GenoMar Genetics imported the first genetics lines into Colombia from GenoMar’s breeding center in the Philippines. The fish will be grown to maturation and serve as the parent stock for commercial fingerlings to Colombian farmers. The first fingerling deliveries are expected to happen in the third quarter of 2023.

The milestone follows a five-year process to get approvals from the regulatory authority in Colombia – the Instituto Colombiano Agropecuario (ICA) – and the establishment of GenoMar Genetics Colombia in 2021. The company is a joint venture with Agroavícola Sanmarino S.A., a Colombian poultry genetics distribution company belonging to the Italcol Group and GenoMar Genetics Group.

“I am extremely satisfied with reaching this milestone which takes us one step further into our effort of expanding our presence in the major tilapia markets in the American continent. I want to congratulate our teams and partners in the Philippines and Colombia for persevering and never giving up on this complex process,” said Alejandro Tola Alvarez, CEO of GenoMar Genetics Group.

The importation took place on January 12, 2023 from the company’s SPF (Specific Pathogen Free) breeding center in the Philippines. After going through the quarantine and customs clearance procedures in Bogotá, GenoMar genetic lines were transported to the officially approved quarantine farm that the company has in Flandes, Tolima province. During the 30-day quarantine period, the ICA inspected the facility, water quality and health status of fish. On February 14, the fish was officially released.

“We have a lot of interest and expectations in the market right now. I believe that the 30-year breeding work on the GenoMar strain will have a positive impact on improving tilapia production in Colombia. We will start R&D trials very soon,” said Martin Cordero Ordóñez, general manager of GenoMar Genetics Colombia.

GenoMar has a strategy for operating close to where the customers are by owning their own distribution centers. GenoMar Genetics Colombia will be able to supply high-quality starting materials and professional technical support services to the Colombian tilapia industry. The company is also working to have the relevant approvals for importing genetic material from its new breeding center in Brazil. This will open opportunities to import new genetic lines in the future as well as to improve welfare and reduce costs during shipping.