Tropical Futures Institute Limited

Maura Carrai

Maura Carrai

Susan Kueh

Susan Kueh

Joseph Angelo

Joseph Angelo

Xueyan Shen

Xueyan Shen

Jose Domingos

Jose Domingos

Thimo Ruethers

Thimo Ruethers

James Loh

James Loh

Effects of black soldier fly larvae (Hermetia illucens) reared from heterogeneous food waste as a supplement to fishmeal-limited diets on growth indices, hepatosomatic responses and immuno-responses of Barramundi in grow-out phase
Susan Kueh
01 Mar 2023 - 31 Jul 2026
NTU has contacted TFI for assistance in running a feeding trial with barramundi using black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) as sustainable replacement for fish meal (FM) in feed. The trial will be carried out in the JCUS Aquaculture Teaching and Research Lab over a 3 month period. The project will evaluate the effects of dietary BSFL as a FM replacement on the growth performance, histological effects on fish gut and immune responses of barramundi. Results will be published in peer reviewed journal.
Establishing blood biochemistry reference intervals for juvenile Asian Seabass
Susan Kueh
01 Mar 2024 - 31 Dec 2024
Asian Seabass, Lates calcarifer is one of the most important farmed fish species in Singapore and SE Asia. Like for many other intensively farmed animals, diseases remain one of the main threats to sustainable aquaculture of this species. Diseases are more prevalent in juvenile L. calcarifer due to less developed immunity. Histopathology is commonly used for screening fish for disease and health certifications. However, organ pathology maybe preceded by changes in blood biochemistry days to weeks ahead of clinical signs and visible pathology. In human and domesticated animal species, blood biochemistry has been established as a reliable and economical method to monitor organ function, general health, and guide disease management, but has yet to be established for aquaculture species. This study aims to build on the blood reference intervals published by Chew et al., 2023, and extend them to biochemical parameters indicative of organ function for important organs such as the liver and kidney. Biochemistry will be correlated to histopathological evaluations of healthy reference population of L. calcarifer, for a more robust evaluation of health status.
Supercharging barramundi production through advanced selective breeding for improved disease resistance, growth and fillet traits
Susan Kueh
01 Jan 2021 - 31 Dec 2025
Barramundi, or Asian seabass, Lates calcarifer, is the major aquaculture species farmed in Singapore and has wide consumer acceptance due to its white, firm flesh. The barramundi currently farmed in Singapore, however, have not been significantly improved through simultaneous selection to be resistant to major diseases (like scale drop disease), faster growth, or fillet characteristics. This project will use gold standard breeding methodologies that utilise genomics, industrial-scale phenotyping and cutting-edge digital technologies to select for barramundi that are more productive, have whiter flesh and possess a lower risk to farming due to disease in Singaporean waters. Outcomes from the project will be barramundi that have average survival to scale drop disease of 60%, grow 15% faster, and have increased fillet yields and white flesh colouration.
Supercharging barramundi production through adv. sel. breeding for improved disease resistance, growth, and fillet yield.
Susan Kueh
01 Jan 2022 - 01 Jan 2026
grant
Effects of monoglycerides as feed additives in functional diets of Asian seabass (ASB), Lates calcarifer: growth improvement, immunomodulatory effects, disease resistance, and microbiome profile beneficial to gut health.
Susan Kueh
01 Jan 2021 - 01 Jan 2022
contract
A study on seafood market consumption and production trends in Singapore.
Susan Kueh
01 Jan 2022 - 01 Jan 2022
contract
Farm Outreach Program (Workshop series to Singaporean fish farmers)
Susan Kueh
01 Jan 2023 - 01 Jan 2023
contract
Project Smiling Gecko CAMBODIA - What Gaps can we impact?
Susan Kueh
21 Oct 2025 - 23 Oct 2025
JCU's mission is to create a brighter future for life in the Tropics, and this project aims to increase JCU's impact on livelihoods in remote communities in SE Asia. By working with NGO Smiling Gecko Cambodia (SGC) which supports the needy population in Cambodia, the team can contribute to their self sustaining, ecologically and economically vibrant activities that aligns with UN SDG goals 4(quality education), 12 (responsible consumption & production), 14 (life below water) and 17 (partnerships for the goals). SGC runs a school for 500 students, a farm house resort that employs several hundred employees, grows food crops, and runs tilapia ponds at their 105-hectare site that benefits 30,000 Cambodians in surrounding villages. SGC is committed to continuing growth and seeking partnerships with universities to develop programs for the continuing education of its young community. The team seeks to identify how we can partner with SGC to identify gaps where we can make a difference to the local population, and where we can make an impact on their operation by building capacity. We propose a 3 days/ 2 nights site study and stakeholder engagement in October 2025. The immediate output will be a blue print for our future work with SGC and other remote communities, how we participate in their continual growth and showcase as a working model for other remote communities in SE Asia. We will seek suitable future funding opportunities from international financial institutions such as the World Bank or the Asian Development Bank.
Conference Attendance - Diseases in Asian Aquaculture 22-27 Sept 2025
Susan Kueh
22 Sep 2025 - 27 Sep 2025
Present at 12th Diseases in Asian Aquaculture Symposium and bid for 13th DAA to be held in Singapore in 2028
PROVISION OF TRAINING SERVICES FOR AQUACULTURE FARMS FOR TWO YEARS
Susan Kueh
01 Sep 2025 - 31 Dec 2027
The Singapore Food Agency (or “SFA”) is inviting suppliers for proposals on the provision of training services to aquaculture (i.e. food fish) farms in Singapore to enhance farmers’ capability and skills on farm management and good aquaculture practices. To contribute to Singapore’s Aquaculture Plan, farms will need guidance to mitigate the increased risk of diseases as they intensify production on limited space. The services shall be provided over a period of 2 years.

Beyond genotyping: Using ddRADseq GBS for pathogen surveillance in aquaculture – A case study in Barramundi (Lates calcarifer)

Investigating genomic prediction accuracies for muscle fatty acids composition in Malabar red snapper (Lutjanus malabaricus)

Genomic prediction of scale drop disease resistance in barramundi Lates calcarifer under controlled laboratory conditions

Effects of Eucalyptus Biochar on Intestinal Health and Function in Largemouth Bass (Micropterus salmoides)

Tannins: A Promising Antidote to Mitigate the Harmful Effects of Aflatoxin B1 to Animals

Fish size matters – Variable food allergen profiles in farmed and wild Malabar red snapper (Lutjanus malabaricus)

Evaluating poultry fat and crude palm oil blends on growth performance, fatty acid profile, lipid metabolism and antioxidant capacity in juvenile Asian seabass (Lates calcarifer)

Histological characterisation of gonadal sex differentiation in Malabar red snapper (Lutjanus malabaricus) for aquaculture advancement

Stability of muscle fatty acids and proximate composition across phenotypic traits in Malabar red snapper (Lutjanus malabaricus)

Scale Drop Disease Virus (SDDV) infection induces intestinal dysbiosis and secondary Vibrio expansion in Asian seabass (Lates calcarifer)

Title: Supercharging barramundi production through adv. sel. breeding for improved disease resistance, growth, and(...) Awarded to Shen X; Domingos JA (JCUS Proj Lead), Jerry DR; Vij S; Erenst V; Tan YQ; Vij S; Tan M; Schrittwieser M. SFA SFS R&D (SGD 5,260,292)
Reseracher: Jose Domingos (Professor/Principal Research Fellow Aquaculture and Deputy Director TFI)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2022
End Date: 01 Jan 2026
Title: Effects of black soldier fly larvae (Hermetia illucens) reared from heterogeneous food waste as a dietary supplement for Barramundi. Awarded to Domingos JA. R&D Service contract with Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU) (SGD 75,000);
Reseracher: Jose Domingos (Professor/Principal Research Fellow Aquaculture and Deputy Director TFI)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2023
End Date: 01 Jan 2024
Title: New sustainable fish feed to contribute to Singapore’s “30 by 30” food sustainability goal, James Cook University Singapore News
Reseracher: Xueyan Shen (Associate Professor)
Title: Doctor of Philosophy (Fish Pathology), Murdoch University
Reseracher: Susan Kueh (Associate Professor (Aquatic Animal Health))
Title: Masters of Science (Aquatic Veterinary Studies), University of Stirling
Reseracher: Susan Kueh (Associate Professor (Aquatic Animal Health))
Title: Bachelor of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney
Reseracher: Susan Kueh (Associate Professor (Aquatic Animal Health))
Title: Consultancy on Barramundi Breeding. Direct industry funding from Humpty Doo Barramundi (Darwin, AUS) awarded to Domingos JA (SGD 10,015);
Reseracher: Jose Domingos (Professor/Principal Research Fellow Aquaculture and Deputy Director TFI)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2019
End Date: 01 Jan 2020
Title: Adopting intensive biosecure hatchery protocols and improving dietary strategies for growout to support the emerging cobia aquac... Awarded to Domingos JA; Lee P; Smullen R, Salini M, Holgate J, Cherrie B and Moloney J. FRDC Proj 2017-165: (AUD 158,000);
Reseracher: Jose Domingos (Professor/Principal Research Fellow Aquaculture and Deputy Director TFI)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2018
End Date: 01 Jan 2020
Title: The evaluation of two species, Cobia and Giant Grouper, as alternative species to farm in the WSSV affected areas of Southeast Queensland. Awarded to Cherrie B, Domingos JA and Knuckey R. FRDC Project Number 2017-103 (AUD 158,000);
Reseracher: Jose Domingos (Professor/Principal Research Fellow Aquaculture and Deputy Director TFI)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2017
End Date: 01 Jan 2020
Title: Unleashing the potential of all-female cobia farming. Awarded to Domingos JA. Animal Science Queensland Innovation Opportunity (AUD 8,500);
Reseracher: Jose Domingos (Professor/Principal Research Fellow Aquaculture and Deputy Director TFI)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2017
End Date: 01 Jan 2017