Brazil to host world's first tilapia skin factory for medical use

Brazil is set to host the world's first large-scale factory dedicated to processing tilapia skin for medical use. Located in Jaguaribara, Ceará, the facility represents an initial investment of R$ 52 million.

The technology, derived from research at the Federal University of Ceará (UFC), converts fish skin—a byproduct typically discarded by the industry—into biological dressings for treating second and third-degree burns and difficult-to-heal wounds. The industrial project will be managed by Consórcio Biotec through Inova Medical.

Production capacity is expected to scale significantly from current laboratory levels of 600 skins per month to 4,300 units per day during the first year of commercial operation, with a potential future capacity of 12,000 skins daily. Construction is scheduled to begin in October, with operations potentially starting in January 2028, pending regulatory approval from Anvisa.