NEWS 92 FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE December 2023 As part of its ongoing effort to understand pets and the incredible bond that we share with them, Purina awarded $120,000 in research grants to four distinguished scientists from around the globe, all geared towards uncovering the profound ways dogs and cats can enhance our lives. Through the company's bi-annual Purina Sponsorship for Human-Animal Bond studies programme, Purina provides up to $30,000 in research funding per project to scientists seeking to study facets of the human-pet bond and improve our collective understanding of the healing power of pets. "Science is most impactful when it is shared, and we are committed not only to studying the human-pet bond at Purina through our in-house research but also through partnerships with renowned institutions and by supporting individuals who share our passion for pets and commitment to pet welfare," said François Martin, M.A., Ph.D., Manager, Global Pet Behaviour and Welfare at Purina. "Working with researchers worldwide helps us better understand the impact and importance of our relationships with pets and how we can continue to improve the unique bond that we share with them." The 2024 human-animal bond studies research grant winners: • Genetics of Canine Hyper-Sociability & Impact on Adoptability of Shelter Dogs - Researcher: Bridgett M. vonHoldt, Princeton University, USA • The Effect of Touch in Human-Canine Interactions - Researcher: Katrina Merkies, University of Guelph, Canada According to a recent Rabobank report, industry responses from the annual seafood production survey it conducted in partnership with the Global Seafood Alliance suggest a more optimistic production outlook for 2024 compared to 2023. Global shrimp production is forecast to recover in 2024, albeit at a lower rate than the 10-year historical average. The survey results forecast year-on-year shrimp production growth of 4.8% in 2024, surpassing 2022’s peak volumes, after an expected modest decline of 0.4% in 2023. In Ecuador, production growth is expected to decelerate in 2024. “While continued growth is anticipated, milder expectations may be a result of El Niño-related uncertainty, as potentially strong El Niño conditions pose downside risks due to heavy rains, which can increase flooding risks and potentially damage the infrastructure of ponds in Ecuador,” explains Novel Sharma, Analyst – Seafood at Rabobank. There is optimism for Asian shrimp production, with survey respondents forecasting a potential recovery of 4% in 2024, following the region’s first decline in a decade in 2023. “This will depend on prices improving in 2024 after the continuous downward trend in 2023, which made the majority of the industry unprofitable,” notes Sharma. Likewise, production in India and Vietnam is set to recover in 2024, following sharp contractions in 2023. Whether both regions achieve their forecast production growth in 2024 will depend on demand improvement in the US and Europe and prices recovering sufficiently to incentivize farmers to increase stocking of ponds. Similarly, optimism abounds for major farmed species, with salmon, tilapia, pangasius, sea bream, and sea bass all expected to grow, though El Niño poses potential downside risks for some species and regions. Read more>> Purina awards research grants to better understand the human-pet bond After a turbulent 2023, signs of optimism ahead for global seafood production
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