In the heart of the Indian Ocean, on an idyllic archipelago off the coast of Kenya and Tanzania, a Belgian company made history three decades ago. In the early 1990s, VDS signed an agreement with the Seychelles Marketing Board, gaining a key role in the local agricultural sector. What began as managing a modest feed mill evolved into an ambitious and successful story of knowledge sharing, innovation, and international export.

With only about 70,000 inhabitants and a rapidly growing tourism industry, it was vital for the Seychelles to be self-sufficient in the production of pork, poultry, and eggs. To ensure local production, a reliable supply of animal feed was also necessary. Hence, the decision to operate a local feed mill. VDS sent an expat manager to the islands, supplied premixes, and designed custom feed formulas based on imported and as many local raw materials as possible—such as tuna fishmeal, tuna oil, and copra.

The factory was the sole producer of poultry and cattle feed on the islands, and the responsibility to deliver high-quality products on time to local farmers was significant. VDS brought structure, technological expertise, and professional organization to this small island nation.

Beyond its existing animal feed operations, VDS discovered that a complete shrimp feed factory had previously been ordered for the 'Giant Tiger Shrimp' project (Monodon project) on Coetivy Island, but had yet to be built. The availability of high-quality local fishmeal presented a unique opportunity: by producing shrimp feed locally in the Seychelles, VDS could save on expensive imports and preserve valuable foreign currency.

VDS constructed the Shrimp Feed Mill and assembled a specialized team. From raw material selection and quality control to formulation and production—everything was led by VDS. The result was impressive. The feed was not only successful within the Seychelles, but also opened the door to export markets such as Madagascar, Mozambique, and even the Middle East.

At its peak, as much as 6,000 tons of shrimp feed per year were exported from the Seychelles. All logistics, cross-border transport, and financial operations were coordinated from VDS headquarters in Belgium.

The Monodon project on Coetivy Island and the production of Monodon feeds from the Seychelles marked a significant milestone in international aquaculture. These initiatives helped put tropical shrimp farming on the global map. VDS delivered not only feed, but also expertise, standards, and quality that were internationally adopted.

VDS’s role extended beyond feed alone. Over the years, the company also took on the management of the local slaughterhouse and the hatchery for hatching eggs. In doing so, VDS played a crucial role in the entire food chain on the islands. With a team of expats, the company managed to ensure professional, sustainable, and high-quality production in a small-scale economy for nearly twenty years.

Unfortunately, this chapter came to an abrupt end in the wake of the global financial crisis of 2008. Under pressure from the International Monetary Fund, the Seychelles economy underwent extensive reform. The feed mills were privatized, and shrimp feed production came to a complete halt.

Nevertheless, the impact of VDS in the Seychelles remains tangible. The company proved that even in an isolated island nation with limited resources, food production can be organized in a sustainable and professional way. By focusing on local raw materials, knowledge sharing, and long-term thinking, VDS left behind a blueprint for what international cooperation can truly look like.