ISSUE FOCUS 44 FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE August 2024 “Recently, interest in filamentous fungi as an alternative feed ingredient has risen. Filamentous fungi offer a promising alternative protein source for aquafeed due to their high protein content and beneficial bioactive components. PEKILO®Aqua, derived from Paecilomyces variotii, emerges as a strong candidate to replace fish meal and soy." Aquaculture, the fastest-growing food production sector globally, plays a critical role in addressing the nutritional needs of a ballooning global population. However, this industry's growth is not without its challenges, particularly concerning sustainable aquafeed and the depletion of marine resources. By 2030, it is projected that 62% of the seafood supplied and consumed by humans will come from aquaculture. With the global population expected to reach 9.7 billion by 2050, innovative and sustainable practices in aquaculture are imperative. Among these innovations, PEKILO®Aqua Mycoprotein offers a promising solution to the industry's pressing challenges. THE NEED FOR ALTERNATIVE FISH FEEDS Current commercial fish feeds heavily rely on fish meal and fish oil, both of which are resource-intensive and largely reliant on wild-caught fish. This reliance has led to a significant depletion of forage fish stocks, with implications for the whole marine ecosystem. Projections indicate that the demand for fish meal will surpass the supply of small fish by as early as 2037, necessitating the development of sustainable and cost-effective alternative feeds. Despite imported soya not leading to fish depletion, it poses sustainability obstacles, including deforestation and water pollution. Additionally, soy can adversely affect fish digestive systems over time, leading to nutrient pollution in aquaculture wastewater. Additionally, disease outbreaks pose a significant threat to the aquaculture industry, causing economic losses and environmental degradation. Vigilant disease management is, therefore, vital in the industry. While measures such as biosecurity protocols, vaccination programs, and the development of disease-resistant strains through selective breeding can be implemented, alternative diets can also tackle this issue. FILAMENTOUS FUNGI IN AQUAFEED Recently, interest in filamentous fungi as an alternative feed ingredient has risen. One of the interesting rediscovered innovations is PEKILO® mycoprotein from Paecilomyces variotii. The PEKILO® process was originally developed in the 1960s and 1970s by the Finnish pulp and paper industry as a technology to convert carbohydrate-containing side streams into protein ingredients using the filamentous microfungus P. variotii. THE ROLE OF PEKILO® AQUA MYCOPROTEIN IN AQUACULTURE TO FEED THE INCREASING WORLD POPULATION Heikki Keskitalo Co-founder and Business Development Manager Enifer
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