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AquaBounty picks small Ohio town for GE salmon farm site

July 30, 2021  By  Nestor Arellano


(Image: villageofpioneer.org)

AquaBounty Technologies has chosen a small village in Northwestern Ohio as the site for its latest land-based aquaculture facility for raising the company’s genetically engineered (GE) salmon.

The new farm will be AquaBounty’s first large-scale commercial facility, with a planned annual production capacity of 10,000 metric tons – approximately eight times the size of the company’s farm in Albany, Indiana. The Indiana facility produces 1,200 metric tons of its AquVantage branded GE salmon.

The company’s AquAdvantage fish program is based upon a single, specific molecular modification in fish that results in more rapid growth in early development compared to conventional salmon.

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The company is also raising AquAdvantage salmon in another land-based farm in Rollo Bay, Prince Edward Island in Canada.

“After an intensive analysis of the site data and the completion of substantial due diligence, Pioneer met our selection requirements,” said Sylvia Wulf, chief executive officer of AquaBounty. “The Village of Pioneer, Williams County, the State of Ohio, JobsOhio and the Regional Growth Partnership have all been a pleasure to work with and are highly supportive of the economic benefits we plan to bring to the community.”

“AquaBounty’s decision to choose Ohio for its first large-scale aquaculture facility is more evidence that Ohio is emerging from the pandemic stronger than before,” said J.P. Nauseef, JobsOhio president and CEO. “This investment will bring 112 new jobs to Northwest Ohio, further solidifying the region’s role as a national leader in agribusiness production and distribution.”

AquaBounty  is finalizing the design for the estimated 479,000 sf facility and expects to invest over $200 million in the project, according to a press release from the company.  Construction is slated to begin in late 2021 and the company anticipates commercial stocking of salmon to commence in 2023.

The state of Ohio currently finalizing a package of economic incentives to support AquaBounty’s location at the Pioneer site, according to Wulf.

“…The plan for the new farm is contingent upon approval of state and local incentives,” she added.

The company’s AquAdvantage fish program is based upon a single, specific molecular modification in fish that results in more rapid growth in early development compared to conventional salmon.

The company is also raising AquAdvantage salmon in another land-based farm in Rollo Bay, Prince Edward Island in Canada.


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