BioMar has announced new research showing that alternative feed ingredients like algal oils, single-cell proteins, and insect meal not only improve sustainability but also enhance growth, health, and welfare in farmed fish.
Aquaculture feed manufacturing giant BioMar has announced new research indicating that alternative ingredients in aquaculture feed are delivering benefits beyond environmental sustainability.
Presented at the Global Seafood Conference in Scotland, the findings suggest that ingredients such as algal oils, single-cell proteins, and insect meals are contributing to growth rates and improving the welfare and robustness of farmed fish.
Simon Wadsworth, Global R&D Director at BioMar, outlined a key challenge the aquafeed industry has faced due to a reduced reliance on marine ingredients like fish oil, which has led to a decrease in essential omega-3 fatty acids, specifically EPA and DHA, in feeds.
However, Wadsworth explained that the recent inclusion of algal oils has compensated for these losses. “The recent provision of algal oils has allowed these key fatty acids to be supplemented in over 4 million tons of BioMar feeds,” he said, adding that algal oils help sustain physiological and immune functions dependent on EPA and DHA.
Single-cell proteins are also gaining traction within BioMar’s portfolio. Wadsworth noted their potential for scaling up in the future and providing more flexibility in raw material sourcing, explaining that “single-cell proteins incubated with soybean meals can reduce the presence of anti-nutrients as well as significantly increase overall protein levels.” He further suggested that similar processes could be applied to other high-volume raw materials.
The use of insect meal is also progressing, with BioMar reporting strong growth outcomes and health benefits across multiple fish species. Insect meal, according to BioMar’s research, maintains positive effects on fish welfare and health, even at higher inclusion levels.
Innovafeed’s Global Aqua Director, Elin Kvamme, spoke on insect meal applications in shrimp feed, noting that it supports resistance to common diseases.
“The inclusion of insect meal can help shrimp better resist common bacterial infections like vibriosis and viral diseases such as white spot syndrome virus,” she explained.
Kvamme attributed these benefits to “the combination of antimicrobial peptides, chitin, and lauric acid in insect meals,” which, she said, enhance immune function and improve gut health in shrimp.
