Manila clams.
Photo: Nofima
Selective breeding has been introduced to Manila clam farming in Italy, cutting production time by at least three months and potentially boosting the efficiency of the country’s shellfish sector.
The breakthrough follows the launch of a dedicated breeding programme for Manila clam (Ruditapes philippinarum), developed by Italian hatchery Naturedulis in collaboration with Norwegian research institute Nofima.
Based in the nutrient-rich Goro Lagoon, Naturedulis operates a hatchery supplying juvenile clams to shellfish farmers across the region. Through a project known as Bivalvi, the company set out to improve growth performance by selectively breeding clams better able to utilise local nutrients. Farmers began seeding the first selectively bred clams in early 2025.
“We expect these clams to be market-ready by Christmas 2025, slashing the production cycle by at least three months,” Naturedulis’ Leonardo Aguiari said in November, adding that the project has been pivotal for both the hatchery and the local clam-based economy.
For Nofima, the programme marks an extension of its long-standing breeding work into a new species. The institute has developed selective breeding programmes for fish such as salmon, cod and tilapia since the 1960s, but shellfish breeding remains rare in Europe.
“Manila clam is the latest species to benefit from breeding work by Nofima’s geneticists,” said project leader Anna Sonesson.
She noted that limited breeding of low-trophic species such as shellfish represents a missed opportunity for more sustainable food production. Improved breeding, she said, could enhance efficiency, health, quality and survival rates in shellfish farming.
The Bivalvi project is funded by ERA-NET BlueBio and also involves the University of Bologna.
