Success StoryMultidisciplinary Approach to Local Tilapia Aquaculture



Multidisciplinary Approach to Local Tilapia Aquaculture

Author: Noel Novelo

Planning Unit: KSU Administration

Major Program: Aquaculture

Outcome: Long-Term Outcome

We obtained $250,000 in federal funding for a three-year extension-based Capacity Building Grant awarded on March 30, 2021 by USDA-NIFA to work with minority and limited-resources stakeholders in improved hatchery production of Nile Tilapia, on-farm growth, marketing and human nutrition. The title of the project is: ‘Expanding Aquaculture and Healthy Food Choices to Reduce Economic and Health Disparities Affecting Minority and Limited-Resource Stakeholders.’ Although there is interest in tilapia farming and high importation of tilapia products in Kentucky, there is no systematic aquaculture production of tilapia for local sales and consumption. This extension project will use genetic improvement technology to produce fast-growing all-male or predominantly male tilapia for on farm demonstrations and data collection on marketing and sales. It will focus on education and training on human nutrition obtained from aquaculture products including US produced tilapia, and other Kentucky aquaculture products. At a time where there is minimal or non-existent tilapia production in Kentucky and where tilapia consumption is evident and dependent on importation, this Extension project will provide data that will inform local farmers and markets on efficient management of genetic resources for local tilapia production, tilapia marketing and sales, on local production and consumption, and human nutrition aspects. The lead project director is Dr. Noel Novelo, and he with Dr. Boris Gomelsky (Co-Director) will work on genetic advancement and on-farm demonstrations alongside two Co-Directors from distinct disciplines, Dr. Marcus Bernard (Marketing) and Dr. Kristopher Grimes (Human Nutrition). More project information can be obtained at: https://cris.nifa.usda.gov/cgi-bin/starfinder/0?path=fastlink1.txt&id=anon&pass=&search=R=92581&format=WEBFMT6NT.






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