Aquna Murray Cod had a taste of victory when they won the Excellence in Innovation Award at the NSW Business Chamber Awards.
The Aquna team won their award for their innovative approach to farming Murray cod, which is renowned for its mild and firm texture.
The business was only listed on the ASX two years ago, but in that short time they have already made a big splash in the market.
They are the only business in the world that has succeeded in farming Murray cod on a large scale, a feat that Aquna founder Matt Ryan attributes to their innovative business model.
“What we’re doing is quite innovative with our aeration, the way our cages work, and the systems we have for growing the fish,” Mr Ryan said.
Part of our brand ethos is that innovation is the core of what we do, and if something doesn’t work we find a better way
- Aquna founder Matt Ryan
“Part of our brand ethos is that innovation is the core of what we do, and if something doesn’t work we find a better way.”
He said that there were a lot of new ideas springing up all over the place across the Riverina area, and that local businesses were constantly adapting and changing.
“There’s a lot of very innovative people here who think outside the square and who want to make things better,” he said.
Aquna currently sells Murray cod to up-market restaurants all around Australia and they have started pushing out into Asia and the rest of the world. Mr Ryan said he has ambitions to capture the international market and put Murray cod on plates around the world.
Aquna claims that they have “improved on nature”, producing pond-grown Murray cod in pristine conditions that would make wild cod jealous.
The company likes to boast about their environmentally sustainable practices, which involves using the same irrigation water twice – once through the fish ponds, then for crop irrigation or pastures on farms.
They were invited to the state awards after winning the Griffith Business Chamber awards earlier in May.
Griffith Business Chamber secretary Amanda Quarisa said she was happy to hear about the company’s recent success.
“We’re very proud of our members for reaching that level of success,” Ms Quarisa said. “Griffith businesses have had many great achievements.”
Kenji Sato
Kenji Sato is a handsome journalist at The Daily Advertiser who enjoys writing flattering bios about himself in the third person. He can be contacted by email at kenji.sato@dailyadvertiser.com.au or by mobile on 0448 927 612.
Kenji Sato is a handsome journalist at The Daily Advertiser who enjoys writing flattering bios about himself in the third person. He can be contacted by email at kenji.sato@dailyadvertiser.com.au or by mobile on 0448 927 612.
