NEWS
New laboratory and fish research facilities opens in Vietnam
S
outh East Asia and Vietnam in particular has received a boost to its aquaculture development with the opening of a refurbished and revitalized fish-research facility at Nong Lam University, in the Thu Duc District of Saigon. Called the Biomin Aquaculture Centre for Applied Nutrition (ACAN) the centre will share the laboratories on site with two other companies. The Erber Group, which is the holding company for Biomin, Sanphar and Romer Labs, has acquired and refurbished the facilities that were previously operated in partnership with the university by Novus until 2014. Joining three companies interests together has meant the facility will play a vital role in not only aquaculture in Vietnam, but for aquaculture research throughout the whole region as well as for land-based livestock production. The aquatic facilities, which will carry out more than 14 trials, specific to the Asia region, over the next 12 months, has four fully equipped laboratories as well as a major recirculation system with an extensive water quality control capability. Biomin’s ACAN centre was opened on June 29, 2015 following a half-day seminar in the city followed by a traditional fanfare and celebration at the centre itself.
Located on the campus of Nong Lam University, in the Thu Duc District on the outskirts of the city, the centre offers full laboratory services plus up to five independent reticulation tank systems for trail work on a variety of fish and shrimp species. The laboratories at the centre are equipped to carr yout DNA and RNA extraction along with full PCR evaluations in addition to normal feed and food testing. The centre even has an extruder for preparing short-run rations The centre is to be jointly oper ated by Biomin and Sanphar – as its Animal Health Research Centre – and Romer Labs; all companies within the Erber Group. Working closely with Nong Lam University, the three companies have shown their clear intention to support Vietnam’s agriculture and aquaculture development.
Opening day seminar
On the day of the opening,
14 | INTERNATIONAL AQUAFEED | July-August 2015
each of the participating companies hosted a half-day seminar at Hotel Caravelle in downtown Saigon to explain the role the new laboratory and test centre will play for both Vietnam and the region.