emirates7 - ADQ has teamed up with Aqua Development, a South Korean aquaculture start-up, to assess the feasibility of land-based shrimp farming in the UAE’s climate. This will involve developing a pilot facility to test patented solutions and new agricultural systems.
The half-hectare pilot facility is co-funded through ADQ’s Growth Lab, a hub for innovators focused on driving growth through innovation and R&D.
Located in KEZAD’s dedicated aquaculture zone, the facility will benefit from specialized infrastructure, utilities, and connectivity.
According to the agreement, ADQ and Aqua Development will explore the potential for onshore shrimp cultivation, one of the world’s most popular seafoods, using a blend of aquatic biology and innovation to mimic the shrimp's natural habitat.
This method aims to enable more efficient shrimp farming compared to traditional methods, which are labor-intensive and have low production rates. While modern systems using advanced filtration can yield higher production rates, they require significant investment.
Aqua Development’s patented modular, nature-based solution reduces costs and boosts productivity, achieving up to ten times the output of both traditional and modern systems.
If the pilot is successful, production is expected to scale significantly, marking a key step in local shrimp production in the UAE.
Mansour AlMulla, Deputy Group CEO at ADQ, stated, "By leveraging advanced technologies, this collaboration could enable sustainable and scalable local shrimp production, helping meet the demand for one of the UAE's most popular seafoods while reducing reliance on imports."
Doohyun Lee, CEO of Aqua Development, added, "ADQ is leading the way in food security and sustainable production in the UAE, and we are excited to contribute. Our goal is to replace a significant portion of seafood imports with locally produced alternatives by implementing innovative, sustainable, and economically viable aquaculture solutions."
Through its portfolio companies, ADQ aims to strengthen the nation’s sustainable agricultural footprint by adopting cutting-edge technologies to enhance local food production and distribution, both domestically and globally.
The half-hectare pilot facility is co-funded through ADQ’s Growth Lab, a hub for innovators focused on driving growth through innovation and R&D.
Located in KEZAD’s dedicated aquaculture zone, the facility will benefit from specialized infrastructure, utilities, and connectivity.
According to the agreement, ADQ and Aqua Development will explore the potential for onshore shrimp cultivation, one of the world’s most popular seafoods, using a blend of aquatic biology and innovation to mimic the shrimp's natural habitat.
This method aims to enable more efficient shrimp farming compared to traditional methods, which are labor-intensive and have low production rates. While modern systems using advanced filtration can yield higher production rates, they require significant investment.
Aqua Development’s patented modular, nature-based solution reduces costs and boosts productivity, achieving up to ten times the output of both traditional and modern systems.
If the pilot is successful, production is expected to scale significantly, marking a key step in local shrimp production in the UAE.
Mansour AlMulla, Deputy Group CEO at ADQ, stated, "By leveraging advanced technologies, this collaboration could enable sustainable and scalable local shrimp production, helping meet the demand for one of the UAE's most popular seafoods while reducing reliance on imports."
Doohyun Lee, CEO of Aqua Development, added, "ADQ is leading the way in food security and sustainable production in the UAE, and we are excited to contribute. Our goal is to replace a significant portion of seafood imports with locally produced alternatives by implementing innovative, sustainable, and economically viable aquaculture solutions."
Through its portfolio companies, ADQ aims to strengthen the nation’s sustainable agricultural footprint by adopting cutting-edge technologies to enhance local food production and distribution, both domestically and globally.