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Month: September 2024

DeltaVax: Pioneering Sustainable Aquaculture in the Mekong Delta

Posted on by Trung Thai

1. DeltaVax: Transforming the Mekong Delta Pangasius Chain

Fresh Studio is excited to introduce the DeltaVax project, a groundbreaking initiative aimed at revolutionizing the pangasius and broader aquaculture sector in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam. The DeltaVax project is funded by the Impact Clusters subsidy scheme from the Netherlands, which aims to develop the private sector in developing countries.

Under the Impact Cluster program, knowledge, expertise and technology from Dutch or international companies, knowledge institutes, trade organisations and NGOs are brought together in a consortium (cluster). The objective of the Impact Cluster program is to facilitate the development and growth of the private sector in developing countries while ensuring inclusive and sustainable economic growth and a decent standard of work for all.

DeltaVax features a consortium of esteemed Dutch, Vietnamese, and international partners, including Fresh Studio, PHARMAQ, Can Tho University, De Heus, Alpha Aqua, and Kytos.

Figure 1. Demonstration Farm

Figure 2. De Heus Feed Bags

Figure 3. Pangasius seeds

2. Project Summary

The DeltaVax project seeks to significantly enhance the knowledge, skills, and technology access within Vietnam’s aquaculture sector. The primary goals include:

Capacity Building: Establish a “train the trainers” program, alongside a coaching service, to elevate the expertise of Vietnamese farmers, equipping them with the necessary skills for modern aquaculture practices.

Technological Access: Facilitate Vietnamese farmers’ access to cutting-edge technologies such as aquatic vaccines, qPCR disease diagnostic tools, and advanced water treatment solutions.

Figure 4. Kytos test

Innovation and Sustainability: Introduce groundbreaking technologies like Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS) to foster sustainable aquaculture practices.

Fish Health and Welfare: Enhance vaccination practices within the sector to reduce disease prevalence and curtail the reliance on chemicals and antibiotics.

3. Key Activities

To achieve our objectives, the following key activities will be undertaken:

  1.  Conduct a comprehensive farm survey to produce an industry status and environmental impact report for the pangasius sector.
  2.  Develop and implement a practical, detailed training program designed for 25 extension workers.
  3.  Empower these extension workers to provide training, coaching, and monitoring services to 750 farmers across the Mekong Delta.
  4.  Demonstrate the effectiveness of technologies like vaccines, qPCR tools, and water analysis solutions on strategic farms in the region.

4. Expected Outcomes

DeltaVax is poised to create a significant impact, with the following expected results:

  • Economic Growth and Employment: A stronger business case and enhanced job creation for local partners, driven by sector growth, expertise development, and technology adoption.
  • Sustainable Employment: Direct and indirect long-term job opportunities in specialized areas such as water analysis and disease diagnostics.
  • Education and Youth Engagement: Modernization of aquaculture curricula, making the industry more appealing to the younger generation.
  • Environmental and Food Safety Improvements: A reduction in the environmental footprint and enhanced food safety through sustainable aquaculture practices.
  • Product Quality Enhancement: A notable improvement in the quality of Vietnamese aquaculture products as a result of decreased chemical and antibiotic usage.

Figure 5. Periodically check the fish’s length and weight

The DeltaVax project is a revolutionary initiative set to pave the way for a sustainable and thriving pangasius aquaculture sector in the Mekong Delta. Stay tuned to our website for updates and insights as we embark on this transformative journey.

The impact cluster: “DeltaVax” is funded by The Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) and consists of the following project partners:

  • PHARMAQ
  • De Heus
  • Alpha Aqua
  • Kytos
  • Can Tho University
  • Fresh Studio

For more information

please contact Joe Pearce - Aquaculture Project Manager
info@freshstudio.vn

First pilot locations to recycling drain water established in Vietnam

Posted on by Luyen

With the arrival of 2 VitaLite systems from Ridder Group and water tanks from Royal Brinkman the 2 pilot farmers and the project partners of the project: “Improving water availability and safety through optimized irrigation and fertilizer application by hydroponic growers in Vietnam” implemented under the Partners for Water program, have been very busy to setup and commission 2 systems to collect and recycle drain water. Now that we can collect and recycle drain water at the 2 pilot locations, we start a new phase in the project focusing on sharing knowledge regarding drain water recycling and collecting data to quantify the return on investments, water efficiency and fertilizer savings.

Last week HollandDoor and Fresh Studio organized the first field days to show the drain water recycling system to interested growers and organized several training sessions on irrigation and fertigation strategies in combination with drain water recycling.

Thuy Farm and Garden Mountain are proud to be the first 2 pilot locations where drain water is collected and disinfected and re-used. Both farms acknowledge that although they have expanded their sweet pepper production area in recent years, they worry about the costs of fertilizer application and availability of sufficient irrigation water. Especially at the end of the dry season water availability is becoming an issue in certain areas of Lam Dong province. This is illustrated by the ever-deeper wells being drilled to pump up irrigation water. Through recycling drain water both see the opportunity to save fertilizer and reduce their production costs while at the same time increase their water use efficiency.

Figure 1. Thuy Farm greenhouse with sweet pepper fully setup with drain water collection system.

It is great to see that although the project supports financially around 2,500 m2 to start collecting drain water, both farms have invested themselves to expand the area to collect drain water to around 10,000 m2 for both locations. They plan to expand the drain water collection area further in the coming period.

Figure 2. Installation and commission of VitaLite system of Ridder Group at pilot location.

With the installation of the drain water collection and disinfection system at both locations the project can start to collect data to quantify how fast the investment in a drain water recycling system can be earned back and how much water and fertilizers can be saved. This data is important to convince other farms to invest also in a drain water recycling system. That there are now 2 drain water recycling systems installed and accessible to other growers to see with their own eyes greatly contributes to making growers aware and understand how such a system works and that it is interesting to consider. The great turnout and discussions during the first field days in which growers were invited to visit both pilot drain water recycling locations proved this point.

Figure 3. Pictures from field days at both pilot locations showing the drain water recycle system to other growers.

Recycling drain water has an impact on the irrigation and fertilizer strategy a grower applies. For example, it opens the possibility to work with a higher drainage % to optimize crop performance without increasing fertilizer application costs. The ratio of nutrients applied, and the monitoring of nutrients present in the drain water are important points to consider when recycling drain water. Geerten van der Lugt (HollandDoor) together with Lo Xuan Dung (Fresh Studio) trained growers interested in drain water recycling in these aspects.

Figure 4. Training irrigation and fertilizer application strategy in combination with drain water recycling by Mr. Geerten van der Lugt (HollandDoor) and Mr. Lo Xuan Dung (Fresh Studio)

For more information about this project please contact:

René van Rensen

The Partners for Water program is implemented by the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) on behalf of the Ministries of Infrastructure and Water Management, Foreign Affairs, Economic Affairs and Climate and Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality.

For more information see: www.partnersvoorwater.nl

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