Atarraya Inc., creator of Shrimpbox, the first sustainable ‘plug-and-play’ shrimp farming technology, announced plans today to establish its first U.S. sustainable shrimp production operation in central Indiana, creating up to 65 new jobs by the end of 2025.

“We’re inspired by the cutting-edge technology Atarraya has created to advance shrimp cultivation, and I am ecstatic to see these entrepreneurs and innovators choose Indiana to locate and scale their business,” said Indiana Secretary of Commerce Brad Chambers. “Indiana is the ideal location for agtech companies like Atarraya to continue developing innovative solutions while providing consumers with a sustainable food source.”

Headquartered in Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca, Mexico, Atarraya plans to invest up to $4.8 million to locate the company’s first U.S. container-based shrimp farming operation at 2075 S. Belmont Ave. in Indianapolis. The first farm will include approximately 20 Shrimpboxes and will advance the company’s goal of making shrimp the most sustainable and accessible source of animal protein globally. The central Indiana operation will enable Atarraya to expand into the U.S. market and advance the company’s goal of making shrimp the most sustainable, accessible and nutritious source of animal protein in the world.

“We’ve spent the past decade developing the technology that will empower the future of aquaculture and realized that in order to unleash its true potential to feed the world, aquaculture must be local,” said Daniel Russek, CEO and founder of Attaraya. “We are excited to start in the U.S. agriculture capital of Indiana, which we believe will rapidly become the nation’s agtech capital.”

The company, which currently employs 87 team members across Oaxaca, Campeche, Mexico City and Indiana, is currently hiring in Indianapolis for engineers, operators and biologists. Interested applicants may apply via email.

Housed in traditional cargo containers, Atarraya’s AI-powered Shrimpbox shrimp farming technology provides a sustainable, globally scalable protein source that creates new opportunities for farmers – even in landlocked, urban locations. Shrimp is expected to be a nearly $23 billion global market by 2026. Atarraya’s Shrimpbox uses biotechnology, artificial intelligence and automation, and allows shrimp to be farmed locally, anywhere in the world.

The Shrimpbox automatic feeding system reduces labor hours and improves the growth scheme by dispensing the precise amount of feed needed at optimal times to avoid waste. Unlike traditional shrimp farming, Shrimpbox operates with zero water pollution, eliminates the need for antibiotics or chemicals and produces fresh, healthy shrimp anywhere.

The Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) partners with industry organizations like AgriNovus Indiana, an initiative dedicated to promoting and accelerating the growth of the agbiosciences economy, to target business recruitment in high-skilled, high-growth sectors. AgriNovus works to cultivate business within the agbioscience industry, helping recruit organizations like Atarraya to expand or locate in Indiana.

“Atarraya’s Shrimpbox unites the power of technology, science and sustainable food production to bring new choices to the U.S. market,” said Mitch Frazier, CEO of AgriNovus Indiana. “Indiana’s $52 billion agbioscience economy, coupled with our strength in technology, make Indiana a destination of choice for global innovators like Atarraya as we build the economy of the future.”

Atarraya presented Shrimpbox at the 2022 Seafood Expo North America/Seafood Processing North America in Boston earlier this year – the only company of 800 to exhibit an actual production facility inside the exhibition.

Based on the company’s job creation plans, the IEDC committed an investment of up to $1 million in Atarraya through incentive-based tax credits and up to $50,000 in training grants. The tax credits are performance-based, meaning Atarraya is eligible to claim incentives once Indiana residents are hired and trained. The city of Indianapolis supports the project.

“Indianapolis is the perfect location for a global firm looking to set up their headquarters at the crossroads of advanced tech and agriculture,” said Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett. “In addition, Atarraya’s emphasis on a more sustainable approach to farming—reducing water and potentially harmful chemicals—aligns with our vision for a greener, cleaner future.”