Calling All Entrepreneurs, Pt. 2

In 2013, we recognized?Dr. Amir Sagi?of Ben Gurion University’s National Institute for Biotechnology in the Negev for his work on a hormone-free, chemical-free single-gene silencing technology for sex reversal of the giant freshwater prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii). Since then, rosenbergii?production has doubled, sitting at around 300,000 metric tons worldwide. Did Dr. Sagi’s innovation play a role in the growth? Well, yes. Dr. Sagi reports that his RNAi-based all-male biotechnology is now common practice in Vietnam, and its use in Thailand and Malaysia is on the rise.

So what is Dr. Sagi up to these days? “I am happy that we were able to establish the two prawn monosex biotechnologies without the use of any chemicals or any genomic manipulations (both are non-GMO). Now we are establishing a genome editing platform for the prawn,” he says. “This is a long-term approach that could also revolutionize prawn culture, contribute to sustainable biocontrol approaches, prevent aquaculture escapees from becoming invasive and more. This should be done responsibly.?So, I am satisfied from what was achieved and happy that there is still a lot to be studied.”

In 14 days, the application process for the?11th annual Responsible Seafood Innovation Awards, formerly the Global Aquaculture Innovation Awards, ends. As I wrote in this space on May 4 when the application process opened, I like to think that we play a small but spirited role in filling the pipeline with entrepreneurs. For some of the entrepreneurs participating in the?competition, this is their coming-out party, an introduction of sorts that will ideally lead to bigger and better things.

Six finalists – three for aquaculture and three for fisheries – will be invited to join us at the?Responsible Seafood Summit?in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada, in October to participate in a ceremony and reception celebrating innovation.?Toby Corey, executive chair and COO of?Cruz Foam, one of last year’s two winners and the recent recipient of?$18 million in Series A funding, will also be joining us in Saint John to give a presentation, emcee the ceremony and be a resource for the entrepreneurs in the room. (He knows a thing or two about?entrepreneurship.)

If you’re on the fence about submitting an application, don’t overthink it. In the 10 years of the?competition, we’ve received more than 150 applications from a stunning 50 countries, and some of the previous winners like?Corbion(formerly TerraVia),?Ace Aquatec?and?Dr. Sagi, whose lab is now named after him, are making a big impact on this industry. You could be next.