The aquaculture industry in Kenya benefits from international knowledge transfer through the first regional Aquaculture Academy

The Aquaculture Academy is founded by some of the partners of the FoodTechAfrica consortium. With over eight years of experience in the East African aquaculture sector, the consortium partners have witnessed the lack of practical skills as impeding profitable and sustainable aquaculture farming in East Africa. The Aquaculture Academy trains and builds ‘aquapreneurs’ who are able to run a sustainable and profitable business, inspire others to become fish farmers and spur economic prosperity throughout the sector.

Aquaculture has the potential to contribute to development, but only if done sustainably and through collaboration with all stakeholders in the region. The Aquaculture Academy aims to sustainably transform East-African aquaculture, improving the lives of millions in the region. The Aquaculture Academy contributes to SDGs 2, 4, 5, 6, 9, 12 and 17 (see appendix for more information).

On the 7^th of May, 2021, the Aquaculture Academy was launched with the support of the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) and the Netherlands Embassy in Nairobi. The academy is now open in two campuses (Homabay and Machakos county), with basic, advanced, online, and even mobile courses.

Combining physical and digital education

East Africa as a region is rapidly digitizing. With its young and dynamic demographic and mobile penetration of over 90%, especially Kenya is leading the adoption of digital technology in Africa. This offers significant opportunities to share knowledge and reach farmers, in aquaculture and other agricultural sectors.

To increase the reach of the Academy, and to provide access to knowledge to the entire sector and beyond, FoodTechAfrica has also developed an extensive digital curriculum together with the Blue Planet Academy. The digital courses provide videos covering all aspects of fish farming in East Africa.