At the Singapore EXPO Convention & Exhibition Centre and MAX Atria, the event saw over 3,500 attendees from 82 countries gathering and exchanging knowledge on numerous aspects of aquaculture – from animal health and welfare to emerging species, food security, sustainable development of aquaculture, and value chain development.

Supported by the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) and the Singapore Food Agency (SFA), WAS 2022 was themed “Next Generation Aquaculture Innovation and Sustainability Will Feed the World”. The event sought to consolidate the link between academia and industry as a basis for innovation and contribute to the development of sustainable aquaculture.

WAS 2022 presented a momentous opportunity for the global aquaculture community to convene in Singapore, as the country steps up its efforts to grow the industry and become a centre for aquaculture research and innovation.

“With aquaculture rapidly growing in Asia Pacific and increasingly being integrated into Singapore’s food systems, World Aquaculture Singapore 2022 is the perfect time for the world aquaculture community to focus on Singapore,” said Dr Farshad Shishehchian, Co-Chair of WAS 2022, and Group President, CEO and Founder of Blue Aqua, an exhibitor at WAS 2022.

Beyond the immense support from the STB and SFA, the event organisers shared that Singapore was a destination of choice also because of the country’s fresh and cutting-edge approach to advancing aquaculture. “There is some amazing innovation happening in aquaculture here. In this small country, people need to take innovative approaches to aquaculture development and production in a relatively small land or sea footprint,” said Dr Jennifer Blair, President of the World Aquaculture Society.

Increasingly recognised for their contribution to global food security and nutrition, fisheries and aquaculture production has significantly expanded in the past seven decades, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Dr Blair noted that 89% of the world’s aquacultural production is located in Asia, making Singapore an important hub for industry players to converge.

The aquaculture sector will play a critical role in helping the SFA achieve its "30 by 30” goal, which is to produce 30 per cent of Singapore’s nutritional needs locally and sustainably by 2030. For land-scarce Singapore, seafood is suitable as one of the more carbon- and resource-efficient food types.

During her keynote speech on the first day of WAS 2022, Grace Fu, Singapore’s Minister for Sustainability and the Environment, announced the creation of AquaPolis – a new Research and Innovation Cluster for Tropical Marine Aquaculture. AquaPolis seeks to cultivate a thriving industry workforce by bringing local and overseas aquaculture researchers and industry players together to innovate and develop sustainable solutions.

That same day, the SFA, National University of Singapore, Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory, and industry partners signed a Memorandum of Understanding to develop the AquaPolis Programme, marking their commitment to growing an aquaculture industry for Singapore.

An impressive showcase of innovation and inspiration, WAS 2022 offered its attendees many opportunities to see, touch and test new products and technologies first-hand.

WAS members and non-members, including farmers, producers, researchers, scientists, and international students, learnt about the latest aquaculture innovations presented at over 200 exhibition booths in the trade show.

More than 400 speakers also presented their research in practical and technical sessions, providing a valuable chance for attendees to network with experts travelling from all over the world and discuss global developments in aquaculture.

With a focus on growing the future of aquaculture, WAS 2022 served as a platform for new industry entrants and aquaculture students to chart new pathways of opportunities.

Dr Blair explained, “We often think about next-generation aquaculture in terms of innovation in technology, processes, and systems, but it’s also about people – the agriculture scientists and practitioners who are coming into the industry for the first time. They are important building blocks to take the industry from strength to strength, to support global food production and food security.” said Dr Blair.

The first day of the event featured a student reception at the Georges @ The Cove restaurant and student workshops, while “student spotlight” presentations were held on the second. Activities also extended beyond the EXPO, as attendees went on farm tours around the island. Tours, such as to St John’s Island National Marine Laboratory (Singapore’s only offshore marine research facility), SFA’s Marine Aquaculture Centre (an aquaculture research facility), and land-based food fish and dragonfish farms, enabled participants to learn more about Singapore’s expertise in the areas of marine science as well as aquaculture genetics, nutrition, and health.

The event’s organisers expressed great appreciation and satisfaction over a successful event that went smoothly despite the extensive logistics involved in bringing the global aquaculture community together. Singapore’s world-class infrastructure and dynamic environment make the city a prime destination for events like WAS 2022.

“The Singapore EXPO itself is a great place to host conferences and exhibitions. The Garden City is very vibrant. With the close distance to incredible amenities, cultural diversity, and outdoor activities, all the exhibitors and participants have much to gain that they may not find anywhere else,” said Dr Shishehchian. “Singapore is home to some of the best gastronomy in the world – that necessarily includes some of the locally produced aquaculture products.”