ISSUE FOCUS 50 FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE August 2025 SUSTAINABLE NUTRITION GOES FAR BEYOND FORAGE FISH Sustainable nutrition for aquaculture can be defined as feeding aquaculture species within planetary boundaries. Around our value chain for sustainable aquaculture, we have many impacts that we need to consider – and these include biodiversity, water use, GHG emissions, antibiotic reduction (Figure 2). In addition, we have new terminology with which to learn (see Box 1). Farm productivity is the baseline to driving sustainable production and efficiency of production is key. With knowledge and investment in nutrition, feeding and husbandry practices feed conversion rates have been driven lower with time in many of the farmed species. But mortality rates in some commercial operations are not sustainable long term. THE DEMAND FOR NOVEL RAW MATERIALS We often hear calls for the industry to develop alternative raw materials, but if we are talking large shifts in the raw materials then this means novel raw materials and not only alternatives to marine ones. The criteria being to perform in fish or shrimp, be at scale, the right price, nutritional profile and today – with a lower footprint (Figure 3 summarises some of the options today and tomorrow). Insect meals At the 2022 International Symposium on Fish Nutrition and Feeding, insects were the topic of many oral presentations, and insect companies have recently been a darling of capital investors. For example, there are disclosed investments in insect companies of nearly one billion Euros, and an increase in capital flow once the regulations in Europe allowed the use of insect meals in aquaculture feeds. In terms of volumes, Rabobank estimate that by 2030 the market could reach 500,000 metric tons and some of this volume would be accessed by the aquaculture industry. At the same time, the expectation is that the price of insect meal would come down to between 1500-2500 EUR/tonne – so closing the gap to a good quality fishmeal, potentially making it commercially viable for aqua producers. Single cell proteins Single cell proteins produced by fermentation technology have a massive potential for scalability – and especially with the focus on a shift to green energy – the potential to deliver at scale, with zero carbon intensity and with zero land use. Many companies are on the landscape for production of single cell proteins, and these are a promising novel raw material although so far not used at scale. There Sustainable Nutrition for Aquaculture Feeding aquaculture species within planetary boundaries Biodiversity “Circular” “Restorative” “Net Zero” Farm productivity Mortality FCR Processing losses & yields Sustainable Aquaculture To grow sustainably, the industry will need to use novel omega 3 & proteins Transport Miles Water Use Phosphorous & Nitrogen GHG Emissions Eutrophication Land Use Change Antibiotic Reduction Energy Use Figure 2
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