McLean, VA – SIRF held its third annual soirée during the Global Seafood Market Conference in Miami, Florida. At the Oceanaire Seafood Room, the SIRF board hosted industry leaders for an evening dedicated to seafood research and sponsorship.
Themed to highlight the global nature of seafood, the event treated guests to a menu of branzino, cobia and stone crab sourced from the world over. Throughout the evening, SIRF Chairman Russ Mentzer highlighted the organization’s research in EMS, seafood economic analysis and food waste.
“For the third year in a row, SIRF has been able to draw seafood decision makers together to advance our industry,” said Mentzer. “We have a lot to celebrate at the Soirée. Our business has entered into an exciting era of innovation. Coming with this innovation, however, is work to be done. We need to anticipate tomorrow’s problems and create solutions before they are needed for the good of seafood.”
Guests were encouraged to support SIRF’s seafood study mission by contributing to the newly created memorial fund honoring former NFI Chairman Ken Conrad.
The evening’s program featured Dr. Daniel Benetti, Professor and Director of Aquaculture at the University of Miami. Leading a renowned aquaculture program, Dr. Benetti spoke on aquaculture’s future and its vital role in feeding growing populations.
“Aquaculture already produces some of the most consumed seafood items,” Benetti said. “This list will continue to grow to include mahi-mahi, tuna and flounder as the industry’s capabilities expand and seafood demand increases.”
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The Seafood Industry Research Fund (SIRF) was established in 1964 to fund research grants to colleges, universities and other institutions for research related to the seafood industry and the consumers of its products. SIRF is supported entirely by voluntary contributions from individuals and companies in and related to the seafood industry.
Source: Seafood Industry Research Fund (SIRF)
