Fairagora’s VerifiK8: Bridging ASC Compliance Gaps and Supporting Aquaculture Practices

Fairagora Asia has developed a data collection and data analysis tool called VerifiK8 to support farmers’ adoption of better aquaculture practices. This innovative tool bridges compliance gaps and enables farmers to implement more sustainable and efficient practices. By providing a comprehensive view of the environmental and social risks associated with aquaculture, VerifiK8 helps farmers align with best practices, ensuring both improved productivity and sustainability in the aquaculture industry.

VerifiK8 revolutionizes aquaculture by helping farms meet ASC certification standards through data collection, compliance gap analyses, and tailored action plans. Learn how their partnerships with Thai Union and Vietnamese shrimp farms are driving sustainability in aquaculture.

Bridging Compliance Gaps: How VerifiK8 Empowers Sustainable Aquaculture Practises

In the journey towards sustainable aquaculture, aligning farming practices with global standards like the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) is essential. Yet, this process can be complex, requiring meticulous data collection, compliance monitoring, and actionable strategies. That’s where VerifiK8 steps in.

VerifiK8 has become a game-changer by collecting data from production sites, comparing it with ASC standards, and identifying gaps that need attention. The platform not only flags non-compliance but also empowers farms to develop customized action plans, paving the way toward certification.

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How VerifiK8 Supports ASC Certification

• VerifiK8 provides farms with the tools to meet rigorous global standards like ASC by:
• Collecting comprehensive production data.
• Comparing actual practices with expected standards.
• Highlighting areas of non-compliance to create targeted action plans.

This approach ensures farms not only achieve certification but also improve their overall farming practices.

A Successful Partnership in Aquaculture Practices: Vietnam & Thailand

Vietnam: Shrimp Farming in the Mekong Delta

VerifiK8’s journey began in Vietnam in 2019, working with shrimp farming cooperatives in the Mekong Delta. Through its data collection and analysis capabilities, VerifiK8 helped these farms assess their operations against ASC standards, identifying compliance gaps and implementing action plans.

Thailand: Scaling Up with Thai Union

Building on this success, VerifiK8 expanded to Thailand, collaborating with Thai Union, a leader in the Thai seafood industry. In a post-COVID world, VerifiK8 rolled out its fully digitized gap analysis and risk assessment tools.

Thai Union nominated three farms to participate in the project, with VerifiK8 providing pre- and post-certification data insights. By flagging risk areas, VerifiK8 helped ensure these farms could meet their ASC certification goals seamlessly.

A Comprehensive Data-Driven Approach

VerifiK8’s collaboration with Thai Union not only facilitated farm-level ASC certification but also showcased Thai Union’s commitment to sustainable aquaculture. The project gained the attention of global seafood customers and sustainability alliances like ISEAL, reinforcing the credibility of innovative compliance assurance systems.

Here’s how VerifiK8 delivered value to the project:

1. Data Collection: Using the VerifiK8 application, farms gathered ASC-specific data points.
2. Gap Mapping: Potential compliance gaps were identified, allowing farms to prepare effectively for certification.
3. Tailored Capacity Building: Risk mapping insights guided capacity-building efforts, equipping farms to meet ASC standards.

The VerifiK8 Framework: Engage, Monitor, Report – Aquaculture Practices

VerifiK8’s methodology is built on three key pillars:

Engage

• Bring farmers into a proactive compliance mindset.
• Promote sustainability standards throughout the production chain.

Monitor

• Input data directly from farms into the VerifiK8 platform.
• Generate farm-level compliance reports using advanced algorithms.

Report

• Analyze gaps between declared compliance and actual production.
• Develop actionable plans to meet compliance standards.

Measurable Outcomes
The impact of VerifiK8’s efforts is evident in the numbers:

• 41% of “compliant-declared production” was found to be truly compliant after analysis.
• 17 Vietnamese farms achieved ASC certification by the project’s end.

These results highlight VerifiK8’s ability to bridge compliance gaps and drive meaningful change in the aquaculture industry.

Why This Matters for Aquaculture Practices

Aligning with ASC standards goes beyond certification; it reflects a strong commitment to environmental stewardship, community welfare, and sustainable production. VerifiK8’s innovative tools and methods are making it easier for farms to turn this commitment into a reality.

Through collaborations with industry leaders such as Thai Union, VerifiK8 is not only helping farms meet global standards but also setting a new benchmark for responsible aquaculture practices around the world.

Looking Ahead

VerifiK8’s success in Vietnam and Thailand is just the beginning. The platform’s ability to combine data collection, compliance monitoring, and action planning has proven invaluable in empowering farms to achieve sustainability goals. With a strong track record of results, VerifiK8 is poised to continue transforming the aquaculture industry, one farm at a time.