BioMar has used algal oil in salmon, shrimp, and marine fish feeds, achieving commercial scale with over 4 million tonnes sold.
Photo: BioMar.
Novel feed ingredients such as algal oil, insect meal and single cell proteins are not only good for sustainability, but also for fish health and welfare, growth and robustness, according to research by aquaculture feed companies BioMar and Innovafeed, presented at last week's GSA Responsible Seafood Summit.
Presenting at last week's Summit, BioMar's Global R&D Director Simon Wadsworth pointed out that these alternative feed ingredients provide a source of essential omega-3 fatty acids such as DHA and EPA, to replace those traditionally provided by marine ingredients in aquafeeds.
Wadsworth highlighted BioMar's work on algal oils, which the company has used to supplement Omega-3s in over 4 million tons of feed sold commercially. According to BioMar, prices for Omega-3s from algal oil remained competitive compared to other DHA and EPA sources.
He also explained that BioMar is researching single cell proteins' potential "in terms of future volumes and raw material flexibility", noting that these have shown very good performance in supporting growth and robustness in a variety of aquaculture speices.
“The novel ingredients also offer exciting synergies with existing raw materials," Wadsworth said in a BioMar press release.
"Single cell proteins incubated with soybean meals can reduce the presence of anti-nutrients as well as significantly increase overall protein levels. This technology opens other opportunities with a range of other existing, high-volume raw materials," he explained.
Insect meal is another innovative ingredient gaining traction in commercial aquafeeds, highlighted at last week's summit by Elin Kvamme, Innovafeed's Global Aqua Director.
Kvamme noted that extensive trials have documented its effectiveness across several aquatic species, providing strong growth and resilience at higher inclusion levels. Commenting on Innovafeed's research on its use in aquafeed for shrimp, Kvamme said insect meal can help shrimp better resist common bacterial infections like vibriosis and viral diseases, including "white spot syndrome".
"The combination of antimicrobial peptides, chitin, and lauric acid in insect meals contributes to these health benefits by enhancing immune function, improving gut health, and providing anti-inflammatory effects," she added.
"The ability of aquatic species to derive nutrients from a wide range of sources is driving a dynamic and diverse raw material basket for aquafeeds. As the aquaculture industry continues to grow the demand for both existing and novel raw materials will rise," BioMar stated in a press release. "These new nutrients sources are not only essential but are proving to be highly beneficial in supporting the health, welfare and robustness of aquatic species."