The U.S. Grains & BioProducts Council recently hosted an aquaculture conference in Ecuador aimed at boosting exports of corn co-products to Latin America’s growing fish and shrimp industries.
The event brought together top aquaculture producers from eight countries including Chile, Colombia, Mexico and the host nation to discuss incorporating more U.S. distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS) and corn fermented protein (CFP) into aquaculture diets.
“Ecuador imported 133 thousand metric tons of DDGS and CFP in marketing year 2023/2024, but there is an additional opportunity of 300 TMT annually,” said Marri Tejada, USGBC regional director for Latin America.
Representatives from major agricultural companies including ADM, Cargill, POET and Green Plains attended the two-day conference, which featured presentations on Ecuador’s aquaculture industry, market outlooks and optimal feed formulations.
Iowa Corn Growers Association Board Member Will Cannon addressed sustainable agricultural practices, while end-users from several countries shared insights into regional feed markets.
Some delegates also visited a shrimp production facility to explore opportunities for CFP in Ecuador’s market.
“As a world leader in aquaculture, particularly in shrimp production, Ecuador is an exciting market for U.S. producers,” Tejada said, adding that expanding exports to the region would provide reliable markets for U.S. agriculture while supporting growth in neighboring countries.
