Feed & Additive Magazine Issue 3 April 2021

SPECIAL STORY FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE April 2021 65 Climate change is a direct threat to food security. In- deed, one of the most pressing challenges we face is how to feed an ever-increasing population without increasing our ecological or environmental footprint. This is where aquaculture comes in. Aquaculture has grown and con- sequently, how it may affect climate change is in the public spotlight. Generally public opinion now realizes that aquaculture is one of the most sustainable solutions for healthy nutrition. Yet, it is also pertinent to consider how climate change will affect the aquaculture industry. WE ALL MUST EAT There are many points where climate change ’meets’ aquaculture, from water temperature to algal blooms, global changes in sea levels and regional or local level extreme climate events. Regardless of cultured species, every animal must eat, so we must first consider the implications of cli- mate change, directly or indirectly, on aquafeeds. A common trend now in aquafeeds is reformulating with more sustainable ingredients, particularly with lower reliance on marine lipid and protein sources. As well as emerging novel ingredients (e.g. insects, single cell proteins, etc.), many formulations cur- rently rely on plant-based proteins. Consequently, the influence of climate change on related agricul- tural commodities such as soy, wheat, corn, rice and others will directly affect aquatic production. Since aquatic species are generally poikilothermic, their metabolism also changes with temperature. This is one reason why some feed manufacturers produce feeds for specific seasons, and these may become more popular if we see more extreme weather. WEATHER, FUNGI & TOXINS A major outcome of changing weather patterns on crops used in the aquafeed industry is the increased growth and change of distribution patterns of harm- ful fungi and molds, which not only affect the crop directly, but also produces secondary toxic metabo- lites known as mycotoxins. Among the major toxigenic fungi to contaminate crops are members of the genera Aspergillus (pro- ducing aflatoxins, ochratoxins,) Claviceps (ergot al- kaloids) Penicillium (ochratoxin, patulin) and Fusar- ium (fumonisins, zearalenone, deoxynivalenol, T-2 toxin). The biological mechanisms leading to myco- toxin production directly responds to environmental conditions. Research shows direct connection be- tween climatic region to toxin dynamics. For instance, aflatoxins and fumonisins are gener- ally considered common tropic and subtropic toxins while deoxynivalenol is more often the dominant toxin in temperate climate regions. In recent years however, survey programs reveal that these dynam- ics and distributions are changing, highlighting the need for further mitigation measures. MYCOTOXINS HARM AQUATIC SPECIES The severity of fungal infestation and subsequent mycotoxin contamination is governed by many fac- tors like temperature, humidity and insect-crop dam- age. Moreover, these molds may develop post-har- vest, during crop storing and processing especially Regardless of cultured species, every animal must eat, so we must first consider the implications of climate change, directly or indirectly, on aquafeeds. A common trend now in aquafeeds is reformulating with more sustainable ingredients, particularly with lower reliance on marine lipid and protein sources.