Atarraya

This interview details Atarraya, a Biotechnology company based in the United States. The interview is with Mariana Madrigal, VP of Marketing and Communications at Atarraya.

Source: Atarraya

What is the origin story of Atarraya?

Our origin dates back to the coasts of Oaxaca 15 years ago. Born as a civil association that sought to bring prosperity to the area after the devastating hurricane Stan, the organization evolved into a sustainable aquaculture project that germinated in the form of the first biofloc system shrimp farm in Mexico. Through its commercial brand Agua Blanca, the company introduced premium quality sustainable shrimp to the United States market in 2017.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, due to supply chain problems and the high economic and environmental cost of exporting our product from Mexico, we decided to change the strategy and produce closer to our customers in the US. This led us to conceive, conceptualize, design, and implement Shrimpbox, the world's first modular, automated, and scalable sustainable aquaculture farm.

Thus, in 2022, we opened our training farm in Indianapolis, from which we tested our system in a cold-urban environment and prepared for our expansion in the United States.

“First biofloc shrimp farm in the coasts of Oaxaca, Mexico”
Source: Atarraya
“First Shrimpbox prototype”
Source: Atarraya
“First Shrimpbox training farm in Indianapolis, Indiana”
Source: Atarraya

What are some of the biggest challenges facing Atarraya in the future?

Atarraya faces several challenges as it looks to the future. Firstly, training future farmers is crucial. While Shrimpbox technology is designed for ease of use, expanding operations through third parties necessitates comprehensive training protocols to ensure they meet key performance indicators. Additionally, the distribution logistics for fresh shrimp is a significant challenge, requiring efficient and effective solutions to maintain product quality. Lastly, Atarraya must navigate supply chain dependencies, particularly concerning shrimp feed providers, to ensure consistent and sustainable operations. These challenges are pivotal in Atarraya's journey toward sustainable shrimp farming.

“Shrimpbox Biotechnician at Atarraya’s Training Farm”
Source: Atarraya

What is unique about Atarraya compared to competitors?

Although what we do is unique in itself, some people could consider us a competitor of RAS systems, which before the existence of Shrimpbox could be considered the least aggressive option for the environment for shrimp production.

Compared to those systems, Shrimpbox has notable advantages:

  • Construction and deployment of farms: a RAS farm can take up to 36 months to build, while a Shrimpbox farm has its first harvest in less than six months after installation.
  • Operation: our native Atarraya software facilitates production by automating many of the vital functions of the farm, which means it can operate without the need for specialized staff; on the other hand, RAS farms require the presence of highly specialized human capital permanently, which hinders their scalability.
  • Cost-competitiveness: our production costs allow us to compete in price with wild shrimp, while RAS systems require a much higher price premium.
  • Product Quality: shrimp produced in Shrimpbox have a texture, taste, and shelf life (up to 14 days without freezing, peeled and deveined, and properly stored) that is notably superior to any other shrimp.

“Shrimp from Shrimpbox during the Seafood Expo of North America”
Source: Atarraya
“Agua Blanca Shrimp al Ajillo with Mezcal by Chef Joshua Whigham”
Source: Atarraya

What is the current size of your growing area(s)?

We currently operate a training farm with 14 Shrimpboxes, each having a production capacity of 3,300 pounds of shrimp per year, amounting to a total of 46,200 pounds annually. In 2024, we plan to expand our pilot farm to 20 Shrimpboxes. Additionally, two operational partners will commence their shrimp farming using Shrimpbox technology, each having a capacity of 66,000 pounds annually.

“Shrimpbox Training Center”
Source: Atarraya

How can people connect with you or learn more about Atarraya?

Atarraya operates under a radical transparency and open-door policy. We offer monthly farm tours for those interested in our work so they can get to know us closely. Our website, www.atarraya.ai,  is available to the public, where you can find contact forms and company information; you can also follow and contact us through social media: FB: @atarraya.inc IG: @atarraya.ai X: @atarraya_ai LI: Atarraya, Inc.

We have also created a webinar for new producers where you can learn step-by-step what we do and how to become a Shrimpbox farmer: https://atarraya.hubspotpagebuilder.com/en/webinar-how-to-become-a-shrimpbox-farmer#download-assets

“Webinar for aspiring Shrimpbox Farmers”
Source: Atarraya

Asia Vertical Farming Companies: The 2023 Report

Download the Free Sample Report

Mark-Horler

"For a target audience that is trying to understand the basics of vertical farming, this is a quality newsletter to subscribe to"

- James Pateras, CEO, Modular Farms Australia

North America Vertical Farming Companies: The 2023 Report

Download The Free Sample Report

Mark-Horler

"The North America Vertical Farming Companies Report 2023 aggregates many sources of public information on many different companies so that you don't have to do the research yourself, it's worth the money and saves a lot of time"

- John Ireland, CEO, NTP Technologies

Europe Vertical Farming Companies: The 2023 Report

Download the Free Sample Report

Helen Andrew Spare Harvest

"As a business development manager supporting the indoor agriculture, CEA, and food tech industries, I can say Urban Vine guides and their insider newsletter provide detailed information often difficult to find online."

- Irena Lundberg, CleanTech Invest Stockholm

Middle East Vertical Farming Companies: The 2023 Report

Download the Free Sample Report

Mark-Horler

"As a marketing professional in the indoor agriculture industry, Urban Vine's newsletters, reports and guides are an excellent resource for keeping up-to-date with news and developments in vertical farming."

- Steven Mitchell, Product Manager, Intelligent Growth Solutions (IGS) UK

All Indoor Farming Company Interviews

Hiphen

March 24, 2024

This interview details Hiphen, an indoor farming technology company based in France. The interview is with Alexis Comar, Founder and CEO of Hiphen. To learn more about Hiphen and other indoor farming companies, click on this link!

View Full Interview

SecondBloom Auctions

February 18, 2024

This interview details SecondBloom Auctions, a company based in the United States. The interview is with Chris Lange, Manager of Strategic Partnerships at SecondBloom Auctions. To learn more about SecondBloom Auctions and other indoor farming companies, click on this link!

View Full Interview

Smart Farm Oasis

February 18, 2024

This interview details Smart Oasis Farm, an indoor farming company based in the UK. The interview is with Suzanne Tate, Chief Design Officer at Smart Oasis Farm. To learn more about Smart Oasis Farm and other indoor farming companies, click on this link!

View Full Interview

Tunable

February 29, 2024

This interview details Tunable, a Nanotechnology company developing and making gas sensing solutions based in Norway. The interview is with Tharindu Madduma, Business Development Manager at Tunable. To learn more about Tunable and other indoor farming companies, click on this link!

View Full Interview

Rift Labs

February 18, 2024

This interview details Rift Labs, a cutting-edge light-based solutions provider based in Norway. The interview is with Halvard Aagaard, CEO of Rift Labs. To learn more about Rift Labs and other indoor farming companies, click on this link!

View Full Interview

Biotalys

February 18, 2024

This interview details Biotalys, a Biotechnology Research company based in Belgium. The interview is with Toon Musschoot, Head of Investor Relations and Communications at Biotalys. To learn more about Biotalys and other indoor farming companies, click on this link!

View Full Interview

HerbaFabrica

February 18, 2024

This interview details HerbaFabrica, an indoor farming company based in the Czech Republic. The interview is with Karolína Pumprová, Founder of HerbaFabrica. To learn more about HerbaFabrica and other indoor farming companies, click on this link!

View Full Interview

VaVersa

February 18, 2024

This interview details VaVersa, an indoor farming company based in the Netherlands. The interview is with Olivier Francescangeli, Co-Founder of VaVersa. To learn more about VaVersa and other indoor farming companies, click on this link!

View Full Interview

Simply Grow Ltd

February 18, 2024

This interview details Simply Grow Ltd, an indoor farming company based in the UK. The interview is with Sylwia Golebiowska, CEO of Simply Grow Ltd. To learn more about Simply Grow Ltd and other indoor farming companies, click on this link!

View Full Interview

Collective Joy Farm

February 18, 2024

This interview details Collective Joy Farm, an indoor farming company based in Canada. The interview is with Tammara Maher, Founder of Collective Joy Farm. To learn more about Collective Joy Farm and other indoor farming companies, click on this link!

View Full Interview