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Top 10 Under 40: Hideyoshi Segovia Uno

Breeding success 

Some of Hideyoshi Segovia Uno’s fondest memories as a child was spending time with his Japanese grandfather, talking about fish production and the benefits of seafood. “He would take me very early in the morning to the local fish market on the weekends to get the freshest fish possible so he could prepare the greatest sashimi ever,” said the 39-year-old.

Hideyoshi Segovia Uno

Uno also always loved the outdoors. He wanted a professional career that would allow him to interact with nature and do something that had a positive impact on the environment. And so, Uno has dedicated his life to aquaculture engineering, believing that aggressive innovation in animal welfare and sustainability are the key to global food safety, generating jobs, and feeding millions of people. Uno currently serves as general manager at Benchmark Genetics USA (Spring Genetics) in Miami, Fla.

He oversees worldwide tilapia operations for Benchmark, including production of broodstock fingerlings, breeding and genetics activities. Jan-Emil Johannessen, head of Benchmark Genetics, said it was Uno’s strong leadership which drove the company’s tilapia production to success, even in the middle of a pandemic.

“In 2019, Benchmark was in bad financial shape and it was uncertain if we could continue to support our tilapia activities,” says Johannessen. “At the same time, Hide took over responsibility for the company, and he has, during the last two years, demonstrated a clear and strong leadership by doubling the sales during 2021 compared to 2020, establishing new brood stock contracts, increasing sales of sex reversed fingerlings (SRFs) in the U.S. market, and building a strong company culture.”