GIFT project

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The Genetic Improvement of Farmed Tilapia (GIFT) Project launched in 1988 has created a massive impact. The keys to success are the right selection of specie, investment in R&D, successful dissemination and partnership strategy. Although challenges still lie ahead, the GIFT project undoubtedly opened up a path to fight the global hunger and poverty through aquaculture.

Background

Since the Green Revolution took place in the 1970s, genetic improvement of plants and livestock has played an important role in eradicating global poverty and hunger. As fish accounts for 20 percent of animal protein intake in the poor countries, scientists started to apply these techniques on aquaculture at the same time. A series of research results showed the high potential of the genetic improvement of tilapia. In 1988, the WorldFish Center (at that time ICLARM) cooperated with the Norwegian Institute of Aquaculture Research (AKVAFORSK), the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources of the Philippines and two Universities in the Philippines, and launched the GIFT project. The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) provided funding and technical assistance since the beginning, followed by other participant institutions.

Outcomes

The project conducted an extensive research on the genetic characters of the existing farming tilapia strains in the Philippines. By using selective and breeding and other genetic improvement technologies, the project bred a new strain and named it the GIFT fish.
By the end of donor support in 1997, GIFT project had selectively bred nine generations of fish. Each new generation is better in size, yield per year, surviving rates and other performance than the former one. The final...

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...ew technology without adequate intervention might lead to a wider technical gap between the smallholders and industrialized aquaculture companies. After the GIFT project ended, it was transferred to a private company, which continued the development of GIFT and GIFT related strains. The commercialization of the techniques might further limit the access of fish seeds for the smallholders.

Besides, the evaluation for the socio-economic impact of the GIFT project is limited. Most research focus on the technological achievement and cost-benefit analysis. Few discussions address the project’s effect on the smallholders and the poor.

Conclusion

To conclude, the GIFT project plays an important role in aquaculture. It’s breakthrough in genetic improvement and dissemination through international and multidisciplinary partnership have created a role model for the world.

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