In a quest to meet Asia’s growing demands for food security and clean water, Israeli firm Tiran Group has found its base in Singapore, aiming to harness technology and innovation. Initially rooted in shipping and logistics, Tiran embarked on the aquaculture journey about a decade ago, establishing a unit known as New Horizon.
Today, the company’s operations extend far beyond transporting up to 70,000 shipping containers annually between Turkey and Israel. Tiran Group is deeply involved in aquaculture, specializing in the breeding of red tilapia fish in Israel and freshwater prawns in Asia, specifically China and Vietnam.
Haim Avioz, the visionary founder of Israeli Tiran Group, emphasized the rising global demand for seafood, primarily driven by consumers in Asia, home to over 60% of the world’s population. As the fishing industry faces a crisis due to overfishing and climate change, aquatech, or farming with innovative technology, is seen as a sustainable solution and the future of seafood production.
“We are already active with prawn farms in China, Vietnam, and Singapore,” Mr. Avioz, also the CEO of Tiran and New Horizon, revealed. “We are already selling our products to Cambodia, Taiwan, Thailand, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Brunei, and more, and are exploring markets in Indonesia, India, and the Philippines.”
China alone presents a colossal demand for newly hatched prawns worth more than US$100 billion annually, but only US$5 billion of this demand is currently met. Tiran Group aims to bridge this gap.
In Singapore, Tiran is collaborating with Opal Resources Farm to breed and sell male-only freshwater prawns. This innovation is driven by a unique technology developed at the National Institute of Biotechnology at Ben Gurion University of the Negev in Israel. The patented technology employs gene silencing without hormones, chemicals, or genetic modifications, resulting in a higher yield of male prawns with minimal mortality rates.
Economic analysis demonstrates that an all-male prawn population generates approximately 60% more income compared to mixed or all-female populations. Male prawns grow significantly larger than their female counterparts, a fact that contributes to their increased economic value.
Singapore was strategically chosen as Tiran’s base due to its global and regional connectivity, which ensures shorter delivery times to target markets and lower air freight costs. Singapore’s straightforward regulatory environment further solidified the decision.
Furthermore, Mr. Avioz has initiated discussions with the Singapore Food Agency to collaborate on water-saving fish farming systems. Tiran’s aquaculture farm in Nir David, Israel, producing 150 tonnes of seafood per year, is a model that Singapore can replicate. This efficient operation uses patented MegaFlow Technology, which introduces fresh air into water while removing carbon dioxide.
Tiran Group is also exploring partnerships for water treatment with Singapore’s Urban Redevelopment Authority and Housing Board, incorporating the NUF membrane, known for its water purification capabilities.
Despite facing challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, which halted overseas expansion plans, Tiran Group is experiencing a strong rebound in demand from the region. Prior to the pandemic, seafood contributed around US$1 million annually to Tiran’s revenue. With the current resurgence in demand, it is expected to reach US$5 million to US$10 million annually in the next two to three years.
One of Tiran’s prominent markets is Thailand, well-known for its love of giant prawns, considered a delicacy. Bangladesh, an emerging market, holds the potential to push the group’s sales beyond US$20 million annually, and discussions are underway with interested parties in Indonesia.
In a significant development, Zhuhai Agricultural Investment Holding Group signed US$3 million worth of deals with Tiran at the 3rd China-Israel Investment Summit. The collaboration aims to incubate high-tech agricultural projects. Zhuhai CLZ Investment, a subsidiary of Zhuhai Agricultural Investment Holding Group, will jointly cultivate all-male giant freshwater prawn larvae and young prawns.
The rise of aquatech and food tech companies like Tiran Group underscores the global significance of innovation in meeting food security challenges. As Israeli Ambassador to Singapore Eli Vered Hazan observed, Israel’s history of innovation driven by survival constraints has paved the way for transformative technologies in aquatech and food tech, benefiting not only itself but also other countries striving to enhance their food security.
