en.Wedoany.com Reported - The Small Business Support Service of Minas Gerais (Sebrae Minas) has launched a project in Morada Nova de Minas, Brazil's largest tilapia-producing municipality, aimed at processing tilapia skins into sustainable raw materials for the production of fashion and handicraft items such as footwear, bags, wallets, belts, and decorative pieces.
The project plans to mobilize community members interested in the tilapia skin processing production chain. Approximately 20 years ago, the municipality housed a tannery established by the São Francisco and Parnaíba Valley Development Company (Codevasf) for processing tilapia skins, but subsequent activities were discontinued. Currently, the tannery's machinery and equipment remain well-preserved and are ready for resumed operations. The project requires identifying personnel to work in the production chain stages of tanning, dyeing, and sewing tilapia skins to produce products and accessories aimed at tourism and sport fishing.
Artisan Maria Helena Costa has already joined the project. As a member of the Morada Nova Artisans Association, she participated on July 7–8 in the Inspira Mais trade show in São Paulo, Latin America's largest materials and design event. Costa noted that the municipality, as Brazil's tilapia capital, has the potential to strengthen its local identity through fish skins. A local aquaculture farm has expressed interest in donating fish skins to kick off the activities, and there is currently a need to find personnel for cutting and sewing. The group also visited the studio of designer Flávia Aranha during the trade show. She is a benchmark in the national sustainable fashion sector. The group learned about natural dyeing techniques using plant-derived pigments such as annatto, indigo, turmeric, pink pepper, leaves, and bark. These plants are abundant locally.
Currently, most tilapia skins are used in animal feed production, yielding low economic returns. Once processed into ecological leather, the material can be directed toward higher value-added markets such as fashion, handicrafts, design, and accessories. Isabella Silva, an analyst at the Small Business Support Service of Minas Gerais, stated that the collaboration among farmers, entrepreneurs, artisans, and partners will transform aquaculture waste into new business opportunities, income generation, identity, and development momentum, benefiting Morada Nova de Minas.
It is estimated that the existing facilities in Morada Nova de Minas have the capacity to process approximately 20,000 tilapia skins per month. Project consultant Luciana Navarro pointed out that the machinery needs to be restarted for testing, along with specialized training for the tanning, dyeing, and production teams. Navarro emphasized that the municipality has abundant raw materials, organized governance structures, an aquaculture tradition, a strong tilapia-related business sector, tourism potential, and specialized talent in fashion and design.
The municipality of Morada Nova de Minas produces approximately 80 tons of tilapia per day, accounting for more than 50% of the state's output. Through intensive cage farming in the Três Marias Reservoir, the municipality has achieved vertical integration of the production chain, attracting investments in genetics and processing. Local production is supported by robust infrastructure, with large processing companies and strategic partners, forming a complete chain from fry production to the sale of processed fish products.
