Building a more sustainable future for shrimp aquaculture requires more than innovation alone. It requires partnerships, shared purpose, and a commitment to creating value for both people and nature.
EXPARDEC is a mission-driven social enterprise based in southern Ecuador. Our name stands for Expanding Partnerships for Dignity, Ecological Balance, and Circular Economy, reflecting our belief that meaningful and lasting change is achieved by connecting people, knowledge, innovation, and opportunities across the shrimp value chain.
We seek to transform shrimp aquaculture into a more just, ecological, and human-centered practice.
We aim to build a model that empowers artisanal farmers, protects mangrove ecosystems, and promotes a fairer and more resilient blue economy.
At EXPARDEC, we believe the future of aquaculture is not about producing more, but about producing better. Through fair trade, value addition, innovation, strategic partnerships , and capacity building , we strive to elevate artisanal aquaculture as a premium and sustainable alternative.
We believe that true sustainability can only be achieved when environmental stewardship, social well-being, and economic viability advance together. Progress in one, or even two, of these dimensions should never come at the expense of the others.
Our goal is to contribute to a shrimp sector where growth is driven by quality, sustainability, innovation, and collaboration, , creating long-term value for producers, workers, businesses, coastal communities, and the ecosystems upon which they depend.
We are not here to compete for volume. We are here to grow with purpose, dignity, and impact.
"The values that inspire our work were shaped long before EXPARDEC existed."
"No matter how righteous a person strives to be, they will often be tempted to compromise their principles in the face of a misguided world. But it is our duty to stand firm in our convictions, as true character is revealed through adversity."
— Plutarco L. Pardo G. (1966–2002)