Kentucky opens doors for salt-water shrimp development

Kentucky Sen. Richie Sanders has written into the recently passed state budget $2.8 million for three universities to develop a biotechnology program, including one that could expand to $7 million for research company Sygen International for salt-water shrimp aquaculture development.

None of the shrimp production plans have been put in writing and neither the University of Kentucky, Kentucky State University nor Western Kentucky University have been provided details. The budget orders the three schools to develop and market the shrimp industry in Kentucky . KSU has been working on a freshwater aquaculture program that has fostered a budding industry of some 125 Kentucky shrimp growers.

The budget bill appropriates $1.1 million in operating funds and $1.7 million in state bonds to build a research facility. Eventually, the state could contribute $7.2 million and Sygen could invest $12 million. Sygen’s Stephen Pearce, in charge of biotech business development, said the $247-million-a-year company approached the state for the five year project.

A facility to breed and hatch genetically superior salt-water shrimp would be built on Western’s property. In theory, Kentucky farmers could then raise those shrimp in specially built indoor saltwater tanks year round, and process and sell them to the $4 billion U.S. shrimp market.

Jim Anderson, managing director for Sygen’s Hawaii-based shrimp division SyAqua, said the state and universities will be involved in the demonstration farms and market Development.

Much university and business collaboration works through organizations like the Kentucky Science and Technology Corp., which uses a competitive process to invest in companies that work with state universities. The corporation gets some stake in the company that receives taxpayer money. A collaboration between Sygen and the universities will make all four entities eligible for increased federal funding in biotech and genetic research.

Sue Harkins, a Bourbon County freshwater shrimp farmer, former member of the Ag Board and agriculture activist, said she was disappointed funding wasn't given to KSU to continue its work for existing shrimp farmers. "This does not relate to Kentucky farmers or if it does, it's so far down the road," she said. " Kentucky farmers need help now to keep them alive on their farms. Why they would give this money to a large, foreign interest makes no sense to me."

Lexington Herald-Leader