EWOS aquafeed plant in Long An Province
With annual production of one million tons, making up more than 1/3 of the global salmon feed volume, EWOS is considered the top-ranking feed producer in Norway and around the world. The group is now operating in five countries, including Norway, Canada, Chile, Scotland and Viet Nam with 750 employees in total.
Mr Nguyen Nhu Pho
EWOS Viet Nam Deputy Director
introduce EWOS Inside |
EWOS shows particular interest in the sustainability of the aquaculture industry and understands the role of feed in such concept. Therefore, the group has paid great attention to the product research and development. The aim is to improve the quality product while minimizing the impact on the environment via the efficient use of the ingredients (fish meal, fish oil) and energy. Each year, the group spends over US$16 million on research activities. It has also adopted various standards in management (ISO 9001), food safety assurance (ISO 22000), environment (ISO 14001), health and safety (ISO 18001).
Since 2008, EWOS has opened a representative office in Viet Nam to serve the Pangasius industry here, which it believes will be the fastest-growing one in the world in the next decades.
On January 7, 2011, EWOS officially took a share in the local feed market through a joinventure with ANOVA group. The Viet Nam EWOS Jointstock Company was founded with an aquafeed processing plant in Long An Province and two research centers, one in O Mon (Can Tho City) and the other in Vinh Long City.
EWOS functional feed
EWOS is one of the pioneers in functional feed research for farmed fish. Its first line of functional feed was introduced in 1999 to raise the fish health and safety. EWOS functional feed contains additives sourced from nature with positive impact on the fish immune system and survival rate. It has very low feed conversion rate (FCR).
EWOS has introduced its functional feed products in Viet Nam since mid December 2011. The aim is to improve fish health, fillet ratio, and traceability while reducing the FCR from 1.5 - 1.6 to 1.2 - 1.3 and minimizing environment impact.
“EWOS INSIDE”
EWOS Viet Nam has worked with farmers to ensure the farming process meet food safety and environmental standards. The fish product thereof will then be purchased at high price by the buyers who have good relations with EWOS. This model is called “EWOS Inside” Programme.
The press conference “EWOS was present in Viet Nam”
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According to PhD Nguyen Nhu Pho, EWOS Viet Nam Deputy Director, the biggest difference of the programme is that it does not focus on the traditional fish fillet but instead the valueadded products with higher price.
It takes a participated approach with the surveillance burden and benefits are equally shared among the stakeholders. “EWOS Inside” Programme involves the farmers, processors, buyers and EWOS itself as the feed provider. Each party has its owned obligations and responsibilities.
Being the creator and the driving force behind the programme, EWOS will make sure to provide traceable feed of highest quality and technical support to the farmers while supervising both the farming and the manufacturing process. It will take responsibility for issuing “EWOS Inside” certificate, and at the same time promoting the product sales in high-end markets.
Farmers want to join the programme must have farming areas in conformity with GlobalG.A.P and pledge to use only EWOS feed for their fish. Besides, they have to work closely with EWOS technical staff and sell raw fish to member processing companies.
The member processing companies must be already certified HACCP, GlobalG.A.P, etc. They are subject to EWOS supervision during the processing and put “EWOS Inside” label on the end-product package. In addition, they have to make manufacturing process reports, ensure traceability and cooperate with EWOS Viet Nam and buyers to in trade promotion activities.
Buying certified products at reasonable price is the buyers’ main responsibility when joining this programme. They can appoint someone to supervise the fish farming and processing and coordinate with other members to step up marketing activities.
EWOS Viet Nam believes that all the stakeholders will benefit from the programme if they are fully committed to it.
“This is a completely new idea. We will do it step by step rather than hurrying through,” said Pho.
By DO VAN THONG
Compiled by D.V.T