Value Added Product Development & Market Evaluation for Freshwater Prawns in KY

NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY: Historically, Kentucky farmers have been economically sustained by tobacco production allowing many large and small acreage farmers to survive. This culture is drastically changing, and aquaculture is now providing a new means of production for many of these farmers. Aquaculture is one of the fastest growing food production activities in the world, and is the fastest growing segment of U.S. Agriculture. The U.S. imports in excess of $2.5 billion in shrimp products each year. Despite obvious economic incentives, shrimp farming in the U.S. has never developed, largely due to requirements that farms be located in coastal regions where wetland protection laws and competition from recreational uses make land costs prohibitive. Continued research supports that the species Macrobrachium rosenbergii (known as prawns) can be raised in inland ponds and grow better at lower temperatures. They are self-limiting in production and are not susceptible to diseases devastating to marine shrimp. Macrobrachium rosenbergii lend themselves to utilization of small ponds and integrate well into diversified operations and schedules of full and part-time farmers. This research is intended to develop new value added products and evaluate market potentials to eventually help small farmers transitioning from tobacco production into new aquaculture enterprises. The proposed project is designed to accommodate Kentucky farmers with the potential of adapting to the needs of other regions and areas of the country where freshwater prawn production can exist.