During VICTAM 2024 in Bangkok, our aquaculture department manager, Christian Chen, was interviewed by Indonesia's leading magazine TROBOS Aqua. Christian recounted our continuous efforts to optimize and innovate through excellent R&D capabilities.
"Biomixin has been in the aquaculture industry since 2019. In addition to providing natural additives without antibiotics, we also offer consultancy and technical services. Our team consists of national aquatic technicians with higher education and years of experience both domestically and internationally, ensuring the most professional service," explained Cristian.
He also introduced partners who have contributed to Biomixin's success. "To expand the market in Indonesia, we chose Aqua Synectics as our strategic partner. This company, founded by Atiek Rahmawaty and her team, shares the same vision and is committed to solving the problems of the aquaculture industry, especially the concepts they want to implement," Christian responded when asked about distributors in Indonesia.
Christian elaborated on the partnerships his company has engaged in. "We have established Prototype Solutions with related products such as Anti-EHP, known as EHPurge, and Probiotic Anti-EMS, named Bio-Benefit, including the probiotic Bacillus known as AQUAID. So far, we have several partners in Sumatra and Java Islands," he explained.
Disease Threats in Shrimp
One of Biomixin and Aqua Synectics' main focuses is helping farmers tackle diseases with natural ingredients. Threats to the fisheries industry do not always come from external factors but can also arise in the form of diseases threatening aquaculture organism populations.
Christian then explained that in recent years, contagious diseases such as Infectious Hypodermal and Haematopoietic Necrosis Virus (IHHNV), Taura Syndrome Virus (TSV), White Spot Syndrome Virus (WSSV), Yellow Head Virus (YHV), Acute Hepatopancreas Necrosis Disease (AHPND), and Early Mortality Syndrome (EMS) have emerged. These diseases have significantly affected global shrimp production over the years, with Enterocytozoon Hepatopenaei (EHP) being the most impactful on the shrimp industry currently. Presently, EHP has spread widely in Thailand, China, Indonesia, Vietnam, India, and other shrimp-producing countries.
Christian explained that EHP is associated with other infectious diseases. "Although current data still cannot determine a direct relationship between EHP and WFS (White Feces Syndrome), shrimp suffering from WFS in India are usually associated with higher levels of EHP infection. Additionally, EHP-infected shrimp will cause Vibrio infections and worsen into AHPND. This will increase the hepatopancreatic necrosis rate and slow shrimp growth," explained Christian.
Biomixin Solutions
As global aquaculture advances towards intensification, farmers are expected to cope with challenging situations such as disease outbreaks. Intensification systems have also led to the legal and illegal use of drugs and antibiotics aimed at improving survival rates and health statuses.
"We use technology, such as real-time PCR examination for EHP infection and microscopic examination for shrimp hepatopancreas. Additionally, we collaborate with digital management systems and traceability for high efficiency in producing products accurately. We are always careful to understand every production detail and committed to providing safe and sustainable products," Christian emphasized.
He suggested that potential customers use Biomixin's flagship product, EHPurge. This product is an antibiotic alternative using natural plant-based ingredients. EHPurge focuses on solving EHP issues by inhibiting EHP infection and promoting shrimp growth.
From his explanation, the working mechanism of this product is to quickly form a protective layer on the surface of hepatopancreatic epithelial cell tubules, then the plant extract ingredients in EHPurge will dissolve EHP spore walls and destroy spores persistently outside the cell, and EHPurge will remove polar tubes to reduce transmission. This product has been successfully tested in various Asian countries including Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, and India.
During trials, shrimp deaths occurred in ponds due to vibrio infection. Nevertheless, EHPurge showed superior FCR and survival rates compared to the control group. Significant deaths occurred in the control group at DOC 40 (Day of Culture), leading to a decrease in the total shrimp count. When stocking density decreased, conditions stabilized, resulting in faster ADG and MBW increases in the control group.
Meanwhile, at DOC 51, EHPurge with a total survival rate still exceeded 70%, showing slightly lower ADG and MBW. This graphically indicates that the use of EHPurge maintains better health conditions.
Exclusive Probiotics
In addition to the flagship product EHPurge, there are other Biomixin flagship products such as AQUAID and Bio-Benefit. The Biomixin team spent 9 years researching and developing exclusive patented probiotic strains that can quickly purify and stabilize water quality, degrade organic compounds, inhibit vibrio and other pathogens, improve feed efficiency, and enhance the growth of fish, shrimp, and shellfish.
There are five main features in AQUAID: rapid reproduction, high enzyme activity, powerful antibacterial ability, salinity adaptation, and heat resistance. In addition to the AQUAID probiotics, there is also Bio-Benefit. This probiotic has a high-efficiency gut probiotic formula and abundant comprehensive probiotics that effectively improve feed efficiency and increase fish and shrimp growth rates by adding it to your feed every time they eat.
"Together with Aqua Synectics support in Indonesia, we are very ready to solve real problems in the aquaculture industry and help farmers earn more income in a truly natural way to protect their pond land," concluded Christian.
