IN BRIEF - Mitsubishi Foods Invests in Vietnam-based startup Homefarm Holding
VIET NAM
Monday, April 22, 2024
Mitsubishi Foods Co., Ltd. Mitsubishi Foods announced an investment in a new company operating 161 retail stores specializing in imported foods in Vietnam (as of the end of March 2024) and has carried out a capital increase in Homefarm Holding JSC.
"The purpose of our company is to contribute to the realization of a sustainable society through the food business, and we are not only strengthening our business foundations that support Japan's food infrastructure, but we are also acquiring new functions and working in new business fields "We are actively promoting open innovation with emerging companies," Mitsubishi Foods said in a statement.
"In particular, given the trend of the domestic market contraction, we have positioned the creation of new demand in foreign markets through the export of Japanese food culture as one of the pillars of our growth strategy. We have been looking for opportunities to expand to Vietnam, considering it a promising market,"he added.
Homefarm is a specialty imported food retailer that mainly sells fresh salmon and frozen beef, and related ingredients include condiments such as soy sauce, wasabi and meat sauce, as well as stewed soups and other ingredients that are very popular in Vietnam.
The Government of Japan, in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), has launched a two-year project titled “Development of a Sustainable Fishery Value Chain in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM)”, signed in 2025.
The initiative aims to strengthen the productivity and resilience of the aquaculture and fisheries sectors in BARMM, one of the regions with the greatest potential in the Philippine fish industry. By developing sustainable local value chains, the project supports small-scale producers through capacity-building activities, promotes alternative high-value species and value-adding processes, and enhances stakeholders’ knowledge and technical skills.
As part of ongoing monitoring efforts, First Secretary and Agriculture Attaché Akasaka Hidenori visited project sites in Tawi-Tawi Province on February 10, 2026. During the visit, he met with representatives from the BARMM government, local government units (LGUs), and project beneficiaries to assess progress and exchange insights on strengthening the region’s fisheries sector.
The research vessel Árni Friðriksson has completed a week-long capelin survey off the northwest coast of Iceland, focusing on spawning migrations and stock abundance. Survey coverage extended from west of Dohrnbank along the continental slope off the Westfjords to Skagagrunn.
At the same time, the vessel Þórunn Þórðardóttir gathered acoustic data during a hydrographic survey examining ocean conditions around Iceland in February. Scientists reported almost no capelin north of Iceland. A small quantity of mature capelin was detected near the continental slope at Bardagrunn, while immature fish were observed farther offshore near drift ice off the Westfjords.
Researchers estimate that the bulk of the 328 thousand tonnes of capelin recorded northwest of Iceland in January has now migrated eastward, moving clockwise around the country. The stock is expected to spawn in coastal waters in the south and west in March.
The Marine and Freshwater Research Institute has announced no further capelin surveys will be conducted this winter.
The Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) has welcomed the expansion of Iceland Foods’ certified seafood range, signalling a growing shift among UK retailers to make responsibly farmed seafood both accessible and affordable.
Launching on 10 February, Iceland’s expanded selection of ASC-labelled products reflects rising consumer demand for seafood that protects both people and the environment — without carrying a premium price tag.
The latest rollout increases Iceland’s total ASC-certified range to 15 products, adding newly certified salmon, seabass, scallops and prawns. Several items will be included in multi-buy promotions, reinforcing the retailer’s commitment to keeping sustainable choices within reach of everyday shoppers.
Ecuador's non-oil exports reached a record high in 2025 thanks to shrimp, while the industry warns of new regulations.
During 2025, Ecuador achieved a historic record in non-oil exports, totaling USD 29.402 billion, representing an 18.3% increase compared to the previous year. This result was led by the performance of shrimp, which consolidated its position as the country's main export product, along with the contribution of canned fish.
Shrimp topped the ranking of exports with USD 8.401 billion, registering a year-on-year increase of 20.2%, and confirming its status as the main driver of growth in Ecuador's non-oil sector.
Source: MundoAcuicola | Read the full article here
The event, produced by Diversified, is returning to the Thomas M. Menino Convention & Exhibition Center, and will bring together seafood suppliers, processors, equipment manufacturers, and service providers from around the world to showcase products and close deals.
With 246,665 net square feet of exhibit space and exhibiting companies representing 48 countries confirmed to date – with continued growth expected – the 2026 edition reinforces its position as the must-attend event for seafood industry professionals seeking to maximize business opportunities in one place
Source: SeafoodSource | Read the full article here
A new study led by researchers at University of Stirling has found that changes in aquafeed composition over the past two decades have significantly reshaped the environmental footprint of European aquaculture, reducing reliance on wild-caught fish while increasing impacts across several other environmental indicators.
The research, led by Björn Kok and Dr Wesley Malcorps of the university’s Institute of Aquaculture, examined developments between 2000 and 2020 and found that the European aquaculture sector cut its overall use of wild-caught fish in feed by 13%, despite nearly doubling in production over the same period. Growth was largely driven by the expansion of Atlantic salmon farming in Norway.
Source: SalmonBusiness | Read the full article here
King salmon farmer leases vessel to support expansion ambitions
New?Zealand?King?Salmon (NZKS) is to introduce the country’s first wellboat, it has announced.
Until now, New Zealand has been the only major salmon-producing country not using this technology.
The 18-year-old wellboat, previously called the Ronja Nordic, has been appropriately renamed the Ronja King. It is currently on its way from Haugesund in Norway to Spain and is expected to arrive in New Zealand waters in April.
Author: Gareth Moore / fishfarmingexpert | Read the full article here
The winter storms that battered large areas of the United States in January have had a very noticeable effect on supermarket shelves: more stockpiling, fewer restaurant visits, and a rise in sales value across virtually all seafood categories. This phenomenon was also accompanied by a second decisive factor: an acceleration of seafood-specific inflation, more pronounced than general food inflation.
Data from Circana, analyzed by 210 Analytics, shows the extent to which bad weather can reshape consumption patterns in just a few days.
EJF and Calamasur Want to Put a Stop to Chinese Activity Operating Outside of Scientific Recommendations
“One of the world’s most important squid fisheries is heading toward an ecological and social crisis as vast Chinese fishing fleets take advantage of weak governance, lack of transparency, and regulatory gaps throughout the Southeast Pacific.” Adding to this biological crisis, new research by the Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) highlights labor abuses by one of the companies involved—China National Fisheries Corporation—whose catches are exported to the US, the European Union, and the UK.
Source: Industrias Pesqueras | Read the full article here
Uncertain situation of Argentina’s fleet and processing plants Argentina
National strike and debate over labor reform paralyze ports and processing during peak shrimp season
Fishing activity in Argentina is facing decisive hours amid the parliamentary debate over the Labo...
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ICELAND
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ECUADOR
Ecuador's non-oil exports reached a record high in 2025 thanks to shrimp, while the industry warns of new regulations.
UNITED STATES
Seafood Expo North America/Seafood Processing North America
A new study led by researchers at University of Stirling has found that changes in aquafeed composition over the past two decades have significantly reshaped the environmental footprint of European aquaculture, reducing reliance on wild-caught fish while increasing impacts across several other environmental indicators.
NEW ZEALAND
King salmon farmer leases vessel to support expansion ambitions
The winter storms that battered large areas of the United States in January have had a very noticeable effect on supermarket shelves: more stockpiling, fewer restaurant visits, and a rise in sales value across virtually all seafood categories. This phenomenon was also accompanied by a second decisive factor: an acceleration of seafood-specific inflation, more pronounced than general food inflation.
EJF and 
