Nofima tests microalgae as sustainable salmon feed ingredient.
Norwegian research institute Nofima has completed a study on the use of microalgae in salmon feed, focusing on both technical feasibility and nutritional impact. The trial was conducted as part of the Millennial Salmon project, funded by the Research Council of Norway and several industry partners, including Mowi, Cargill, and Corbion.
The research aimed to assess how microalgae could replace fish oil as a sustainable source of omega-3 in aquafeed. The study tested AlgaPrime DHA LS, a liquid product developed by Corbion that combines microalgae biomass with rapeseed oil.
Senior researcher Tor Andreas Samuelsen explained that feed production requires a balance between technical and nutritional considerations. Microalgae biomass needs to be incorporated into fish feed pellets without compromising pellet quality or causing oil leakage during storage or feeding.
“Feed production involves extruding a mixture to create porous pellets that can absorb oil in a vacuum coater,” said Samuelsen. “The challenge is ensuring that the pores are large enough for the algae biomass but small enough to retain the oil.”
Testing and Results
The trial, conducted at Nofima’s Aquafeed Technology Centre in Bergen and its research station in Sunndalsøra, tested various levels of the algae product in feed. Researchers measured pellet properties, including hardness, water stability, and oil retention.
The feeding trial showed promising results. Salmon consumed and digested all experimental feeds well. Notably, it was unnecessary to rupture the microalgae cell walls before inclusion in the feed, simplifying the production process.
The study concluded that higher levels of the algae-based product could be incorporated into feed than initially anticipated. However, the specific inclusion level depends on the fat content of other ingredients, pellet pore size, and production conditions.
Corbion Vice President of Nutrition, Tim Rutten, welcomed the findings:
“Corbion is constantly seeking to create new innovative and sustainable solutions, and we are pleased that the results of this study affirm the technical performance of our product is enabling the industry to use a sustainable source of omega-3 at high inclusion levels.”
