The big debate: What is holding back the use of land animal proteins in farmed fish?

In Europe, the use of processed animal proteins (PAPs) in fish feeds used to be prohibited, but regulatory changes enforced in June 2013 opened up the European aquaculture sector to this protein source. However, retailer and consumer perceptions are said to be proving barriers to the use of PAPs such as feather meal in European aquaculture production. A panel of experts will discuss the hurdles preventing wider take up of these 'sustainable' feed components at Feed Protein Vision in Amsterdam.

Industry stakeholders say the reluctance in some European markets to include PAPs in fish feed is constraining the farmed fish sector’s growth. They say it is a policy that, long term, will have to be reviewed as PAPs are excellent feed raw materials for carnivorous aquaculture species such as salmon, and are a sustainable option as well.

Join us at Feed Protein Vision in Amsterdam on 6-7 March as we debate the pros and cons of using land animal proteins in salmon, trout and other European farmed fish species.  

Nearly 2.5m tons of farmed fish were produced in Europe in 2014 out of a global total of 101m tons (FEAP). Within Europe, two thirds of the fish farmed is salmon, more than 80% of which is produced in Norway. Besides salmon, the main fish species in Europe are trout, sea bass, sea bream and carp. Most of the species are carnivorous and omnivorous with varying requirements for protein and oil.

Our esteemed panelists include Dr Brett Glencross, deputy director, Institute of Aquaculture, University of Stirling in Scotland.

He has been leading an academia and industry run project aimed at encouraging the use of avian protein in Scottish salmon feed. The results of the early consultative work of that project shows that feed companies are willing to sell feed containing PAPs, and UK consumers are generally supportive of their use in rations if that means cost-effective salmon production, but UK retailers appear lacking in enthusiasm for placing PAP fed salmon on supermarket shelves, said Glencross.

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Also joining the conversation will be Trygve Berg Lea, sustainability manager, Skretting, the fish feed division of Nutreco  headquartered in Stavanger, Norway. He is responsible for leading the work within that company to develop sustainable feed solutions for aquaculture.

Speaking to this publication previously, a spokesperson for Skretting said it expects the use of PAPs, together with other raw materials such as insect meal, to increase in European aquaculture in the coming years but such use would still be very much market dependent. 

Martin Alm, technical director, European Fat Processors and Renderers Association, (EFPRA), is also a panelist in this Feed Protein Vision debate. He told us previously that the increasing the use of PAP in fish feed would prevent high value protein going towards lower value technical uses.  “Animal protein is very well accepted in fish feed.”

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The event will also address feed innovation in terms of single cell technology including methane gas derived protein, or wood sourced biomass for feed. It will look at whether Europe can become self-sufficient in terms of feed protein sources from soy to rapeseed to lupin cultivation and the likely protein strategy of the European Commission.

The conference will also hear from experts on blue protein such as seaweed or the potential to harness protein from grass and microalgae. It will see where insect meal fits into the greater picture and will assess how higher levels of amino acid supplementation will reduce crude protein levels in monogastric feed. 

Speakers from influential companies such as McDonalds, Rabobank, LMC International, ForFamers, Agrifirm, Evonik will present at Feed Protein Vision. We will also get the trade group perspective on feed protein innovation from FEFAC, along with academic insights from representatives of some of the major food and agricultural research institutes globally. 

Don't miss out. If you are serious about feed innovation and sustainability, it is time to join the conversation.