SINGAPORE — A new research and development centre will be set up here to create more nutritious feed for barramundi, red snapper and shrimp, among other tropical marine species, to help local farms increase their yield.

The Feed and Feed Ingredient Technology Centre (F2TC) will focus on feed formulation, nutrition modelling, pilot-scale feed production and efficacy trials.

Established by the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) and the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT), F2TC will also be a one-stop platform to trial, pilot and scale up feed innovations to strengthen Singapore’s technical capabilities in aquaculture nutrition. It will be located in SIT.

Its research areas will include feed formulation, ingredient evaluation and digestibility assessments, SFA and SIT told The Straits Times.

High-quality aquafeeds include those that can incorporate fishmeal alternatives such as single-cell proteins derived from waste streams or insect-based proteins, as well as feeds with functional additives such as probiotics that can improve fish health and survival rates.

Feed quality can affect production costs, profit margins as well as the quality of the fish. For example, feeds with additives like probiotics could improve fish health and survival rates.

Speaking at the World Aquaculture Singapore 2026 on June 3, Senior Minister of State for Sustainability and the Environment Dr Janil Puthucheary said that the growth of aquaculture must increasingly be driven by improving productivity through better inputs.

“This would enable us to produce more with less within tighter land, resource and environmental constraints,” he said.

“High-yield, input-driven productivity is therefore central to building an aquaculture sector that is resilient and ready for the challenges ahead.”

SFA will provide technical expertise, industry networks and resources to support the centre’s development and help anchor a pipeline of industry projects.