Pioneering sustainable mud crab farming
Wild mud crab populations in Southeast Asia, particularly the Scylla serrata species, are under severe threat from overfishing, especially of juvenile crablets. This unsustainable harvesting not only reduces the economic viability of the industry but, as a keystone species, can also cause widespread damage to vital mangrove ecosystems. Limited hatchery production and the scarcity of high-quality crab seed further constrain the potential for sustainable crab farming.
The company
Agrata, headquartered in Singapore with operations in Bintan, Indonesia, is pioneering sustainable mud crab aquaculture through a vertically integrated value chain. The company has developed the world’s first recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) hatchery for Scylla serrata, producing 100,000-150,000 crablets per month, with the potential to scale up to 500,000. Agrata partners with local smallholder farmers, providing crablets, inputs, and standard operating procedures to ensure optimal growth while protecting surrounding mangrove habitats. In return, Agrata purchases, processes, and markets the fully grown crabs to premium buyers in Asia and, eventually, Europe.
The investment
CI Ventures has invested $400,000 to accelerate Agrata’s mission of displacing over 5% of the wild-caught mud crab supply in Indonesia by 2029. The funding will support the establishment of smallholder farming programs that cover and restore 100ha of degraded mangrove land, as well as the creation of the world’s first sustainability standard and certification program for mud crab.
The impact
By 2029, the partnership between CI Ventures and Agrata is projected to:
- Reduce destructive wild crab harvesting practices in Indonesian markets.
- Protect critical mangrove ecosystems while boosting local biodiversity.
- Create sustainable livelihoods for coastal communities through smallholder farming programs.
- Establish a new global benchmark for sustainable mud crab production via certification standards.