Identifying 'Hotspots' of Loss in the Pangasius Catfish Value Chain and Solutions from ACIAR
- Mỹ Huyền Trần
- Sep 29
- 2 min read
A new study funded by ACIAR and IDRC, conducted by researchers from the Health and Agriculture Policy Research Institute (HAPRI) and other experts, has provided the first comprehensive assessment of the pangasius value chain.
The ACIAR project CS/2020/209, co-funded by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) and the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), conducted a systematic review analyzing 19 studies and delivered the first comprehensive assessment of food loss and waste in the pangasius value chain. The research findings provide crucial insights to help improve operational efficiency in the Mekong River basin.
Project partners included: Vietnam's Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City, University of New England, University of Adelaide, Swinburne University, Australian National University, An Giang University – Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City, Royal University of Agriculture Cambodia, National University of Laos, along with leading pangasius processing and export companies in Vietnam.
The study employed mixed research methods to examine food loss from production through consumption stages. Results revealed numerous significant intervention opportunities to improve farmer livelihoods and enhance the industry's sustainability.
Three Loss "Hotspots" Identified
The research team identified three main areas with high loss levels. At the production stage, technical efficiency remains low with actual losses during farming reaching 30-50%. Environmental challenges are particularly severe, with the combined impact of low water pH and high salinity causing mortality rates up to 80%. Bacterial diseases also cause substantial economic losses for farmers.
Processing is the stage with the highest losses, requiring 2.8kg of raw material to produce 1kg of commercial fillet, equivalent to a 65% loss rate. Companies are also wasting 50% of by-products, equivalent to 276,000 tons of unutilized by-products annually.
Losses in distribution primarily occur due to unstable cold chains, with temperature fluctuations during transport causing product spoilage.
However, the research also identified effective intervention strategies. For example, supplementing with mixed seaweed extract and using biological products significantly increased survival rates and improved fish growth rates. Similarly, optimizing logistics can substantially reduce losses and product damage during harvest and sale.
Untapped By-Product Potential
The research highlights major opportunities in by-product utilization. With annual production exceeding 300,000 tons, Vietnam could accumulate over 69,000-81,000 tons of pangasius bones yearly as raw material for high-value products like gelatin. However, current utilization rates only reach 48% of potential, indicating considerable room for improvement.
Strengthening Regional Research Capacity and Future Directions
Beyond the research findings mentioned above, the project also helped build research capacity in Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos. The project developed an analytical matrix combining FAO's food loss classification framework with comprehensive value chain analysis.
The systematic review identified important knowledge gaps. While most studies focus on economic and physical losses, other important loss types such as nutritional losses and losses in distribution and consumption receive less attention.
These findings provide necessary evidence for policymakers working to strengthen food security while minimizing environmental impact. Given pangasius's vital role in regional food security, this research provides a science-based roadmap for building more efficient and sustainable value chains, benefiting all stakeholders from production to consumption.
Original article: Định vị ‘điểm nóng’ gây thất thoát chuỗi cá tra và giải pháp từ ACIAR
