed food, including fresh fish. Finnforel’s mission is to build a network of local facilities based on our tried-and-tested vertically integrated concept; an endeavor which must be pursued sustainably and with environmental responsibility. It is a tremendous honor for Finnforel to embark on this exciting journey of prospective growth with ADQ.”‍

According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), aquatic foods constitute 15 percent of the world’s animal protein intake. Global apparent consumption of aquatic foods per capita amounted to 20.6 kilograms in 2021, having more than doubled over the past 60 years. FAO projects that consumption will increase by a further 12 percent by 2032. In 2022 and for the first time in history, global aquaculture surpassed capture fisheries as the main producer of aquatic animals, with aquaculture production reaching an unprecedented 94.4 million tons.

Academics estimate that aquaculture production must increase nearly 60 percent above its 2018 production to supply the amount of seafood for the projected 2050 global population. Already today, aquaculture contributes over 57 percent of aquatic animal products used for direct human consumption. Presently, aquaculture stands as the fastest-growing sector in global food production, with the global aquaculture market valued at USD 204 billion in 2020 and projected to reach USD 262 billion by the end of 2026. 

Approximately 70 percent of the total seafood consumed in the UAE is currently imported, with the total volume of salmon imports alone amounting to ten thousand tons per year. 

With investments across the entire food value chain, ADQ contributes to bolstering the UAE’s food resilience. Through its portfolio companies, ADQ is working to strengthen the nation’s sustainable agricultural footprint by adopting cutting edge technologies to enable and enhance local production as well as distribution of essential foods domestically and globally.