De Heus Animal Nutrition has officially opened its brand-new fish feed factory in Njeru, marking a significant milestone for East Africa’s aquaculture sector. The opening ceremony highlights De Heus’ commitment to investing in Africa’s food security and agricultural development.

The new De Heus aqua feed facility, strategically located near Jinja, a central hub for aquaculture, will produce high-quality fish feeds for farmers throughout East Africa. At full capacity, the factory will supply up to 100,000 metric tons of fish feed annually, significantly reducing dependence on imports and improving feed access for fish farmers.

“We see tremendous potential in Uganda’s aquaculture sector, and this investment is a testament to our long-term vision for the region,” said Co de Heus, chairman of the Board of Directors. “The new facility will not only enhance the efficiency and quality of the fish feed supply chain but also support local crop farmers by sourcing ingredients like maize, cassava, and soybeans.”

In alignment with De Heus’ global strategy for sustainable growth, the factory is built with sustainability in mind, including a biomass boiler to minimize fossil fuel use and a focus on prioritizing local ingredients. This approach minimizes environmental impact while strengthening Uganda’s agricultural sector. “As this factory reaches full capacity, it will support up to 10,000 jobs on fish farms and buy crops from approximately 15,000 smallholder farmers. By transforming local crops into high-quality fish feed and fish, we are supporting a shift from importing to value-added production, delivering the vision set forth by the government of Uganda,” said Bon Tjeenk-Willink, MD De Heus Uganda.