Barramundi Asia, one of the world largest barramundi producers, acquired the Temasek startup, Allegro Aqua, that commercializes a “premium” barramundi broodstock with specific genetic traits.

The start-up was established in 2018 to scale up the production of a higher quality strain of Asian sea bass after scientists from the Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory (TLL) succeeded in breeding superior fingerlings with the support of the former Agri-food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore and the National Research Foundation.

The merger of the two companies is expected to not only help Barramundi Asia produce more fish but also reduce the mortality rate of its stocks using the technology developed by Allegro Aqua, the company said to local news. The company also aims at strengthening fish production to better meet the food security needs of Singapore and the region.

Andrew Kwan, director at Barramundi Asia, said that the firm also has plans to supply superior, vaccinated barramundi fingerlings to other fish farms in Singapore, coupled with a guaranteed buy-back program when the fish are ready for harvest.