GenoMar Genetics

What GenoMar Genetics does

GenoMar Genetics AS is a global tilapia genetics company that develops, breeds, and sells genetically improved tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fingerlings and juveniles to commercial aquaculture farmers. Founded in 1996 in Oslo, Norway by Professor Øystein Lie and acquired in 2017 by Germany's EW GROUP, the company operates a 37-generation selective breeding program that combines 70K SNP genomic genotyping, BLUP-based family selection, line/cross breeding for hybrid vigor, and Amhy-based sex determination to produce all-male fingerlings (98%+ males). Two flagship commercial strains—GenoMar 1000 (growth and fillet yield optimized) and GenoMar STRONG (disease resistance, particularly against streptococcosis)—are backed by documented performance data including 7.1% average growth improvement per generation, 32% relative survival protection against Streptococcus agalactiae, and 30–35% higher farmer profits in Brazilian trials.

The business operates breeding nuclei in the Philippines (SPF-certified, operated from Central Luzon State University since 1999) and Brazil (Monte do Carmo, Tocantins, opened 2022), with wholly-owned subsidiaries and joint ventures distributing fingerlings across Vietnam (50M fingerlings/year phase 1 capacity in Tay Ninh), Malaysia (BAP-certified hatchery in Bongor), and Colombia (JV with Sanmarino/Italcol in Huila). The Brazilian subsidiary was rebranded from AquaGenetics do Brasil to GenoMar Genetics Brasil in 2025 following the 2020 acquisition of AquaAmerica/AquaPorto, integrating the Aquabel and GenoMar Supreme brands. GenoMar sells fingerlings (0.25–2g) and juveniles (20–40g) directly through local subsidiaries supported by in-region technical service teams, with pricing not publicly disclosed. Revenue is generated from one-time product sales at each stocking cycle, with disease-resistant strains commanding a premium. The company is also developing GenoMar STRONG+ (climate-resilient, multi-pathogen resistance) and a CT-scanning plus machine-learning fillet yield measurement pipeline, both funded by Research Council of Norway grants through 2027–2028.

Name

GenoMar Genetics

Legal name

GenoMar Genetics AS

Website

https://genomar.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

GenoMar Genetics breeds and sells genetically improved tilapia fingerlings and juveniles to commercial fish farmers across Asia and Latin America, operating SPF- and BAP-certified breeding nuclei in the Philippines and Brazil under parent EW GROUP.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Aquaculture Genetics

NAICS

Finfish Farming and Fish Hatcheries (112511), Aquaculture (1125)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Aquaculture Breeding & Genetics Services (e.g., broodstock improvement) (AFAEAJAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Genotyping Platforms & Services (SNP arrays, GBS, sequencing) (AFABALAE), Trait Discovery & Functional Genomics (Target ID/Validation) (AFABALAC)

Keywords

• Tilapia genetics breeding
• Aquaculture fingerling supply
• Genomic selection programs
• Disease resistant strains
• Fish breeding programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Oslo

HQ country

Norway

HQ region

Europe

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tilapia Fingerlings and Juveniles: GenoMar generates revenue through the sale of genetically improved tilapia fingerlings (0.25-2 grams) and juveniles (20-40 grams) to fish farmers. The company produces all-male tilapia with at least 98% males for optimal growth. Products include GenoMar 1000 (fast-growing, high yield) and GenoMar STRONG (disease-resistant) strains.
2. GenoMar 1000: Fast-growing tilapia strain genetically selected for high yield in aquaculture with first-class growth and fillet yield traits, supported by good health and survival traits. Available in Brazil and Colombia.
3. GenoMar STRONG: Disease-resistant tilapia strain genetically selected for high survival in aquaculture with first-class health and survival traits, supported by good growth and fillet yield traits. Available in Malaysia, Philippines, and Vietnam.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

GenoMar Genetics develops and sells genetically improved tilapia fingerlings (0.25-2 grams) and juveniles (20-40 grams) to commercial fish farmers, using proprietary genomic selection technology built around a 70K SNP panel and BLUP methodologies. The company operates all-male tilapia strains (GenoMar 1000 for fast growth and high fillet yield, and GenoMar STRONG for disease resistance) from breeding nuclei in the Philippines and Brazil, with distribution across Asia and Latin America. GenoMar also provides direct technical service support to farmers using its genetics.

Product overview

GenoMar Genetics is a global leader in tilapia genetics, offering a portfolio of genetically improved tilapia fingerlings and juveniles through selective breeding. The company operates two main product lines: GenoMar 1000 (fast-growing, high-yield tilapia optimized for production efficiency) and GenoMar STRONG (disease-resistant tilapia with superior survival traits, including documented resistance to streptococcosis). In Brazil, the company also offers the Aquabel brand through GenoMar Genetics Brasil. Products are available as all-male fingerlings (0.25-2 grams) or juveniles (20-40 grams), with GenoMar STRONG+ under development as a next-generation disease-resistant strain. The company operates breeding nuclei in the Philippines and Brazil, with distribution operations across Asia and Latin America.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• GenoMar 1000: A fast-growing and resilient tilapia genetically selected for high yield in aquaculture with first-class growth and fillet yield traits supported by good health and survival traits.
• GenoMar STRONG

Products and services

• GenoMar 1000 Fast-growing and resilient Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) genetically selected for high yield in aquaculture, featuring first-class growth and fillet yield traits supported by good health and survival traits. Proven growth from 22g to 1,000g in 114 days in cages and 121 days in ponds, with 95.2% survival rate from stocking to harvest and 29% higher growth than local Brazilian commercial strains. Available to commercial fish farmers in Brazil and Colombia.
• GenoMar STRONG Robust Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) genetically selected for high survival in aquaculture, featuring first-class health and survival traits, including documented resistance to streptococcosis supported by good growth and fillet yield traits. Sold as all-male fingerlings to commercial fish farmers in Malaysia, Philippines, and Vietnam.
• Aquabel Brazilian tilapia brand under GenoMar Genetics Brasil, providing genetically selected tilapia fingerlings and juveniles documented through laboratory experiments, field trials, and customer feedback for the Brazilian aquaculture market.

Quantifiable outcome

• GenoMar 1000 achieves 29% higher growth compared to local commercial strains in Brazil, growing from 22g to 1000g in 114 days in cages and 121 days in ponds
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Food Animal Initiative (FAI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 May 2026FAI is a globally recognized organization with extensive scientific expertise in animal welfare across multiple species and production systems. GenoMar established a strategic partnership with FAI to strengthen its approach to animal welfare across all operations. FAI provides training and digital tools for implementing animal welfare standards throughout GenoMar's tilapia breeding and genetics operations globally.
• Central Luzon State University (CLSU)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 October 2024Partnership through GenoMar Tilapia Knowledge Outreach Program to promote collaboration between academia and the industry for sustainable tilapia breeding. GenoMar operates its breeding nucleus facility at CLSU campus in the Philippines.
• Agroavícola Sanmarino S.A. (Italcol Group)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 25 October 2021Joint venture agreement established GenoMar Genetics Colombia for supplying genetically improved tilapia in Colombia. Sanmarino/Italcol provides commercialization support and data collection of tilapia performance delivered to the Colombian industry. GenoMar supplies parent stock and production support.
• AquaAmerica and AquaPortocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 April 2020GenoMar acquired genetics and distribution assets of AquaAmerica/AquaPorto, independent Brazilian tilapia breeding and distribution company based in Minas Gerais. AquaAmerica breeding and genetics joined portfolio including GenoMar Supreme and Aquabel brands.
• Center for Integrative Genetics (CIGENE)majorTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2015Collaboration agreement signed in 2015 with CIGENE for the development and application of a genotyping tool, a high-density SNP array for Nile tilapia. This partnership enabled GenoMar to use genetic information to select for many favorable traits and was instrumental in developing the first commercial tilapia SNP array.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Salmonblegend (SalmoBreed) / Benchmark AquaFocus: Salmonid-focused genetics company under Benchmark Holdings providing adjacent aquaculture genetics technology. Indirect peer through shared genomic selection technology platforms and customer overlap in integrated aquaculture groups.

Broad incumbents

• Hendrix Genetics: Multi-species animal genetics leader (poultry, swine, salmon, trout, shrimp) with established aquaculture division. Competes with GenoMar in shrimp and salmonid genetics and could expand into warm-water species.
• AquaBounty Technologies: Public aquaculture biotech company focused on genetically modified salmon with similar regulatory and biosecurity profile. Comparable in leveraging advanced genetics for aquaculture productivity gains.
• Charoen Pokphand Foods (CPF): Asia's largest integrated aquaculture producer operating its own tilapia and shrimp breeding programs. Competes with GenoMar as both integrated producer and potential customer in Asian markets.

Direct peers

• Benchmark Genetics: Aquaculture genetics division of Benchmark Holdings focused on salmon, shrimp, and tilapia breeding programs. Direct competitor in commercial aquaculture genetics with comparable genomic selection technology and global distribution.
• Spring Genetics (Til-Aqua International): Direct competitor in tilapia genetics, operating all-male YY-supermale technology and distributing improved tilapia fingerlings globally. Closest head-to-head peer to GenoMar in Nile tilapia genetic improvement.

Emerging players

• Center for Aquaculture Technologies (CAT): Contract research and genetics services firm serving aquaculture breeding programs globally. Provides genotyping, breeding program design, and genetic services that overlap with GenoMar's technical platform.
• Xelect: UK-based aquaculture genetics services company providing genomic selection and broodstock management to fish breeding programs. Competes with GenoMar's technology platform on the services/analytics layer.
• WorldFish Center: International research organization that originated the GIFT breeding program from which GenoMar's strain descends. Indirect peer as custodian of foundational genetic material and ongoing tilapia genetic improvement research.

Regional players

• Tilápia São Pedro (TSPB / Aqua til): Brazilian tilapia breeding and fingerling supplier serving the Latin American market. Direct regional competitor to GenoMar in Brazil and Colombia with comparable all-male tilapia products.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/genomar-genetics
• Xx.com/genomartilapia

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about GenoMar Genetics