BioMar is partnering with small Scottish salmon producer Loch Duart, in the first use of its "Blue Impact" feed, specially commissioned for the Scottish company.
Blue Impact is BioMar's global brand focusing on sustainability and enabling aquaculture producers to lower their carbon emissions, utilise circular and restorative materials, and radically reduce reliance on ingredients from wild fish stocks.
According to the companies, switching to the new feed has enabled Loch Duart to reduce its carbon footprint for feed to below 2.0kg CO2 eq/kg, utilizing marine-derived ingredients of which at least 75% are by-products from UK fish processing, all while maintaining high Omega-3 levels.
This in turn means the Scottish farm has been able to reduce its Fish Forage Dependency Ratio (FFDR), using the lowest possible number of wild or foraged fish in its feed, restulting in a ratio of 0.7, more than half of current average levels for typical farmed salmon.
Mark Warrington, Managing Director of Loch Duart, emphasized the importance of BioMar's holistic approach to sustainability in the industry. He stated, "BioMar's holistic approach to sustainability, with Blue Impact addressing multiple sustainability challenges in the industry, is a key driver for us switching to this diet.
"At Loch Duart, we are serious about reducing our impact on this planet because it's the right thing to do. With this switch in feed, we will take another major step in the right direction while further improving the health and quality of our unrivaled Scottish salmon."
Expressing the farm's commitment to providing salmon that closely resembles the taste and diet of wild salmon, Loch Duart Sales Director Chris Orr added, "we firmly believe in feeding our fish what they naturally want to eat, a diet high in marine content. We also believe this diet should not come at the expense of the environment."
Robert Wilson, Business Unit Director at BioMar UK, highlighted the company's commitment to constant improvement and collaboration with Loch Duart to enhance the sustainability of the entire value chain. "We have defined distinct sustainability parameters based on our BioSustain program to measure the sustainability of this diet," he said. "We will continue to implement improvements year-on-year to ensure sustainable development to transform aquaculture."
BioMar intends to continue developing Blue Impact feeds utilizing a science-based approach to identify novel ingredients with a sustainable profile, according to a company statement. "Blue Impact is not only a diet, it is a journey that must see continued improvements in its sustainability parameters, every year."
BioMar has made a number of commitments to sustainability and lowering its carbon emissions. Launching its annual Sustainability Report on 18 April, BioMar announced it has become the first aquafeed company to have its carbon reduction targets independently validated as meeting the 1.5°C trajectory established through the Paris Agreement.
Loch Duart is a small, independent Scottish salmon farming company. It is headquartered in Scourie, Sutherland in north-west Scotland and has just over 100 employees. The company owns and operates eight sea sites and two hatcheries in Sutherland and the Outer Hebrides.
BioMar is a world leader in high performance diets for more than 45 different fish and shrimp species in more than 80 countries. Founded in 1962 by a group of Danish fish farmers, BioMar's heritage is a long-term commitment to developing the aquaculture industry in a responsible and sustainable way.
