September 24, 2025
Advancing fish welfare globally
With a conference theme of leadership, innovation and impact, FAI’s COO and animal scientist Murilo Quintiliano is participating in two expert panel sessions at this year’s Responsible Seafood Summit. He tells us more.
Murilo Quintiliano
COO
FAI’s Chief Operating Officer, Murilo works with clients on the development of farm welfare and sustainability projects with FAI clients. With a passion for animal welfare, and the benefits it brings to the economics, ethics and environment of livestock production, he is a sought-after speaker at conferences worldwide, sharing his experiences, knowledge and understanding of applying science to the farming environment moving towards sustainability.
Brazilian-born and based in his homeland, Murilo joined FAI in 2008 to implement its singular view of how to tackle the challenges of food production in Brazilian conditions for beef cattle, broilers, laying hens and tilapia.
Murilo graduated in animal science from São Paulo State University (UNESP) and has since been working with universities, research centres, private companies and individuals towards a better farming environment, integrating activities along the food supply chain.
The Responsible Seafood Summit is a firm fixture in FAI’s calendar; this year is no exception as the 2025 event moves to Cartagena in Colombia.
Conferences play an important role in helping promote fish welfare and sustainability globally. A chance to meet with industry leaders and share our expertise in facilitating positive change in the seafood sector, they can be the stimulus for an important shift in mindset.
Conference panel sessions
The panel sessions I’m involved with at this year’s Responsible Seafood Summit give us the opportunity to help this happen, ensuring welfare is not overlooked and its positive influence on business productivity and profitability is understood.
Panel 1
Is it finally tilapia's time? What's in store for the world’s most versatile white fish?
Tuesday 30 September, 9.45 am CST
As a global commodity, tilapia is fast becoming the number one farmed species of fish, currently sitting second only to carp and has the potential to be as important as other sources of terrestrial and aquatic animal protein. The market is growing rapidly, particularly in South America, with production expected to reach nine million tonnes by 2030.
But it must overcome current misconceptions around fish quality in the global context and take advantage of its positive attributes to become a dominant sustainable protein source. As such a well-studied species, we have a large amount of scientific knowledge about tilapia, including the health and welfare indicators producers must know and understand to maximise their production potential. I hope to help producers make tilapia the global food security and nutrition solution I believe it can be.
Panel 2
Brazil's seafood industry will grow. But is it ready to change?
Tuesday 30 September, 3.00 pm CST
Tariffs and imports are currently dominating the minds of those in the Brazilian seafood industry. While both have the potential to impact the industry negatively, producers are looking for alternatives to overcome such challenges. Brazilian producers are looking for ways to be more efficient and differentiate, providing opportunity to implement better production methods encompassing improved welfare and sustainability. I’ll be describing the need to support farmers in three interconnected areas – economics, environment and ethics – and how by taking a bottom-up approach and showing initiative and leadership, the industry can build a resilient and competitive Brazilian seafood sector.
With aquaculture growing rapidly in every region of the world, there’s never been a more urgent time to prioritise best practices and welfare.
By sharing insights at the Responsible Seafood Summit, we’re reinforcing the economic, ethical and environmental case for making welfare a cornerstone of aquaculture growth strategies. Whether in Brazil, Kenya, Egypt or beyond, FAI’s global team is working to ensure fish farming delivers not just more food, but better food systems.
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Murilo Quintiliano
COO
FAI’s Chief Operating Officer, Murilo works with clients on the development of farm welfare and sustainability projects with FAI clients. With a passion for animal welfare, and the benefits it brings to the economics, ethics and environment of livestock production, he is a sought-after speaker at conferences worldwide, sharing his experiences, knowledge and understanding of applying science to the farming environment moving towards sustainability.
Brazilian-born and based in his homeland, Murilo joined FAI in 2008 to implement its singular view of how to tackle the challenges of food production in Brazilian conditions for beef cattle, broilers, laying hens and tilapia.
Murilo graduated in animal science from São Paulo State University (UNESP) and has since been working with universities, research centres, private companies and individuals towards a better farming environment, integrating activities along the food supply chain.