Nigeria’s Fish Farming Gets a Boost From U.S. Soy Partnership

Nigeria may lead sub-Saharan Africa in aquaculture production, but it still can’t meet its own appetite for fish. The country needs more than three million metric tons of fish every year, yet current output covers less than half that demand. One of the biggest obstacles? The cost and availability of quality fish feed. Now, a new collaboration with the United States soybean industry is aiming to change that.

Source:naijapreneur

A fresh partnership between Nigeria and the U.S. soybean sector is setting the stage for stronger fish production and better access to protein-rich feeds. The Memorandum of Understanding recognizes how soy-based feeds can transform Nigeria’s aquaculture industry, making it more efficient, affordable, and sustainable.

United Soybean Board Director Nancy Kavazanjian, a Wisconsin farmer, says the partnership is about more than just trade — it’s about building a future for young aquaculturists in Nigeria while creating new opportunities for U.S. soybean growers. With China scaling back purchases of American soy, this initiative opens a vital new market.

“Feed is the lifeline of aquaculture,” Kavazanjian explained during the World Initiative for Soy in Human Health (WISHH) event held on August 19 at Sejfarms Consult Limited, where Nigerian aquaculture leaders gathered to discuss the sector’s future. “We’re proud that U.S. soybean farmers grow high-quality, sustainable soybeans that not only support animal health but also contribute to global food security.”

WISHH is partnering with Nigerian feed manufacturers and businesses to strengthen the country’s aquaculture feed industry, which remains underdeveloped due to high production costs. Feed often accounts for up to 70 percent of fish farming expenses, making it the biggest hurdle for local farmers.

Most of WISHH’s activities are concentrated in southwestern Nigeria, home to more than 75 percent of the country’s feed mills. Their impact is already being felt — one fish farm that worked closely with WISHH’s technical team saw feed use jump by 326 percent and fingerling production soar by 500 percent, now producing one million fingerlings annually.

This growing partnership between Nigeria and the U.S. soybean industry is more than a trade deal — it’s a bridge between continents, built on a shared vision of sustainability, innovation, and food security for a growing global population.