What do you think will go better now .. still a barn in Iowa
How did a family from Webster City, (rip VeroBlue) a bucolic town about 75 miles north of Des Moines and 1,000 miles from the nearest ocean, get the idea to farm fish?
shmp history.. 2001 to 2021, finds themselves in the same place .. no production more research and development.. I wish them better luck this time.. in Iowa or else.. haha
Evolution of Technology and Revenue Expectations
Historically, efforts to raise shrimp in a high-density, closed system at the commercial level have been met with either modest success or outright failure through “BioFloc Technology.” Infectious agents such as parasites, bacteria and viruses are the most damaging and most difficult to control. Bacterial infection can in some cases be combated through the use of antibiotics (although not always), and in general, the use of antibiotics is considered undesirable and counter to “green” cultivation practices. Viruses can be even worse, in that they are immune to antibiotics. Once introduced to a shrimp population, viruses can wipe out entire farms and shrimp populations, even with intense probiotic applications.
Our primary solution against infectious agents is our “Vibrio Suppression Technology.” We believe this system creates higher sustainable densities, consistent production, improved growth and survival rates and improved food conversion without the use of antibiotics, probiotics or unhealthy anti-microbial chemicals. Vibrio Suppression Technology helps to exclude and suppress harmful organisms that usually destroy “BioFloc” and other enclosed technologies.
In 2001, we began research and development of a high density, natural aquaculture system that is not dependent on ocean water to provide quality, fresh shrimp every week, fifty-two weeks a year. Our initial system was successful, but we determined that it would not be economically feasible due to high operating costs. Over the next several years, using the knowledge we gained from developing the first system, we developed a shrimp production system that eliminated the high costs associated with the previous system. We have continued to refine this technology, eliminating bacteria and other problems that affect enclosed systems, and now have a successful shrimp growing process. We have produced thousands of pounds of shrimp over the years in order to develop a design that will consistently produce quality shrimp that grow to a large size at a specific rate of growth. This included experimenting with various types of natural live and synthesized feed supplies before selecting the most appropriate nutritious and reliable combination. It also included utilizing monitoring and control automation equipment to minimize labor costs and to provide the necessary oversight for proper regulation of the shrimp environment. However, there were further enhancements needed to our process and technology in order to begin production of shrimp on a commercially viable scale and to generate revenues.
Our current system consists of a reception tank where the shrimp are acclimated, then moved to a larger grow-out tank for the rest of the twenty-four week cycle. During 2016, we engaged in additional engineering projects with third parties to further enhance our indoor production capabilities. For example, through our relationship with Trane, Inc., a division of Ingersoll-Rand Plc (“Trane”), Trane provided a detailed audit to use data to build and verify the capabilities of then initial Phase 1 prototype of a Trane-proposed three tank system at our La Coste, Texas facility. The Company contracted F&T Water Solutions and RGA Labs, Inc. (“RGA Labs”) to complete final engineering and building of the initial patent-pending modified Electrocoagulation system for the grow-out, harvesting and processing of fully mature, antibiotic-free Pacific White Leg shrimp. The design presented a viable pathway to begin generating revenue and producing shrimp on a commercially viable scale. The design was completed and was installed in early June 2018 by RGA Labs, and final financing for the system provided by one of the Company’s existing intuitional investors. The first post larvae (PL) arrived from the hatchery on July 3, 2018. The Company used the shrimp for sampling to key potential customers and special events such as the Texas Restaurant Association trade show. The Company also received two production PL lots from Global Blue Technologies on March 21, 2019 and April 17, 2019 and from American Penaeid, Inc. on August 7, 2019. Because the shrimp displayed growth that was slower than normal, the Company had a batch tested by an independent lab at the University of Arizona. The shrimp tested positive for Infectious hypodermal and hematopoietic necrosis (“IHHNV”) and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department was notified that the facility was under quarantine. On August 26, 2019, the Company was forced to terminate all lots due to the infection. On August 30, 2019, the Company received notice that it was in compliance again and the quarantine had been lifted. During the aforementioned quarantine, the Company decided to begin an approximately $1,000,000 facility renovation demolishing the interior 16 wood structure lined tanks (720,000 gallons). The Company would be replacing the previous tanks with 40 new fiberglass tanks (600,000 gallons) at a cost of approximately $400,000 allowing complete production flexibility with more smaller tanks. The Company had expected that the first shrimp tanks harvest target date would be April 2020.
23
On March 18, 2020, our research and development plant in La Coste, Texas was destroyed by a fire. The Company believes that it was caused by a natural gas leak, but the fire was so extensive that the cause was undetermined. No one was injured as a result of the fire. The majority of the damage was to our pilot production plant, which comprises approximately 35,000 square feet of the total size of all facilities at the La Coste location of approximately 53,000 square feet, but the fire did not impact the separate greenhouse, reservoirs or utility buildings. We have received total insurance proceeds in the amount of $917,210, the full amount of our claim. These funds are being utilized to convert the original greenhouse into an 8,000 square foot water treatment plant, rebuild a 40,000 square foot production facility at the La Coste facility and to repurchase the equipment and technology needed to replace what was lost in the fire. We began stocking PLs in the water treatment plant in January 2021 to perform testing of the facility support systems and will begin stocking the new grow-out facility with regular biweekly supplies of PLs in February 2021.
On December 18, 2020, we closed the acquisition for the assets of Alder Aqua, formerly known as VeroBlue Farms in Webster City, Iowa, including but not limited to the real property, equipment, tanks, rolling stock, inventory, permits, customer lists, contracts and other such assets used in the operation of the business. These facilities were previously used to raise Barramundi fish. We have begun the conversion from a fish aquaculture facility to a shrimp production facility that includes inserting the Company patented “Vibrio Suppression Technology”. We will begin stocking PLs in that facility in March 2021 to perform testing of the support systems.
OK.. you might want to provide arguments, that they are just getting ready to expand and grow.. sure no comments there, I just took the time to look up industry and the most successful farms in US .. they all struggle:
AI
