Evonik and Vland to release shrimp farming targeted probiotic in China
The partners have been cooperating on probiotics since 2015.
Their newly released product, called AQUAVI ProPond, is the result of about two years of joint development work and is to be launched in China at the end of the year.
Both companies have their own bacterial strain libraries, which served as a starting point for the R&D on this water quality orientated strain combo.
AQUAVI ProPond consists of three strains of bacteria that are said to remove ammonia, nitrate, and nitrite from the water.
Ammonia arises from the excretions of the animals. It can have acute and chronic toxic effects and is therefore a critical parameter for water quality. Nitrate and nitrite are also harmful to animals in higher concentrations.
"When it comes to sustainability in aquaculture, water quality and the way it is realized play a critical role," said Aron Chen, CEO of Vland.
AQUAVI ProPond has been tested for safety and efficacy in both laboratory and field trials and will be piloted with customers in China, the largest shrimp farming market, starting this summer, reported the companies.
Reducing reliance on marine resources
Vland, based in Qingdao, China, specializes in enzymes, probiotics and animal health; it will be responsible for production and Evonik for the marketing side of the AQUAVI ProPond partnership.
Evonik said that AQUAVI ProPond is part of its system solution for farmed shrimp production. Beyond that product, the portfolio includes three other components including AQUAVI Met-Met, a methionine product specially developed for shrimp, which the company says makes it possible to significantly reduce the amount of fishmeal required in shrimp feeds, omega-3 fatty acids DHA and EPA from Veramaris algae oil to replace fish oil, and AMINOShrimp software, which is aimed at adjusting the optimal amino acid composition of the feed to the respective developmental stage of the animals.
