Amorn Luengnaruemitchai
Managing Director
Manit Genetics Co Ltd & Manit Intertrade Co Ltd
Thailand
Amorn is Managing Director Manit Genetics Co Ltd & Manit Intertrade Co Ltd, which including Manit Aquaculture Co Ltd, is part of the fully integrated tilapia breeding and aquaculture enterprise, Manit Group, in Thailand. Under Manit Genetics, he established Manit Farm’s Breeding Nucleus Center for Nile and Red tilapia which became outstanding strains in Thailand. Other business divisions are Manit Intertrade involved in marketing fish food/microorganisms, probiotics and Manit Aquaculture. Amorn is the second generation in this family business and has been working for more than 20 years. He was with Manit Farm from 1996 to 2017.
Amorn is the current President of the Tilapia Association of Thailand. He was on the board of NSTDA in 2020-2022, and is currently in the National Bureau of Agricultural Commodity and Food Standards’ Technical Committee on Agricultural Commodity Standards: Good Aquaculture Practice for freshwater animals and for Tilapia. He is also Senior Advisor in drafting the standards for Good Aquaculture Practice (Tilapia). Amorn graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree (Aquaculture) from the Faculty of Fisheries, Kasetsart University and a Master’s degree in Aquaculture and Aquatic Resources Management from the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT).
| Speaker | State of the Industry & Challenges |
| Presentation | Building a Tilapia Industry in Thailand |
Abstract
Tilapia was introduced to the Kingdom of Thailand in 1966 by Crown Prince Akihito of Japan as a gift to His Majesty, King Rama IX. Since then, tilapia production has become the largest aquaculture freshwater fish in Thailand, playing a crucial role in food security and significantly boosting the local economy, especially for small and medium-scale farmers. Both the government and private sector are involved in the intensive genetic selection of tilapia for commercial farming, focusing on traits such as fast growth, high fillet yield and robustness. Today, Thailand is recognized as having the largest and best sources of tilapia genetics.
However, despite its importance tilapia is often perceived by Thai consumers as a common and inexpensive fish, readily available everywhere. This perception means that tilapia is rarely served in air-conditioned or medium to high-end restaurants. Additionally, improper water management in freshwater production can result in a “muddy flavour”, leading to an unfavourable consumer experience.
To address these issues and drive the industry forward, the Tilapia Association of Thailand was established in December 2022. Its goals include promoting sustainable practices, improving the local perception of tilapia, and expanding the export market. This marks the beginning of a new era for the Thai tilapia industry.