WorldFish

What WorldFish does

WorldFish is an international nonprofit research and innovation institution that creates and translates scientific research on aquatic food systems into development outcomes. Headquartered in Penang, Malaysia, with country offices and regional hubs across Africa, Asia, and the Pacific, the organization employs 407 staff representing 37 nationalities and operates in 27 countries. Founded in 1977 as the International Center for Living Aquatic Resources Management (ICLARM) and rebranded to WorldFish in 2011, it is a member of the One CGIAR network — the world's largest agricultural research coalition. Its core technical capabilities span four research areas: aquatic genetics (including the GIFT selectively-bred tilapia strain and Abbassa/GIANT Nile tilapia), aquatic animal health (One Health diagnostics via Lab-in-a-Backpack), aquatic animal nutrition (FASA digital feed formulation tool), and aquatic farming practices (climate-resilient systems). The Sustainable Aquatic Food Systems division adds production systems research, data and digital innovations (AquaData, Peskas, Tracks app), governance and policy analysis, and inclusive market systems work.

Name

WorldFish

Legal name

International Center for Living Aquatic Resources Management (ICLARM)

Website

https://worldfishcenter.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1977

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

WorldFish is a Penang-headquartered nonprofit CGIAR research institution employing 407 staff across 27 countries, developing selectively-bred tilapia genetics, aquaculture feeds, One Health diagnostics, and digital fisheries platforms (Peskas, AquaData, Tracks) for smallholder farmers, governments, and donors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Aquaculture Research and Innovation

NAICS

Aquaculture (11251), Aquaculture (1125), Finfish Farming and Fish Hatcheries (112511), Animal Production and Aquaculture (112), Other Aquaculture (112519)

SIC

Agricultural Services (700), Agricultural Prod-Livestock & Animal Specialties (200)

akta.pro primary industry

Finfish Farming (e.g., salmon, tilapia, catfish) (AFAEAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Aquaculture Health, Biosecurity & Veterinary Services (AFAEAAAK), Aquaculture Feed & Nutrition (farm-level feed programs) (AFAEAAAL), Aquaculture & Fish Health Services (AFAEANAE), Finfish Feed (Salmonids, Trout, Sea Bass/Bream, Tilapia, Catfish) (AFADADAA), Aquaculture Harvest, Processing & Packing (Farmed Finfish/Shellfish; On-Farm Plants) (AFANADAL)

Keywords

• Aquaculture research
• Aquatic food systems
• Fish genetics breeding
• Fisheries management
• Aquaculture development

Headquarters

HQ city

Bayan Lepas

HQ country

Malaysia

HQ region

Asia

Offices14 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Research Funding and Grants: WorldFish operates as an international nonprofit research institution that generates revenue through research funding from CGIAR Trust Fund, bilateral donors, foundations, and international development banks. Funding supports research programs, capacity development, and technology transfer initiatives across Asia, Africa, and the Pacific.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

WorldFish is an international nonprofit research and innovation institution that conducts scientific research and develops technologies, genetic strains, and digital tools to transform aquatic food systems in support of food security, nutrition, and livelihoods. It delivers two principal research divisions — Aquatic Food Biosciences (genetics, health, nutrition, farming practices) and Sustainable Aquatic Food Systems (production systems, digital innovations, governance, market systems) — alongside proprietary breeding programs such as GIFT tilapia, digital tools including Peskas, AquaData, and Tracks, and large-scale donor-funded development programs across Africa, Asia, and the Pacific.

Product overview

WorldFish is a nonprofit research and innovation institution focused on aquatic foods for food system transformation. The organization offers a portfolio of research services, genetic improvement programs (including GIFT tilapia), digital tools and platforms (Peskas, Tracks, AquaData), and development programs. The core offerings include Aquatic Food Biosciences research (genetics, animal health, nutrition, farming practices) and Sustainable Aquatic Food Systems research (production systems, data innovations, governance, market systems). WorldFish also maintains an extensive catalogue of 5,476+ publications and manages large-scale programs like FASA for sustainable feeds, Fish For Livelihoods, TAAT, and operates the Abbassa research facility in Egypt.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• GIFT (Genetically Improved Farmed Tilapia) WorldFish's globally acclaimed selective breeding program for developing high-performing tilapia strains with traits such as fast growth, feed efficiency, disease resistance, and climate adaptability. Distributed to national research partners, government hatcheries, and aquaculture producers across Africa and Asia.
• Aquatic Food Biosciences Research Research division focused on aquatic genetics, aquatic animal health, aquatic animal nutrition, and aquatic farming practices to drive efficiency and sustainability of aquatic food production. Delivered to government partners, research institutions, and CGIAR collaborators.
• Sustainable Aquatic Food Systems Research Research division covering production systems, data and digital innovations, governance and policy, and inclusive market systems to enable sustainable aquatic food systems. Delivered to government, research, and development partners.
• Fish For Livelihoods (F4L) Activity USAID-funded project focused on improving nutrition through aquaculture in Bangladesh, supporting women and smallholder farmers in fish production and market access.
• FASA — Development and Scaling of Sustainable Feeds for Resilient Aquatic Food Systems in Sub-Saharan Africa Project developing and scaling low-cost, nutritious fish feeds for smallholder farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa, including development of the FASA Digital Feed Formulation Tool and targeting 5,000 smallholder farmers across Nigeria, Zambia, and Kenya.
• Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) African Development Bank-funded program disseminating improved aquaculture technologies across African countries including tilapia and catfish strains.
• Abbassa Facilities / Africa Aquaculture Research and Training Center (AARTC) Regional center of excellence in Egypt for genetics research and training in best management practices for African aquaculture development, operating since 1997 under the Fish for Africa Innovation Hub (FAIH).

Quantifiable outcome

• 260,000 people exited poverty through WorldFish initiatives in Egypt
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• CGIARcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorldFish is a member of One CGIAR, the world's largest agricultural research network. This partnership ensures aquatic food systems are central to research addressing sustainability, nutrition, and livelihoods across CGIAR's portfolio.
• National Agricultural Research InstitutionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partnerships with national agricultural research institutions and relevant government ministries to strengthen local capacities, enhance scientific research and data capabilities, and drive research-to-policy program development.
• FishBase ConsortiummajorTechnology or IntegrationPartnership supporting global databases like FishBase that ensure information on aquatic species is readily available for food systems analysis.
• Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, EgyptcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey government partner for aquaculture development in Egypt, collaborating on research, training, and technology transfer initiatives.
• Agricultural Research Center (ARC), EgyptmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates on aquaculture research and development activities, particularly in genetics and breeding programs.
• Lakes and Fish Resources Protection and Development Agency (LFRPDA)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on renewable energy solutions for aquaculture through CeREA project, signed MoA to mainstream renewable energy in Egypt.
• Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on sustainable aquaculture development, fisheries management, and food security initiatives.
• Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on sustainable aquaculture production and management of small-scale fisheries and marine resources in Kenya.
• Government of KenyacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMoU signed in October 2025 to strengthen cooperation on advancing Kenya's blue economy and fisheries sector, including creation of learning hub for best practices.
• Federal Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, NigeriacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey government partner for aquaculture development and policy support in Nigeria.
• International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on aquaculture research and development activities at IITA campus in Ibadan.
• African Women Fish Processors and Traders Network (AWFISHNET)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork partnership supporting women fish processors and traders across Africa.
• Regional Economic OrganizationsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnerships with key regional economic actors and intergovernmental organizations to influence discourse, policy, and practices for sustainable development.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Benchmark Genetics: Commercial aquaculture genetics company with active tilapia and other finfish breeding programs; competes with WorldFish's GIFT selective breeding work in commercial markets and represents the private-sector R&D pressure on WorldFish's genetics lead.
• GenoMar Genetics: Commercial tilapia and other finfish genetics company with selective breeding programs competing directly in the same Nile tilapia space as WorldFish's GIFT and GIANT strains; represents the private-sector alternative for buyers seeking improved tilapia genetics.

Direct peers

• International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA): CGIAR sister research center focused on tropical agriculture in Africa; WorldFish's Nigeria office is co-located inside the IITA campus in Ibadan. Operates under the same One CGIAR pooled funding system with similar nonprofit research institution structure and donor base.
• International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT): CGIAR sister center with a comparable international nonprofit research mandate, donor base, and genetic improvement program structure (selective breeding of staple crops) — directly analogous in mission and operating model to WorldFish's aquaculture genetics work.
• International Potato Center (CIP): CGIAR sister center with a comparable international nonprofit research institution structure, genetic improvement mandate, and developing-country focus; operates under the same One CGIAR pooled funding and bilateral donor model as WorldFish.
• International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI): CGIAR sister center focused on food policy research; shares the same One CGIAR governance, donor ecosystem, and research-to-policy translation model that WorldFish uses for aquatic food systems governance work.
• International Rice Research Institute (IRRI): CGIAR sister center focused on rice research for developing countries; shares the same nonprofit international research institution model, One CGIAR pooled funding, and bilateral donor relationships (Gates, USAID, EU) as WorldFish.
• International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT): CGIAR sister center focused on dryland agriculture genetics and farming systems in Africa and Asia; directly comparable in structure, mandate, and donor funding model to WorldFish.

Broad incumbents

• Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) - Fisheries and Aquaculture Division: UN agency with a global mandate on fisheries and aquaculture including policy, statistics, and standards; overlaps with WorldFish on aquaculture development and fisheries management but operates at much larger scale across all food and agriculture topics.

Others

• WorldFish's sister CGIAR centers: CIFOR-ICRAF, Bioversity International, ICARDA, ILRI: Additional CGIAR research centers operating under the same pooled funding and governance framework as WorldFish; relevant as systemic peers within the One CGIAR network even though their mandates (forestry, livestock, dryland crops) do not overlap directly with aquatic food systems.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/worldfishcenter
• Facebookfacebook.com/worldfishcenter
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/worldfish

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about WorldFish