USSEC recently introduced Intensive Pond Aquaculture (IPA) Technology to the Chinese aquaculture industry.  Although China’s aquaculture has recently grown at a rate averaging 5% annually, the industry continues to be challenged by increasing pond rental and feed ingredient costs which marginalize farmers’ profits.  Thus, fish farmers are slow to adapt to more expensive soy-based aqua feed, despite its better quality as a feed ingredient.   USSEC predicts that the use of IPA will increase pond yields to at least double or even triple their current averages of 750-1,000 kg/mu (six mu is equal to one acre), with an ultimate target yield of 3,500 kg/mu.  This technology has the potential to tremendously increase China’s demand for soy products in aqua feed.

IPA, sponsored by the Iowa Soybean Association, requires only minimal modification to ponds, including the addition of a white water system and in-pond production cells.   Furthermore, zero water discharge will increase yield with no negative impact on the environment.  USSEC consultant Dr. Jesse Chappel, professor at Auburn University, traveled to China on March 23 – 29 to get the IPA project off the ground.  Dr. Chappel visited the trial farm, Pingwang Fish Breeding Farm in the Jiangsu Province in eastern China, checking the status of pond reconstruction and culture cell construction.  He also contacted local equipment manufacturers to source the equipment with the specifications needed for the project.
According to the project plan, all preparation will be completed by the end of April and production will begin in May. Dr. Chappell will return to China to provide further technical assistance in July.
USSEC Aquaculture Program Manager Jim Zhang and Freshwater Technical Manager Zhou Enhua escorted Dr. Chappel on this trip and helped to facilitate discussions and visits.