ISSUE FOCUS 40 FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE August 2024 ductivity, profitability and the overall sustainability performance. In Norway, it is estimated that the lost value due to a 20% mortality would be in excess of €2.7m for an average farm (Biomar Sustainability Report 2022). The total industry annual cost of €5.6b would be the financial loss for European salmon by mid-century (DNV, 2021). In addition, these costs do not cover the reduced growth, resource utilisation and compromised fish when grown in suboptimal conditions. Even when mortality is avoided, skin wounds can affect product quality and drive losses. For example, skin wounds have an estimated cost to the Norwegian salmon industry of €700m annually (John Harald Pettersen, Lofotenseminar June 2023). Biological issues remain a challenge for the salmon industry, and sea lice still represents the biggest issue to date. Other diseases are prevalent, such as pancreas disease (PD), infectious salmon anemia (ISA) and heart and skeletal muscle inflammation (HSMI). In the most recent Fish Health report from Norway (Veterinaerinstituttet, 2023) fish health professionals revealed that damage from sealice treatment and gill diseases were of the top concerns in the Norwegian industry. 1 IN 5: MORTALITY AND LCA IMPACT Farmed fish is recognised as one of the most environmentally efficient and sustainable form of protein production. However, mortality rates of up to 20% can be referenced in commercial aquaculture systems, meaning that 1 in 5 animals does not make it to the end of the production cycle. The carbon footprint, as part of the full life cycle analysis (LCA) is an essential metric of environmental sustainability in animal production systems. LCA considers the resource use for an output of animal production, and therefore mortality lowers the output. Calculations have been done to highlight the savings in greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions when mortalities are reduced or avoided. For example, if an average Norwegian salmon farm could avoid a 20% fish loss, 2100 tonnes of CO2e would be saved (Biomar Sustainability report 2022). This 2100 tonnes CO2e saving is equivalent to the annual GHG emissions of 450 cars. Recent examples also include Cargill Aqua Nutrition SeaFurther initiative. Using 2020 baseline, health, welfare and mortality had a 12.5% contribution to the overall carbon footprint, while interventions lowered GHG emissions (kg CO2e per kg fish) by 8%. dsm-firmenich’s strategic initiative We Make It Possible helps the industry to build a robust and achievable transformation worldwide, toward more sustainable animal protein production, and to accelerate science-based solutions to foster a brighter future for everyone. A win-win for the whole value chain from farmers to consumers, and future generations. Example of harvested fish emissions 2020 baseline 0 .5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 -20 00 -12 -8 -2 2022 footprint % change Raw material mix Feed conversion rate Health, welfare and mortalities impact On-farm energy Factory energy use Transport to farm GHG (kg CO2e per kg fish) Cargill Aqua Nutrition Sustainability Report 2022
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