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From Island Commitment to Global Impact
How New Caledonia’s Feed Mills are Leading with ASC Certification
In the turquoise heart of the Pacific, a wave of change is taking shape. New Caledonia’s shrimp feed producers are uniting behind a shared ambition: to make aquaculture more sustainable, transparent, and responsible — from the feed mill to the farm, and from the island to the world.
Two leading feed producers — Provenderie Saint-Vincent and SICA — took the decision to pursue ASC Feed Certification, each driven by the same conviction: that by choosing ASC for change, they can strengthen their own sustainability practices and influence the entire shrimp farming ecosystem of New Caledonia, and beyond.
They are both now ASC-certified feed mills and together, they are transforming the territory into a hub for responsible feed production and signifying the start of a cultural shift towards greater responsibility for the region’s shrimp sector.
Strengthening the New Caledonian Shrimp Value Chain
In addition to their own sustainability ambitions, SICA and Provenderie Saint-Vincent play a central role in New Caledonia’s shrimp-farming ecosystem through their long-standing role as feed suppliers to SOPAC (Société des Producteurs Aquacoles Calédoniens), a committed cooperative with five ASC-certified shrimp producers.
Pascal Lepitre, CEO of SOPAC, explains the value of having ASC certification:
“ASC is actively increasing awareness of more environmentally and socially responsible farming. ASC certification empowers our farmers to adopt and implement better practices; it’s a tool to make our responsible commitments a reality.”
Beyond farming the unique blue shrimp, Litopenaeus stylirostris, the group of producers are committed to responsible farming practices, supported by the use of ASC-conforming feed.
With their respective ASC Feed Certifications, SICA and Provenderie Saint-Vincent are not just improving their own practices; they are retaining their ability to supply SOPAC.
This alignment reinforces a shared commitment to responsibility and transparency, anchoring New Caledonia’s shrimp industry in practices that meet global expectations while remaining deeply rooted in local stewardship.
From Vision to Action
For Yves Jean-Baptiste, Managing Director of Provenderie Saint-Vincent, ASC certification is a way to translate values into measurable progress.
“Feed is one of the major levers of impact in aquaculture. Responsible production means ensuring resource sustainability, preserving consumer trust, and supporting the competitiveness of the New Caledonian shrimp industry.”
Through meeting requirements within the ASC Feed Standard, Provenderie Saint-Vincent is strengthening traceability, improving supplier practices, and integrating new sustainability criteria into every sourcing decision.
“ASC certification allows us to provide assurances on ingredient traceability and compliance with social and environmental standards,” Yves adds. “It’s a demanding process, but one that brings real change.”
For Christine Colomina, Head of Quality, Health, Safety, Environment and R&D at SICA, the decision to pursue ASC Feed certification was equally clear.
“Our commitment to ASC Feed Certification is the logical extension of our ambition for responsible aquaculture,” she says. “With ASC, we’re taking a proactive step — choosing change over continuity, and progress over complacency.”
Facing Challenges, Driving Change
Both companies faced the same environmental and social challenges common to island industries: dependence on imported raw materials, pressure on water and land resources, and the need to uphold strong labour and governance standards.
At Provenderie Saint-Vincent, solutions are already taking shape to address these challenges. The company has diversified ingredient origins, excluded non-certified products, and formalised sustainability clauses across its supplier contracts.
“The ASC standard provides a clear framework that helps us structure and document every step,” says Yves. “It reinforces trust — not just with clients, but with the authorities and the community.”
SICA is taking parallel steps, exploring alternative ingredients from within the Pacific — including local by-products and insect protein — while optimising water and energy use in its operations.
“ASC Feed Certification pushes us to go further,” Christine explains. “It encourages innovation, from sourcing to formulation. We’re not only reducing impact, we’re helping build the foundation for the feed of tomorrow.”
A Collective Effort for a Shared Future
Beyond compliance, ASC Feed Certification has become a catalyst for collaboration. Both mills have involved employees at every stage – from quality and procurement teams to senior management – creating a shared culture of responsibility.
Training, internal communication, and supplier engagement have all been part of the process. In New Caledonia, local engagement is important, and both of these feed companies work closely with communities by providing jobs and supporting activities in the nearby areas.
“It’s a collective journey that strengthens our entire value chain,” says Yves, “we’re learning together, and that’s where the real change happens. Also, we have a project to create a market and give them visibility, so we’re bringing them on the journey with us.”
“This is not a constraint,” Christine adds, “it’s an opportunity to invest in the credibility and future of the New Caledonian shrimp farming industry. We are engaged with local communities, and we work hard to create shared value. For us, performance only makes sense if it’s done with respect for people and surrounding territories.”
This spirit of collaboration reflects the essence of choosing ASC for change: transformation through partnership, progress through shared purpose.
Waves of Change Beyond the Island
These two certifications raise the bar for the entire region. Aligning with the ASC Feed Certification’s global framework, they are ensuring that their local practices meet, and often exceed, international expectations.
For their customers, the local shrimp farmers, this means access to feed that supports their own sustainability goals. For consumers, it means greater trust in the story behind New Caledonian shrimp: a story of responsibility, care, and continuous improvement.
“ASC certification embodies our concrete commitment to sustainable, transparent, and responsible aquaculture,” says Yves. “With ASC, we turn our vision into action, and our actions into trust,” adds Christine.
Feeding the Future
The feed of tomorrow is already being shaped in New Caledonia: more sustainable, more transparent, and more innovative than ever.
By choosing ASC for change, SICA and Provenderie Saint-Vincent are transforming commitment into collective impact. Together, they are leading a Pacific movement toward a more sustainable, transparent, and trusted aquaculture sector.
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