In 1988, WorldFish and partners from the Philippines and Norway established the Genetically Improved Farmed Tilapia project to breed a faster-growing strain of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) suitable for both small-scale and commercial aquaculture.

Genetically modified (GMO) tilapia is a myth. There's a lot to think about when it comes to genetically modified foods. After all, as of 2015, 92% of corn, 94% of soybeans, and 94% of cotton grown in the United States is genetically modified.

Researchers in Cuba and the UK have engineered tilapia to grow and put on weight up to 300% faster (Rahman et al, 1998). Perhaps the most extraordinary example of the power of this approach was demonstrated with a mud loach developed in Korea that grows up to 35-fold faster than normal (Nam et al, 2001).

Started in 1988, the Genetically Improved Farmed Tilapia (GIFT) project, a selective breeding project pioneered by CGIAR researchers at WorldFish, has played a critical role in boosting fish productivity both in commercial and in small-scale systems, benefiting millions around the world.

At least 35 species of fish are currently being genetically engineered around the world, including trout, catfish, tilapia, striped bass, flounder, and many species of salmon.

WorldFish and partners created an improved strain of tilapia, called the Genetically Improved Farmed Tilapia (GIFT), by pioneering a systematic breeding method. This was based on selective breeding programs for salmon and trout established in Norway in the 1970s.

GIFT yields higher volume, grows faster, has firmer flesh and even tastes better than other tilapia strains. Finding accessible and sustainable sources of protein is critical for communities on the front lines of climate change that are most likely to experience hunger.

Oct 5, 2022 · WorldFish has demonstrated that selective breeding is a feasible, cost-effective and sustainable approach to the genetic improvement of tilapia. The GIFT strain is a result of 28 years of selective breeding across 23 generations. It is being used in 17 countries around the globe.

Genetically Improved Farmed Tilapia. GIFT. Objectives • Develop a method applicable to tropical species • Develop a faster growing strain • Preferably, suitable for low and high input systems

Jun 10, 2014 · Two genetically improved tilapia strains (GIFT and Akosombo) have been created with Oreochromis niloticus (Nile tilapia), which is native to Africa. In particular, GIFT has been shown to be significantly superior to local African tilapia strains in terms of growth rate.