In the drive to build a thriving aquaculture industry in Africa, scale is often seen as the ultimate goal. Ambitious projections, large capital asks, and high-tonnage targets are common. But in our experience at ACMS, the most successful aquaculture businesses – especially in emerging markets – don’t necessarily start big.
They start smart.
The Risk of Premature Scale
Across the continent, aquaculture projects are frequently launched with optimism and external pressure to scale fast. Yet many fail to account for local realities. Technical challenges, untested systems, gaps in skills or infrastructure end up stalling or collapsing before they can mature.
Often, these projects are built on spreadsheets, not systems. Financial models promise returns, but on-the-ground performance rarely keeps up.
The Case for Early Profitability
At ACMS, we believe in proving the viability of a farm at its minimum effective scale before considering expansion. This approach prioritises:
- Synchronised operations from the outset (production, HR, finance, and market access)
- Tracking both technical and financial data together, not in isolation
- Identifying weaknesses early, while the business is still lean enough to adapt
This strategy not only helps de-risk future growth, but also builds operational confidence for farm managers, investors, and off-takers alike.
In short: profitability, not size, should be the first milestone.
Real-World Application Across Africa
Whether it’s a start-up abalone farm in South Africa, a tilapia hatchery in Kenya, or a value-chain pilot in Mozambique, we’ve seen the same principle prove itself time and time again. The projects that last, and grow, are the ones that validate and refine early.
By focusing on early profitability, we:
- Uncover real operational costs
- Test assumptions about feed, labour, survival, and yield
Develop scalable systems based on local truths, not imported templates
A Smarter Way Forward
Aquaculture holds enormous promise for food security, job creation, and economic diversification in Africa. But for that potential to materialise, we must shift the mindset:
🚫 “How big can we go?”
✅ “How viable are we now?”
At ACMS, we walk alongside our partners, from feasibility to first harvest, to help ensure every phase of the business is grounded in reality, and built for the long haul.
📬 Want to talk about smart growth in aquaculture?
We’re always open to honest, practical conversations about aquaculture development in Africa. Whether you’re planning a new venture or rethinking an existing one, we’d love to share insights.
📧 Reach out to the ACMS team: belinda@acmsafrica.com
🔗 Visit the InDepth platform for more aquaculture learning: acms.learnworlds.com
🔗 Learn more about ACMS projects: www.acmsafrica.com/services/