According to Veramaris and Manolin's study, meat quality also improved in salmon populations fed diets rich in Omega-3 EPA & DHA.
Photo: Veramaris / Manolin.
A big data analysis of commercial salmon production in Norway revealed that a diet rich in Omega-3 EPA & DHA improves not only the productivity - with improvements in survival, feed performance, and quality - but also the predictability of salmon farming, which, the study claims, provides further evidence of the return on investment in better nutrition.
Pioneer in aquaculture technology through AI-driven data intelligence, Manolin, and algal oil producer, Veramaris, are the companies behind the study, a continuation of earlier work published in 2023, which analysed data from 2013 to 2022. The new analysis is based on twice as much data as previous work.
According to its promoters, the study "really shows the value of better nutrition," and they encourage feed producers, farmers, processors, importers, retailers, and food service operators to use these findings to quantify the benefits of optimal nutrition and readjust their specifications.
"Raising salmon on diets rich in EPA & DHA checks all the boxes: better survival, feed efficiency, quality, and less waste overall," explained Yann Le Gal, Global Business Development Manager at Veramaris. "This ensures the health of the animals and improves the sustainability of aquaculture as a reliable food system," he added.
Veramaris - which in 2023 increased its production volumes by 50% and in 2024 obtained the first market authorization to include algal oil in salmonid feed in Canada - has been investing in nutritional science research for years and has more recently conducted that research in collaboration with Manolin to provide empirical evidence of the benefits of EPA and DHA in the aquaculture diet.
"Our approach, inspired by medical data science, delivers more precise insights," said Tony Chen, CEO of Manolin. "Rather than comparing fish by generations, we analyzed populations, allowing us to detect patterns across similar farm conditions with much greater confidence."
Thus, in this aim to provide empirical evidence of the benefits of dietary EPA & DHA for aquaculture, the Manolin and Veramaris study uses real-world data to compare health and harvest metrics. Specifically, they processed a decade of data from 166 farms, 430 million fish, and nine Norway production zones.
Results showed that mortality rates were 8% lower and eFCR decreased by 13%, while meat quality also improved in populations fed diets rich in EPA & DHA. In addition, improvements in predictability also increased by up to 50%, which, the study emphasizes, translates into greater control over outcomes and more reliable business.
As the companies responsible for the study explain, the levels of Omega-3 EPA & DHA in Atlantic salmon diets act as levers, tipping the odds in favor of fish health and feed efficiency. "The study shows how investment in nutrition helps to protect value throughout the supply chain, from farm to table," they concluded.
