Charting the Future of Shrimp: Global Shrimp Forum 2025 Sets the Stage for Industry-Wide Resilience and Innovation
From September 2–4, 2025, the international shrimp sector will once again gather in Utrecht, the Netherlands, for the fourth edition of the Global Shrimp Forum (GSF). With more than 500 participants expected, from producers and processors to investors, retailers, and NGOs, GSF 2025 is shaping up to be the most ambitious event yet for the global shrimp community. Now recognised as the leading annual gathering for shrimp stakeholders worldwide, this year’s Forum promises a bold and diverse programme. More than 110 speakers are confirmed to take the stage, offering a panoramic view of the sector’s most urgent challenges and its most exciting opportunities. Notably, this edition also highlights growing gender diversity in industry leadership, with 24 female experts joining panels and presentations: a clear sign of GSF’s evolving inclusivity. “This forum is designed to help the shrimp industry navigate complexity with clarity,” says Willem van der Pijl, Managing Director of the Global Shrimp Forum. “It’s about smarter decisions, data-backed strategy, and building momentum through shared knowledge and investment.”
Global Themes, Local Realities
GSF 2025 will kick off with a Plenary Opening Session tackling two of the most pressing forces shaping the industry today.
First, a focus on macroeconomics and trade policy: an unflinching assessment of global trade dynamics, the influence of U.S. tariffs, and shifting geopolitical alignments. Leading the session will be Jan Lambregts (Rabobank), Angel Rubio (Urner Barry), and Robert DeHaan (National Fisheries Institute).
Then, attention turns to innovation and sustainability – a sector-wide imperative. Industry voices like Bastiaan van Tilburg (Skretting) and Lucas de Groot (TailorWessing) will weigh in on regulatory scrutiny, green claims, and the path toward greater accountability in the shrimp supply chain.
Insights That Move Markets
Market data and regional intelligence will be front and centre in the return of the popular Export and Import Statistics: Market Outlook session. Featuring contributions from leading importers such as Chicken of the Sea, Maruha Nichiro, and Eurotrade, and exporters including Viet Uc and the Seafood Exporters Association of India, this discussion will unpack global trade flows, pricing, and demand projections for 2025.
Three regional focus sessions, dedicated to Vietnam, Mexico, and Brazil, will offer granular market analysis from in-country experts. Executives from Cargill, ADM, Marfresco Pescados, and Manta Bay Seafood will explore production trends and new consumer markets in each respective region.
Technology and Transformation
Innovation will have its own spotlight, with four dedicated Shrimp x Tech x Innovation sessions.
On day 2, we will first explore AI and automation in processing and by-product valorisation, featuring a newly commissioned GSF study presented by Melanie Siggs. Two biotech firms, Karmic and ChitoLytic, will present how circularity can redefine waste as value, while Laitram Machinery will turn our eyes to smart processing.
The second session will focus on traceability and verification. First, companies from across the value chain—including the Global Dialogue on Seafood Traceability (GDST), Fishin’ Co., and Albert Heijn—will discuss the market forces driving change in this area. We will then hear three pitches from the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC), Wholechain, and AquaExchange, who will explain how their technologies can enhance market access, operational efficiency, and consumer trust.
On day 3, we will start with a deep dive into indoor farming. Matt Craze, lead researcher at Spheric Research, will open the session with a global review of the indoor shrimp farming landscape. This will be followed by two case studies: White Panther in Austria and Atarraya in the USA, with both companies reflecting on their journeys in Europe and North America, respectively. The session will be moderated by Ohad Maiman, former CEO of The Kingfish Company, who now supports multiple innovative ventures in the aquaculture space.
The final session will dive into farm optimisation, showcasing tech-forward solutions from companies like Jala, Tomota, ShrimpL, and Kampi. Hosted by AQ1 and the International Finance Corporation (IFC), this session will focus on the real-world impact of digital tools in shrimp aquaculture.
Financing the Future
Capital flows into aquaculture will be examined in-depth during Finance & Investment Summit where major players such as Nutreco, SyAqua, and Mitsui will discuss current investment dynamics, risk landscapes, and funding strategies for long-term sustainability.
A follow-on investor panel featuring representatives from Rabobank and Ocean 14 Capital will highlight where capital is moving (and why) as the shrimp industry adapts to new financial realities.
Confronting the Climate Challenge
On the final day, the focus turns to the climate. The Plenary Climate Summit will unveil a groundbreaking report on emissions across the shrimp supply chain. Darian McBain, formerly Chief Sustainability Officer at Thai Union, will lead a high-level conversation on how to align shrimp production with global climate commitments, balancing environmental ambition with economic viability.
Culture Meets Cause
As a cultural centrepiece, the opening night will feature a screening of the Emmy-nominated documentary “Hope in the Water”, followed by a fireside chat with producer Jennifer Bushman and Vietnamese aquaculture innovator Dr. Loc Tran. This session will highlight blue food solutions and the role of storytelling in shifting seafood narratives.
Why Be There?
Whether you’re managing a hatchery, deploying capital, overseeing sustainability strategies, or building tech for aquaculture, GSF 2025 offers a unique opportunity to plug into the latest thinking, data, and global connections. Delegates will gain access to market-shaping insights and potential partnerships that could define the next phase of the shrimp industry’s evolution.
“At its core, this forum is about building bridges; between countries, between sectors, and between people,” says Van der Pijl. “We’re looking forward to welcoming our global community back to Utrecht for what we believe will be our most collaborative and forward-focused gathering to date.”
For programme updates and registration, visit www.shrimp-forum.com
