Benchmark Genetics is the leading one-stop provider of genetic improvement services to aquaculture industries worldwide. Having worked with ~30 selective breeding programs and on over 20 aquaculture species- including, salmonids, freshwater and marine fish, shrimp, and mollusks- we have unparalleled experience in program design and technical operation! Benchmark Genetics’ services cover all technical aspects of operating a successful breeding program for aquaculture species. These services include, among others:
With the recent expansion of our services to include designing of genomic tools and genotyping services, Benchmark is your ideal partner in applied genetics! For more information, please contact us.
With our genetic services we aim to provide a one-stop solution for establishing, maintaining, and improving breeding programs for aquaculture species. Leveraging our extensive experience from in-house breeding programs we offer world-leading consultancy services to aquaculture breeders all over the globe.
Some of our core deliverables are:
No two breeding programs will be the same, therefore we specialize in creating solutions for maximizing genetic gain in key traits, no matter the infrastructure or scale of the program.
We aim to be not just a service provider, but a trusted partner to our clients. We work closely with our customers to support and advice on every step of the breeding operations, assisting in any unforeseen challenges and ensuring our clients have access to the very latest technologies and methodologies in aquaculture breeding.
We believe close cooperation is important, we therefore routinely perform technical visits to our clients in order to fully understand the challenges and opportunities in the day-to-day operations, and continually adapt the breeding programs to best fit each case.
All decisions on breeding plan design are documented in detail, along with the theory and rationale behind the design. These documents are continually updated as the program evolves, ensuring that all parties have a clear understanding of the breeding design.
We take data security very seriously. Our robust databases employ strict quality control and security measures to store essential genetic data, ensuring both the quality and the security of the information that is the foundation of a breeding program.
Many modern breeding programs utilize high-precision genomic information in the breeding work. To strengthen and expand our portfolio of services we are developing an extensive array of high and medium-density SNP-panels for a variety aquaculture of species.
Akvaforsk Genetics Center (AFGC) was established in 1999 as a spin-off from the Institute for Aquaculture Research (former Akvaforsk, now a part of Nofima). The mission is to develop and provide specialized genetic improvement services to the global aquaculture industries.
Akvaforsk were pioneers in the establishment of selective breeding programmes for Atlantic salmon and rainbow trout in Norway back in the 1970’. This represented a milestone in modern aquaculture. With the creation of AFGC in 1999, the expertise in aquaculture genetics was transferred into this unit and further developed. Applying the principles from Atlantic salmon has resulted in significant genetic improvements for many species worldwide, and many of our current clients have been with us for decades.
At Benchmark Genetics we strive to make aquaculture both more sustainable and more profitable. By breeding for better feed utilization, higher survival, and more disease resistant animals, we can reduce waist of valuable resources and improve animal health, all while improving your return on investment.
The end goal: Sustainable aquaculture for a growing population.
By applying a well-structured breeding program suited to your spesific needs, we can achieve continual improvement in the genetic quality of your broodstock population for each generation.
The genetic gain, as well as the right breeding program design will be determined by many factors. More details on the principles for breeding program design can be found below.
As a client, you can rely on our highly skilled technical staff and their ability to obtain significant genetic improvements in your broodstock. Our accomplishments are well documented through the vast number of applied programs we have been involved in since 1999.
Heading Benchmark Genetics’ External Services Team, Morten leads Benchmark Genetics’ pursuit of international commercial partnerships and coordinates our technical deliveries to external clients. Morten holds 35+ years in aquaculture genetics with extensive management experience in R&D and program operations. His expertise spans more than 20 species, and he has made significant contributions to genetic research and breeding programs for marine and freshwater fish, shrimp, and molluscs globally. Holding a 1992 PhD in Animal Breeding and Genetics from the Norwegian University of Agriculture, Morten has (co)authored 80+ scientific papers and several book chapters focused on applied genetics and selection in aquaculture.
Rama offers strategic guidance and support to breeding programs through the utilization of quantitative genetics and genomics tools. He leads Benchmark Genetics’ technical support to salmonid breeding programs in Norway and Chile and serves as an internal group coordinator, prioritizing knowledge sharing and collaboration. With over 14 years of experience, he’s conducted genetic and genomic evaluations for various fish species globally, contributing to over 20 scientific publications. Rama holds a PhD in Animal Breeding and Genetics from the Norwegian University of Life Science and is currently pursuing an executive MBA in Seafood Business Management at the Norwegian School of Economics.
Adrian works with our clients on the support, design, and practical implementation of cost-effective integrated breeding programs tailored to generate significant genetic improvements within commercial growing operations. He joined Benchmark Genetics in 2021 and has since been involved in the design and support of successful breeding programs for over 10 different species all over the world. Adrian holds a MS in Biotechnology from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology and has strong background in biotechnology, genetics, and bioinformatics.
Grazyella works with our clients to review, improve, implement, and design robust breeding programs. With over 12 years of experience, Grazyella has extensive expertise in the development and application of quantitative and genomic tools in R&D projects and providing training and support for aquaculture breeding programs. Grazyella holds a Ph.D. in Animal Breeding and Genetics from Sao Paulo State University, Brazil. She has (co)authored 49 scientific publications and government reports.
Agustin works with our clients to design, assess, optimize, and support their breeding programs. He has over a decade of experience in animal breeding and genomics as well as the use and development of genomic tools in aquaculture. As such, Agustin also works closely with Benchmark Genetics’ Molecular Genetics team. He has extensive experience in using high-density genomic data for genetic population studies and quantitative genetics. His track record includes spearheading genomic strategies within the Nile tilapia GIFT program, and augmenting resistance to Tilapia Lake Virus. Agustin holds a PhD in Aquaculture and Genetics from the University of Chile. He has (co)authored almost 40 scientific publications.
Maria works with our clients to support and design practical and tailor-made solutions for assessing, managing, improving, and establishing their breeding programs. With over a decade of experience in aquaculture and genomics, Maria has worked closely with collaborators on projects in five continents, and more than ten countries and species. She holds a PhD in Aquaculture and Genetics from James Cook University, Australia and has an extensive background in animal breeding and genomics, population genetics, and quantitative genomics. She has (co)authored over 15 scientific publications, book chapters, and government reports.
Trong works with our clients to assess, design, implement, and support their selective breeding programs. He has over 24 years of experience in developing and supervising applied aquaculture breeding programs for a number of species: including, freshwater and marine finfish, giant freshwater prawns, and marine shrimp. Trong has an extensive background in aquaculture genetics, particularly in breeding design and the calculation and use of estimated breeding values for the improvement of selective breeding programs. Trong holds a PhD from Wageningen University, Netherlands. He has (co)authored over 30 scientific publications, NGO reports, and government reports.
Marcelo leads Benchmark Genetic’s Bioeconomic Analysis area, supporting clients and the company’s data control unit in Chile. He has twenty-two years of experience in developing bio-economic models, production-oriented statistics, benchmarking studies, economic evaluation, and predictive models (optimization and risk simulation) for investment and animal production decision-making, focusing on aquaculture. Marcelo holds a Master in Aquaculture Business Administration and Ph.D. in Science with a specialization in Aquaculture Bio-economics from the Center for Research and Advanced Studies of the National Polytechnic Institute, Mexico.
