ISSUE FOCUS 32 FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE August 2024 “The aquaculture industry faces rising feed costs due to increasing fishmeal prices and sustainability concerns. Implementing alternatives like plant proteins is essential to reduce costs and enhance sustainability, although these proteins might not be as digestible as fishmeal. A promising solution is to boost protein digestibility with precision nutrition and natural active ingredients, enhancing nutrient absorption and maximizing plant protein benefits.” The aquaculture industry is experiencing significant growth, driven by the increasing global demand for fish and shrimp. This expansion, however, is accompanied by escalating feed costs, largely due to the rising prices of traditional protein sources such as fishmeal. As feed accounts for up to 70% of the total production cost in aquaculture, there is an urgent need for cost-effective and sustainable feed alternatives. Moreover, according to Global shrimp aquaculture production survey and forecasts from the Global Seafood Alliance and Rabobank report published in November 2023, “Market prices” of aquaculture products now ranks as the top concern for the industry for 2024, while “Aquafeed (cost)”, main concern in 2022 and 2023 now ranks at second. This highlights the dual challenges of high feed prices and production costs, coupled with oversupply and low market prices for some aquaculture products. The combination of these factors threatens the future growth and profitability of aquaculture activities. This economic pressure makes it increasingly difficult for aquaculture operations to remain financially viable. In this context, reducing feed costs becomes paramount. By finding effective solutions to lower feed costs, producers can mitigate the impact of low market prices, maintain profitability, and ensure the sustainability of their operations. This strategy not only helps individual businesses thrive but also supports the overall growth and resilience of the aquaculture industry. Economix, a product designed to enhance protein digestibility, offers a promising solution for reducing fishmeal use and substituting it with more affordable plant proteins. This article will examine the current challenges in fish feed costs, the necessity for innovative solutions, and how Economix can contribute to more sustainable and cost-effective aquaculture practices. CURRENT CHALLENGES IN FISH FEED COSTS Fishmeal remains a primary protein source in aquaculture feeds. It has seen a substantial price increase over the past years. This rise is driven by the limited supply of wild-caught fish used to produce UNLOCKING PROTEIN DIGESTIBILITY TO REDUCE FEED COSTS IN AQUACULTURE Nicolas Tanrattana Aquaculture Nutritionist Techna
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