Traditionally, protein has been a critical component of aquafeeds. However, we recognized that simply increasing protein content was not the most efficient way to enhance fish growth and performance. Instead, our R&D scientists have utilized their knowledge across all species to develop Essential Nitrogen, which focuses on improving nitrogen utilization whilst maintaining or increasing performance.
Principal Scientist Lead
Cargill Aqua Nutrition
The global population is increasing rapidly, with an expected addition of 2 billion people by 2050. Meeting the nutritional needs of this growing population will require a diverse range of protein sources. Seafood is already a vital component in addressing this demand. As we look toward the future of aquaculture, it becomes increasingly clear that innovative approaches to fish nutrition are vital for sustainable growth and environmental stewardship. At Cargill, we have been working to redefine salmon feed over a number of years, introducing new concepts that support farmers in optimizing performance, health, and cost-efficiency. A step-change in precision nutrition came in 2021 with the launch of Essential Nitrogen and has now evolved into Effective Energy.
Building on expertise we developed in protein and energy nutrition, Essential Nitrogen has changed our approach to feed formulation. Traditionally, protein has been a critical component of aquafeeds. However, we recognized that simply increasing protein content was not the most efficient way to enhance fish growth and performance. Instead, our R&D scientists have utilized their knowledge across all species to develop Essential Nitrogen, which focuses on improving nitrogen utilization whilst maintaining or increasing performance.
UNDERSTANDING NITROGEN COMPONENTS TO IMPROVE FEED PRECISION
Essential Nitrogen involves partitioning total digestible nitrogen-containing nutrients into new nutritional entities, thus replacing traditional protein with new precisely calibrated nutrients. This innovation allowed us to develop an empirical nutrition physiology engine based on extensive trials. By doing so, we created a system that predicts fish performance more accurately, resulting in more precise protein formulations tailored to achieve specific performance targets. Over the past three years, millions of fish in different locations have been raised using this concept.
From a salmon producer’s perspective, this means a more cost-effective and efficient nutrition solution. Protein, being the most expensive component of the feed, is now utilized more effectively by the fish, reducing waste and improving growth. This lowers not only costs but also environmental impact, as less nitrogen is excreted into the environment. The Essential Nitrogen concept aims to maximize every nutrient input for the fish’s growth and health.
Additionally, by enhancing nitrogen retention/ utilization, we reduce the ecological footprint of aquaculture operations, supporting sustainability objectives. This approach ensures that nutrients are effectively used by the fish, working towards zero nutrient waste and contributing to cleaner and healthier aquatic ecosystems.
EFFECTIVE ENERGY: A COMPREHENSIVE FRAMEWORK
Building on the success of Essential Nitrogen, we are introducing the second phase: Effective Energy. This phase integrates the Essential Nitrogen concept into a comprehensive framework that combines tank data, commercial data, and formulation data. By leveraging our collective knowledge and learning from our knowledge across different species, we are able to refine our approach, ensuring even greater precision and efficiency in our formulations. The result is a model capable of generating customized nutritional plans for a multitude of different farming sites and stocking conditions.
Effective Energy builds on the insights gained from tank trials conducted in the Essential Nitrogen phase. While these trials provided the understanding of the nutritional physiology foundations and how the new nutrients (i.e., Essential Nitrogen) are expected to be utilized by fish, they did not fully represent the diverse conditions of commercial farming. Effective Energy overcomes this by incorporating real-world commercial data, allowing us to fine-tune our nutritional physiology engine to tailor to specific farming locations, stocking seasons, life stages, and economic constraints such as raw material prices. Our integrated scenario planning tools enable us to simulate various farming scenarios and customize nutritional plans to support greater efficiency and sustainability.
This holistic approach means that customers will benefit from nutritional plans tailored to their unique conditions. Whether it’s the geographical location of a farm, the specific size of the fish, or the economic context, our solution adjusts to deliver performance outcomes. This level of customization ensures that our feeds not only support fish growth and health but are also capable of enhancing the overall sustainability and profitability of salmon farming operations.
FROM CONCEPT TO COMMERCIAL TRIALS: ENSURING PRACTICAL APPLICATION
We have conducted phase one deployments to validate our concepts, moving from tank trials to sea (commercial trials), ensuring that our innovations are practical and effective in real-world conditions.
PRECISION FEED FORMULATION THROUGH A COMPREHENSIVE FRAMEWORK
By supporting greater nitrogen utilization and integrating it into a comprehensive framework, we are offering a capability that allows us to improve nutrient efficiency, performance, cost-effectiveness, and sustainability based on customer objectives. Additionally, we continue to build fully integrated scenario planning and decision-making tools, continuously improved and adapted to ever-changing circumstances, ensuring that our innovations are both practical and effective. These innovations highlight our commitment to supporting the aquaculture industry with advanced nutritional solutions that drive performance and sustainability.
