Tan Long joins Japan, South Korea to farm mackerel on land

Tan Long Group (Viet Nam), Tokyo Kiraboshi Financial Group, Inc. (Japan), BNK Financial Group, and MegaPlan Co., Ltd. (South Korea) have successfully signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on strategic cooperation to promote land-based Japanese mackerel farming and develop consumption markets in Japan and South Korea. This is considered an important step in connecting international resources and leveraging technological and financial strengths to develop the fisheries sector in a modern and sustainable direction. It also reflects the growing trend of cross-border collaboration in high-tech agriculture and aquaculture, where companies combine expertise to address global food security challenges.

Under the agreement, MegaPlan Co., Ltd. provides smart aquaculture technology enabling year-round reproduction, which is the core technology for land-based Japanese mackerel farming. Tan Long Group serves as a strategic partner, contributing its strengths in food infrastructure, supply chain development, logistics, and agricultural and food trading systems. Tokyo Kiraboshi Financial Group, Inc. is responsible for strategic coordination and financial connectivity, while BNK Financial Group supports regional cooperation.

Within the scope of the signed cooperation, the four parties are currently considering plans to build new land-based mackerel farming facilities and expand consumption channels in Japan and South Korea. The projects are expected to be implemented according to a specific roadmap, aligned with market conditions and each participating partner's capabilities. In the long term, these facilities could serve as models for replication in other markets facing similar supply challenges.

According to Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, the supply of mackerel from domestic fishing activities has halved over the past decade due to climate change, marine environmental pollution, and overexploitation. Meanwhile, Japanese mackerel is one of the most popular seafood items and a daily staple in the culinary cultures of Japan and South Korea, making a stable supply increasingly urgent.

The land-based Japanese mackerel farming model developed under this cooperation aims to maximize the advantages of controlled, technology-based aquaculture, reducing dependence on natural conditions compared to traditional farming. Full control over the farming process also helps improve product quality, ensure food safety, and create a stable year-round supply. This is also an inevitable trend as the global fisheries sector shifts toward sustainable, environmentally friendly production models. Moreover, such systems can significantly reduce risks associated with disease outbreaks and environmental fluctuations, thereby ensuring more predictable production outcomes.

In parallel with the MOU, the four companies from three countries are also studying plans to establish a joint venture (JV) to optimize operational efficiency and long-term development.

Participation in the project not only expands Tan Long Group’s presence as a Vietnamese enterprise in international markets but also reflects its multi-sector development strategy within the agriculture and food ecosystem. From its strengths in feed ingredients, agricultural products, livestock, and food supply chains, Tan Long is actively transitioning to high-tech production models while expanding into new sectors to meet global trends toward modern, sustainable consumption.

Previously, at the end of March, Tan Long Group also announced the signing of an MOU with Lotte Global Logistics Co., Ltd. (a member of Lotte Group, South Korea) on strategic cooperation in agricultural and food logistics, aiming to enhance supply chain efficiency and expand logistics operations in Viet Nam in line with international standards.

About the companies

- Tan Long Group: Established in 2000, it is one of Vietnam’s leading agricultural corporations, with annual revenue of about USD 2 billion, employing more than 6,500 staff and operating extensively both domestically and internationally.

- Tokyo Kiraboshi Financial Group,Inc.: One of Japan’s major financial groups, established in 2014 through the merger of three major banks. Since 2022, Kiraboshi has been a comprehensive strategic partner of Tan Long Group, playing a key role in promoting A An rice exports to Japan and facilitating business connections between Japan and Vietnam.

- BNK Financial Group: One of the oldest and largest financial groups in South Korea, providing diverse financial services such as banking, securities, asset management, venture capital, and startup investment across Korea and other Asian countries.

- MegaPlan Co., Ltd.: A Blue Food -FoodTech company headquartered in Jeju (South Korea), operating a land-based aquaculture farm of about 4,000 m². MegaPlan is a global pioneer in year-round mackerel reproduction technology (patented), independent of natural conditions, with quality management using IoT and AI.