ISSUE FOCUS FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE August 2024 33 fishmeal, due to overfishing and climate change. As demand continues to outpace supply, prices are expected to remain high, placing financial strain on aquafeed and aquaculture producers. The heavy reliance on fishmeal also poses sustainability issues. Overfishing and the depletion of marine resources threaten the ecological balance and long-term viability of aquaculture. Transitioning to alternative protein sources is crucial to mitigate these environmental impacts and secure the industry's sustainable future. THE NECESSITY FOR ALTERNATIVE PROTEIN SOURCES To address the rising costs and sustainability concerns, the aquaculture industry is exploring various alternative protein sources, including plant-based proteins, insect meals, and single-cell proteins. These alternatives can significantly reduce dependence on fishmeal, but their integration into aquafeeds must ensure that the nutritional requirements of the cultured species are met without compromising growth and health. One of the primary challenges with alternative proteins is their lower digestibility compared to fishmeal. Poor digestibility can lead to reduced growth rates, increased feed conversion ratios (FCR), and higher waste outputs. Therefore, enhancing the digestibility of these alternative proteins is crucial to their successful implementation in aquafeeds. ECONOMIX: A SOLUTION TO UNLOCK PROTEIN POTENTIAL Economix is a plant-based feed additive designed to enhance protein digestibility in aquafeeds. It enhances protein breakdown by boosting acid production and enzymatic activity in the digestive tract of fish and shrimp. This leads to more efficient digestion of complex proteins into simpler, more absorbable forms, optimizing protein absorption and promoting better growth. By optimizing protein digestion, Economix enables a reduction in fishmeal inclusion by up to 2%, allowing for the substitution with more cost-effective and sustainable plant proteins. This solution is the result of an extensive literature review examining the impacts of various ingredients on protein utilization and feed efficacy. Over 150 articles were meticulously analyzed and synthesized, focusing on ingredients influencing protein utilization in fish and shrimp. Key parameters assessed included protein digestibility, protein efficiency ratio (PER), feed conversion ratio (FCR), protein retention, feed efficiency, and feed intake. A broad spectrum of ingredients was examined, including algae, enzymes, plant derivatives (whole, extracts, or essential oils), organic Jun 2019 Aug 2019 Oct 2019 Dec 2019 Feb 2020 Apr 2020 Jun 2020 Aug 2020 Oct 2020 Dec 2020 Feb 2021 Apr 2021 Jun 2021 Aug 2021 Oct 2021 Dec 2021 Feb 2022 Apr 2022 Jun 2022 Aug 2022 Oct 2022 Dec 2022 Feb 2023 Apr 2023 Jun 2023 Aug 2023 Oct 2023 Dec 2023 Feb 2024 Apr 2024 2000 1900 1800 1700 1600 1500 1400 1300 1200 Figure 1. Fishmeal Monthly Price - US Dollars per Metric Ton (Source: Indexmundi, 2024)
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