NEWS 88 FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE January 2026 Aquatic Life Institute (ALI) published the fourth edition of its Aquaculture Certification Schemes Benchmark report. The 2025 edition analyzes current welfare requirements within the primary farming standards of nine global seafood certification schemes and two international ratings agencies, which collectively oversee a substantial share of global farmed fish and shrimp production. Through sustained research and direct engagement with certifiers and rating agencies, ALI points out that the benchmark shapes how retailers, investors, and regulators define truly responsible seafood. The Aquaculture Certification Schemes Benchmark remains the world’s only evidence-based tool designed to evaluate how strongly aquatic animal welfare is embedded within aquaculture certification and rating frameworks, according to ALI’s statement. The benchmark is part of the institute’s ongoing work to help encourage progressive development related to animal welfare standards in aquaculture, and will be used as a tool by decision-makers worldwide as they make informed choices about sourcing from the certifiers that lead in aquatic animal welfare. Seafood certification schemes and ratings agencies act as de facto regulators in a largely unregulated global industry. Through transparent, comparative ranking, the benchmark motivates certifiers to elevate their standards. The feedback period plays a crucial role in this process, offering certifiers detailed, evidence-based guidance on how to address identified gaps, turning evaluation into collaboration and competition into tangible welfare progress. Read more>> Ecolex Animal Nutrition and CJ Bio recently hosted a successful Partnering for Progress— Synergizing Gut Health and Genetics meeting during Poultry India 2025, held from November 26-28. The meeting marked a key milestone in the companies’ collaboration to advance natural poultry gut health solutions distributed by Ecolex in India, Sri Lanka, and Nepal. Addressing enteric diseases, a leading threat to poultry profitability and health, the meeting attracted progressive poultry farmers, nutritionists, and distributors eager to explore innovative approaches. Ecolex’s Global Commercial Director, Edward Manchester, emphasized the importance of future-proofing poultry businesses against increasing consumer demand for antibiotic-free products, despite the current allowance of antibiotic growth promoters (AGPs) in India. This partnership highlights a shared dedication to science-driven, sustainable nutrition solutions that boost animal welfare, productivity, and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) mitigation, he pointed out. He highlighted that since Ecolex was established in 2005, it is evolving from a leading manufacturer and supplier of specialty rumen bypass fats and emulsification technologies to developing innovative branded products. Participants were introduced to two natural products: GutLuk, a phytogenic gut health solution and AGP alternative, and Coxield, a phytogenic substitute for anticoccidial drugs. Read more>> ALI releases 2025 Aquaculture Certification Schemes Benchmark Ecolex and CJ Bio highlight gut health innovation Photo: Ecolex
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