Nam Viet Corporation (NAVICO) and Benchmark Genetics Norway AS (BGN) have announced a long-term strategic collaboration to develop an advanced selective breeding programme for Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) in Vietnam.
The partnership combines NAVICO’s position as one of Vietnam’s largest aquaculture companies and its ambition to establish a fully integrated tilapia value chain with Benchmark Genetics’ expertise in designing and operating high-performance breeding programmes for more than 30 aquaculture species.
NAVICO is strategically expanding from pangasius into tilapia production to meet changing market demand and create new growth opportunities. As one of the world’s largest concentrated aquaculture farming operations, the company holds both Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) and Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) certifications, reflecting its commitment to quality, sustainability and responsible aquaculture.
Under the agreement, Benchmark Genetics will design and provide ongoing technical guidance and operational support for a state-of-the-art selective breeding programme for Nile tilapia. The programme will apply proven genetic improvement strategies to enhance growth rate, feed conversion efficiency and robustness—traits considered essential for cost-effective production and the supply of premium tilapia to domestic and international markets.
The collaboration has already reached a significant milestone with the successful establishment of an optimally structured base population. This marks the transition from programme design to implementation and provides the foundation for long-term genetic improvement. Building on this, the partners are preparing to integrate genomic selection to maximise genetic gain for survival, robustness and other commercially important traits, further strengthening NAVICO’s position as a global producer of high-quality seafood.
“Our ambition is to position tilapia as a premium product and export from Vietnam, supported by a fully integrated and sustainable value chain,” said Mr Doan Chi Thien, Chief Executive Officer at NAVICO. “Partnering with Benchmark Genetics ensures access to world-class technologies that enable us to deliver consistent product quality and meet growing market expectations.”
“NAVICO is a forward-thinking partner with a bold vision for the future of tilapia farming in Vietnam,” said Dr Morten Rye, Director of Genetics Services and International Strategies at Benchmark Genetics. “We are proud to contribute our global expertise in genetic improvement to support NAVICO’s ambitious goal and to help raise the standard for sustainable aquaculture in one of the world’s most important seafood-producing nations.”
The programme will be implemented in Vietnam, providing long-term value to NAVICO’s operations, its customers and the wider tilapia sector across Southeast Asia. By combining NAVICO’s production scale with Benchmark Genetics’ genetics expertise, the partnership aims to establish new benchmarks for quality, efficiency and sustainability in tilapia farming.
