From Aquafarm to Aquatech: Viet Uc Group Pioneers Technology to Shape the Future of Aquaculture

The event was attended by Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Vo Van Hung; Deputy Minister of Finance Le Tan Can; representatives of the provinces of Ca Mau, Khanh Hoa, An Giang, Lam Dong and Quang Ninh, as well as the group's partners and customers.

Tackling the future challenges of aquaculture through science and technology

Water quality, seed quality, disease, climate change and increasingly stringent requirements for traceability and sustainable production have long posed major challenges to aquaculture producers.

As these challenges become more complex, companies are increasingly expected to provide not only products but also solutions that help farmers operate more efficiently, consistently and sustainably.

After 25 years of establishing a leading position in shrimp seed production, Luong Thanh Van, Chairman of the Board and founder of Viet Uc Group, said the company's mission is no longer limited to solving problems arising in individual production cycles. Instead, it aims to address the aquaculture industry's longer-term challenges through science, technology and data.

Based on this vision, the group has identified technological leadership as the foundation for its next stage of development and officially announced its strategic transformation into an Aquatech group at the 25th-anniversary ceremony.

Ton That De, Member of Viet Uc Group's Board of Directors and General Director, said the group's next chapter would build on its 25-year foundation while pursuing a more ambitious technological strategy.

“Twenty-five years is a proud journey, but Viet Uc 25+ will mark a new chapter full of ambition. We are ready to transition from Aquafarm to Aquatech, while continuing to lead domestic breeding and seed production and gradually bringing aquaculture technologies developed and mastered by Vietnamese enterprises to international markets.”, said Ton That De, Member of the Board and General Director of Viet Uc Group.

The group introduced six strategic pillars: aquaculture genetics, aquatic breeding, aquafeed, aquaculture production, seafood processing and aquatic pharmaceuticals, the latter of which is set to be launched.

Under the new model, genetic technology and data will serve as the core, connecting the entire value chain from research and production to solutions supporting farmers.

The aquatic pharmaceuticals segment will focus on preventive health solutions, including vaccines, probiotics and other animal-health technologies.

Technology and innovation to determine the industry's competitiveness

Speaking at the ceremony, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Vo Van Hung recognized Viet Uc Group's contributions over the past 25 years, particularly its sustained investment in research, science, technology and human resources.

According to the Deputy Minister, the group's value lies not only in its scale or market share but also in its contribution to transforming Vietnam's shrimp industry—from reliance on natural advantages to science and technology, from competing on volume toward quality and value, and from adopting technologies to gradually mastering them.

As Vietnam seeks to build a highly competitive and sustainable aquaculture industry, science and technology, innovation and digital transformation are becoming increasingly decisive.

The value of seafood products in the future will depend not only on production volumes but also on genetic resources, biotechnology, data, automation, traceability and the ability to organize integrated value chains.

Drawing on Viet Uc's development experience, Deputy Minister Vo Van Hung called on the company to continue playing a pioneering role in four areas: mastering core shrimp technologies; developing green, circular and low-emission shrimp production; building an innovation ecosystem connecting businesses, scientists, local authorities and farmers; and contributing to the development of a national brand for Vietnamese shrimp.

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I hope Viet Uc Group will continue to be one of the pioneering companies helping Vietnam move beyond being known simply as a major seafood exporter and gradually establish itself as a country that masters aquaculture technology.

Vo Van Hung, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment

Genomics technology underpins Viet Uc's new strategic direction

At the heart of Viet Uc's transformation is its Genomics-based breeding program.

For more than 15 years, the group has steadily invested in genetic technology. Beginning with its cooperation with Australia's CSIRO to acquire the technology, Viet Uc has since developed an in-house scientific team capable of mastering and continuously upgrading its breeding program to achieve greater accuracy.

Rather than relying solely on conventional selection based on farm performance and pedigree records, the company has invested in molecular genetic analysis to accurately identify individual genetic advantages. This provides a foundation for developing breeds with higher productivity, adaptability and survival rates.

The group's technological legacy is closely tied to genetic data accumulated across multiple generations. This includes a breeding program developed continuously over many years, a database containing millions of genetic records, a team of researchers and in-house technological capabilities, supported by an ecosystem of 18 member companies operating nationwide.

These assets provide a long-term competitive advantage that is difficult to replicate and form the foundation for Viet Uc's transition from an aquaculture producer into an Aquatech group.

According to the company, Genomics technology will be expanded beyond whiteleg shrimp to include pangasius, tilapia, black tiger shrimp and other species.

Viet Uc aims to maintain its leading position in domestic breeding and seed production while increasing its market share from 32% to 50% over the next five years.

Building on this foundation, Viet Uc has also begun implementing an internationalization strategy, with China identified as the first market in its global expansion journey.

The group plans to invest in an internationally accredited Institute of Biological and Genetic Research in the United States. The institute is expected to bring together scientists and advanced technologies, focusing on research, consulting, technology transfer and the commercialization of products and services developed and mastered by Viet Uc.

The transformation represents more than a change in business model. It reflects the group's ambition to build technological capabilities developed and controlled by Vietnamese people, contributing to the modernization, sustainability and global competitiveness of Vietnam's aquaculture industry.

The transition from Aquafarm to Aquatech marks a natural next step in Viet Uc Group's development strategy. While Aquafarm laid the foundation for its achievements in shrimp seed production, Aquatech represents a new phase in which genetic technology, big data and artificial intelligence (AI) become core drivers for addressing the aquaculture industry's long-term challenges.

Minh Van