Rui Alexandre Gonçalves
Deputy Director, Aquaculture Department, MAC
Singapore Food Agency
Singapore
Rui is Deputy Director of the Aquaculture Department at the Singapore Food Agency’s Marine Aquaculture Centre (MAC). He manages the R&D pipeline and contributes significantly to the strategic positioning of the department, shaping strategic views for Singapore’s aquaculture ecosystem.
Rui holds a PhD in the impacts of mycotoxins in aquaculture and an executive MBA in Food & Agribusiness from TIAS Business School and Wageningen University & Research. His MBA thesis focused on studying the Singapore’s Asian Seabass Market – Strategic Navigation Toward 2030.
| Speaker | Future Proofing Asia’s Finfish Aquaculture |
| Presentation | Sustainable Aquaculture Production in Singapore: A Vision towards Food Security |
Abstract
In response to a need to ensure food security, amidst the challenges related to climate change, Singapore, through the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) is prioritizing sustainable aquaculture. This requires enhancing its capability and capacity, with investments and strategic directions whilst leveraging on science and technology to concurrently drive sustainability and productivity. Together with the private sector, SFA has supported the development and implementation of innovative aquaculture recirculation systems (RAS), both land-based and sea-based, focusing on high productivity and low impact in the environment. Furthermore, a comprehensive water monitoring network will be deployed in Singaporean waters, enabling more precise management, and improving the reaction time in the event of unexpected incidents. These are significant unique selling propositions (USP) for Singapore with local production alleviating dependence on seafood imports.
The focus on sustainable aquaculture is aligned with the broader goal of bolstering Singapore’s food resilience. The presentation will also focus on aquaculture research in Singapore and how this can be applied on an international platform to foster international collaborations, engage scientists in collaborative work, and provide insights into sustainable industry practices.