Alternative ingredients help BioMar cut forage fish use to all-time low.
Aquafeed manufacturer BioMar has reported a Forage Fish Dependency Ratio (FFDR) of 0.37 for 2024, its lowest to date, according to the company’s latest sustainability report released on Monday.
The FFDR measures the amount of wild fish used in feed relative to the farmed fish produced. BioMar attributed the reduction to an increased reliance on alternative raw materials and trimmings, which now account for 55% of its total marine ingredient use. The company acknowledged that fluctuating raw material markets could make it difficult to maintain this level in future reporting periods.
In 2024, BioMar produced nearly 1 million tonnes of aquafeed containing microalgae, representing approximately 70% of its total output. The company also reported progress on its target to reduce the carbon footprint of its feed by one-third by 2030, with a 14.4% reduction from its 2020 baseline.
According to the report, BioMar has also achieved a 20.6% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions, and a 23.6% reduction in Scope 3 emissions—the latter covering upstream and downstream supply chain activities. The company is aligned with the Science Based Targets initiative’s 1.5°C pathway.
