- The entity aims to bring farmers, researchers, businesses and public institutions closer together.
- The five-year public-private partnership was co-funded by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Bangladesh and co-implemented by Larive International and LightCastle Partners.
FoodTechBangladesh inaugurated some days ago its third Aquaculture Center of Excellence (CoE) in Mymensingh. The inauguration marks an important step toward expanding the practical use of advanced technologies for productive, commercially viable, and sustainable aquaculture in Bangladesh. The center has been designed as a learning, research, and demonstration platform for modern aquaculture production. It includes both in-tank and in-pond Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS).
Through this Center of Excellence, FoodTechBangladesh aims to bring farmers, researchers, businesses, and public institutions closer together. As a result, aquaculture technologies can move beyond demonstration and contribute to wider adoption, improved productivity, and sustainable sector growth.
FoodTechBangladesh (FTB) is a five-year public-private partnership (PPP) co-funded by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Bangladesh. Co-implemented by Larive International and LightCastle Partners, the program aims to enhance Bangladesh’s aquaculture sector through sustainable and scalable interventions. FTB focuses on improving technical performance, reducing post-harvest losses, and strengthening market linkages. Key initiatives include establishing Centers of Excellence across regions, training thousands of farmers, and promoting innovative aquaculture technologies.
Combining Government Support with Appropriate Technology
Addressing the event, Khaled Kanak, Director General of the Department of Fisheries, who attended as Chief Guest, emphasized the importance of combining technology with institutional support. “The Netherlands has demonstrated how Bangladesh can achieve high productivity from limited land. By combining government support with appropriate technology, we can create greater opportunities to advance the fisheries sector,” he said.
The inauguration brought together representatives from government organizations, private companies, research institutions, and academia, such as Kanak, Joris van Bommel, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Bangladesh, attended as Guest of Honour; Rezaul Karim, as Director of Administration from the Department of Fisheries. Ataul Karim Bhuiyan, Managing Director of FishTech, joined as Special Guest.
Technology Transfer, Farmer Training, Applied Research…
Following the welcome remarks by Ataul Karim Bhuiyan, Rogier Becker, Senior Project Manager at Larive International, presented an overview of the FoodTechBangladesh program. He explained how the CoEs support technology transfer, farmer training, applied research, and stronger market linkages.
For his part, Võ Nguyên Khánh (Kaidan), Aqua Researcher at De Heus Asia, discussed the experience and future prospects of the technology partnership in Bangladesh. He also highlighted technical training, research trials, and continued support for advanced aquaculture systems.
The technical sessions continued with Imran Hossain, Technical Officer (R&D) at FishTech. He presented research findings and success stories from the in-tank and in-pond RAS facilities. Furthermore, he highlighted the potential of RAS to improve water management, fish health, production efficiency, and commercial performance.
Meanwhile, Ariful Islam, Assistant Manager (R&D) at FishTech, presented outcomes from In-Pond Raceway System trials. He demonstrated how the technology can support higher productivity, improved feed efficiency, better fish survival, and stronger financial returns than traditional production systems.
Van Bommel, for his part, highlighted that the long-term value of the center would depend on how effectively its knowledge and technologies reach farmers and entrepreneurs. “The true success of these centers will be measured by the farmers who adopt better practices, the entrepreneurs who invest with confidence, and the young people who develop new skills,” he stated.
In his closing remarks and vote of thanks, Farhad Hossain acknowledged the collective contribution of the program’s partners, technical teams, government representatives, and farming communities.
Touring the RAS Facilities
Following the formal program, the guests toured the RAS facilities and observed the systems in operation. The FishTech team explained the design and operational processes of the facility. Finally, the inauguration concluded with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, fish feeding, and live demonstrations of the center’s aquaculture technologies.
