Xelect

Xelect Ltd is a provider of specialist genetics and breeding management services to the aquaculture industry. The company operates modern laboratories and offices in St Andrews, Scotland, with a sales and development representative based in Puerto Montt, Chile. Xelect manages and supports breeding programmes for leading producers of farmed finfish and prawns worldwide. The company's services include genetic marker discovery, broodstock management, and genetic improvement programmes. Xelect offers a range of services suitable for various needs, from advanced genomic selection programmes to cost-effective family selection programmes and short-term genetics consultancy. As of June 2023, Xelect managed programmes for 13 different species for customers globally, including established aquaculture species such as salmon, trout, bass, bream, and shrimp, as well as emergent species like pangasius, kingfish, and barramundi. The company has developed expertise in these areas since its founding in 2013 as a spin-off from the University of St Andrews. Initially focused on discovering genetic markers for use in breeding programs, Xelect expanded its services in 2017 with additional funding from Eos Advisory. The company has grown from a small office at the Scottish Oceans Institute to a large, custom-built laboratory in St Andrews.

Key customers and partnerships

Xelect works with leading producers of farmed finfish and prawns worldwide. In May 2023, the company was recognized by the UK Government in its inaugural "Made in the UK, Sold to the World Awards" for its success in exporting services globally. Over the five years leading up to June 2023, Xelect's customer base tripled in size, with the company adapting to establish breeding programmes for customers remotely, even on the other side of the world.