In the rapidly evolving world of aquaculture, pioneers like NINTAI Aquaculture Founder Racha Saksouk are rewriting the narrative, proving that innovation and sustainability can uplift communities while addressing global challenges. With a career spanning continents and industries, Racha exemplifies the transformative power of aquaculture to tackle food security, economic empowerment, and environmental sustainability.
“My journey into aquaculture began during my bachelor’s degree in biology, where I focused on biochemistry. I took a course in tilapia aquaculture and was immediately captivated by the practicality and potential of aquaculture in addressing critical challenges like food security, livelihoods, and income generation,” she shares.
This passion fueled her pursuit of a master’s degree in sustainable aquaculture production in the Netherlands, focusing on warm-water species such as shrimp and tilapia.
A Global Career Rooted in Local Impact
From her internship in Vietnam working on shrimp production and sustainability to her role as a technical specialist for Skretting Fish Feed in Norway, Racha gained unparalleled expertise across species like salmon, trout, shrimp, tilapia, and catfish. Her career then led her to Skretting Africa, where she spearheaded technical and sales efforts across West, East, and Southern Africa.
“I worked extensively in countries such as Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Mauritius, and Madagascar, with a strong focus on the East African region, which had immense growth potential in aquaculture. During my time at Skretting, we achieved significant growth, culminating in the establishment of a joint venture with Unga Group in Kenya to supply fish feed across East Africa,” she reflected.
Her work with Larive International a Dutch firm, further shaped her focus on empowering smallholder farmers in East Africa. Realizing the untapped potential in shrimp farming, she founded NINTAI Aquaculture, where she is pioneering sustainable and innovative shrimp farming practices along Kenya’s coast. NINTAI is the leading supplier of shrimp to B2B customers like restaurants and hotels in Nairobi, as well as directly to consumers.
“My journey has been driven by a belief in aquaculture’s potential to uplift communities, protect the environment, and contribute to global food security. However, the path to building my business has been one of adaptation and learning,” she reflects.
The Nucleus-Outgrower Model: A Game-Changer in Aquaculture
Racha and her team initially pursued precision and data-driven farming solutions for Africa’s tilapia sector. Despite the concept’s potential, market research identified significant obstacles: smallholder farmers, the majority stakeholders, lacked the financial capacity and interest to adopt such tools, while larger-scale farmers were already implementing in-house precision farming systems. These constraints necessitated a strategic pivot.
Shrimp farming offered a high-value, commercially viable opportunity while enabling local community development. Feasibility studies confirmed its strong market demand and capacity for meaningful impact, solidifying shrimp farming as the optimal focus.
“After conducting feasibility studies, it became clear that shrimp farming was the path forward, both in terms of market demand and its potential to drive meaningful impact,” Racha said.
During a visit to Kenya’s coast, she identified the untapped potential of small-scale shrimp farming. A pivotal moment occurred during collaboration with a small-scale shrimp farmer on Kenya’s coast, who highlighted inconsistent yields due to limited access to quality inputs and technical support
This led to the creation of the nucleus-outgrower model, or hub-and-spoke approach. The model centers on a nucleus farm that drives commercial production and enforces high standards of quality and sustainability. Surrounding this hub, smallholder-operated outgrower farms are integrated into the value chain. The team supports outgrowers with technical expertise, premium inputs, and guaranteed market access, ensuring mutual success and alignment across the value chain.
“We provide them with technical support, high-quality inputs, and guaranteed market access, ensuring their success is intertwined with ours. Our nucleus-outgrower model integrates smallholder farmers into the value chain, providing them with access to high-quality inputs, technical support, and guaranteed markets. I learned that listening to our partners and customers is key to creating impactful solutions. This collaboration reminded me that innovation is most powerful when it starts with understanding and addressing real-world challenges,” Racha emphasized.
Shrimp farming, a high-value sector with export prices of $10–12 per kilogram compared to tilapia’s $3–4 per kilogram, presents an opportunity for smallholder farmers to earn significantly higher incomes.
“At NINTAI Aquaculture, we are disrupting the industry by introducing shrimp farming in saltwater, a species that has traditionally been underutilized on the African continent. This shift not only opens access to lucrative export markets but also provides local farmers with the opportunity to earn significantly higher incomes. By empowering farmers to increase their productivity and earn higher incomes, we create a sustainable balance between environmental stewardship and community well-being,” she reflects.
Her business aims to achieve commercial success while driving social impact by involving smallholder communities. This approach fosters local development, job creation, and farmer empowerment, all while producing sustainable, high-quality shrimp for global markets. Racha’s blend of technical expertise and field experience underpins this commitment to combining profitability with purpose.
NINTAI Aquaculture prioritizes environmental responsibility through solar-powered pumps, inland shrimp farming to protect mangroves, and data-driven techniques to optimize feed and water use. “However, sustainability goes beyond environmental impact—it’s about improving livelihoods and income generation,” Racha remarked. This dual focus ensures a balance between environmental stewardship and community well-being.
Navigating Challenges and Building Resilience
As a woman in a male-dominated industry, Sacha faced skepticism in technical and leadership roles. “Early in my career, I often encountered skepticism about my abilities, particularly in technical and leadership roles. To overcome these barriers, I focused on what I could control: delivering excellence in every role I held,” she stated.
Mentorship and a commitment to empowering others, particularly women and youth, have become integral to her mission.
“I sought out mentors, both men and women, who provided guidance and support, and I’ve also made it a priority to mentor others, especially young women entering the industry,”she recalls.
Ultimately, Sacha leveraged challenges as opportunities for growth and leadership, shaping a business ethos centered on diversity and inclusion. Her enterprise prioritizes empowering women and youth, fostering opportunities for underrepresented groups in aquaculture to thrive and contribute to the sector’s sustainable development.
Aquaculture: The Future of Food Security
Africa’s aquaculture has traditionally focused on freshwater species like tilapia and catfish. However, challenges such as low prices and oversupply have created opportunities for higher-value products like shrimp. The rise of land-based aquaculture systems, particularly recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS), is also reshaping the industry by reducing disease risks and environmental impact.
“The market has become increasingly competitive, with low prices and oversupply in some regions. These challenges have left a gap for higher-value products that can meet both local demand and premium export markets,” Sacha said.
The aquaculture market is projected to reach $454.3 billion by 2034, with aquatic animal production expected to grow by 10% by 2032, reaching 205 million tonnes. However, Africa faces a pressing challenge: per capita aquatic food consumption is projected to decline, unable to keep pace with population growth. This underscores the need for sustainable solutions like NINTAI’s model.
A Vision for the Future
Despite being a young startup, NINTAI is already creating waves in the aquaculture industry. “We are a very young startup. 8 months of operation, so We are still building and growing along the way. Market research is crucial—get out there, talk to your customers, and truly understand their needs. This foundation will guide you in building a business that creates real value and impact,” Sacha advised.
With the demand for seafood continuing to rise, innovative solutions like AI-driven feeding systems and sustainable shrimp farming are vital for the future. NINTAI Aquaculture demonstrates how profitability and purpose can go hand in hand, creating a blueprint for sustainable aquaculture in Africa and beyond.
As Sacha Saksouk eloquently puts it, “Believe in your vision, embrace continuous learning, and don’t be afraid to start—even if it means failing along the way. The key is to start.”