Stéphane Ralite, that company’s aquaculture product manager, is speaking at the Bangkok event: Biosecurity, Feed and Recirculation Aquaculture.
We caught up with him ahead of that talk. He told us his presentation will focus on how aquaculture is a multi-factorial process and how feed quality is one of its key components, whereby farmers must integrate feed within a more global approach to maximize farm results.
He said he would share insights around the various tools that can help producers to optimize economical results throughout the aquaculture value-chain:
”Season has a strong impact on shrimp health, metabolism, feeding behavior, and immune status. [I will talk about how] feed formulation can be adapted in terms of nutrition but also in terms of health support. I will also give examples [in relation to] vibrio control and the possible adjustment of feed relative to the farm conditions.”
Ralite said he will also address the issue of feed cost management, particularly on how to achieve a balance between cost and performance.
He will look at the impact of raw material availability problems, as well as the formulation challenges linked to strong variation in prices and quality of inputs and propose ways fish feed formulators can secure their bottom line while still offering the farmer the optimal feed at the right price.
At another Asia focused conference in August 2016, Aquaculture Chennai, Ralite highlighted the difficulties in shrimp farm management and the role microbial products could play, with shrimp farming increasingly complex, undermined by emerging diseases like EHP and EMS while facing environmental and growing food pressures.
Comparing pond management to a three-legged stool, he said: “It results from a delicate balance between shrimp physiology (immunity, nutrition, oxidative status and more), water and feed management (microbial and nutrients balance) and pathogen pressure.”
Ripe for innovation
Lallemand’s aquaculture portfolio targets all fish and shrimp species, he added.
“We have a strong position in Europe. Bactocell was the first probiotic to be authorized for aqua in the EU, but in Asia, the shrimp market has been less receptive to innovation, until now. In addition to feed additives, we have developed a bioremediation approach for shrimp farming. Based on orienting and improving the pond microbial communities, our bioremediation product, Lalsea Biorem, helps control waste accumulation and water quality, with positive consequences on shrimp yield.”
The whole value chain in the aquaculture business in Asia is assessing how to bring innovation where it can give most value, he said.
The industry there is open to NPD but it is all about turning innovation into economic success for producers in Asia - practical implementation is key and change will not happen overnight, he said. “So meeting our partners, speaking with them about their market, their challenges and technical issues is crucial."
A booming market...
The Lallemand team is also at VIV Asia this week.
Dr Pradip Linge, area manager, South and South East Asia for the Canadian company, said: “South East Asia is a booming market for Lallemand Animal Nutrition, and not only for aquaculture. We will also showcase our ruminant, poultry and swine portfolios. Our growing team of animal nutrition and health experts from all over Asia will be present as well."