The global aquafeed industry has experienced a major shift over the past two decades, moving from marine-based ingredients to plant-based raw materials. This change has increased the connection between aquafeed production and the environmental and social impacts of agriculture. Sustainable sourcing of raw materials is crucial as aquafeed production can account for up to 80% of scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions in salmon farming.
Kyla Zatti led a presentation that explored the challenges and solutions in implementing sustainable raw materials in commercial aquafeeds. The presentation emphasized the importance of life cycle assessment (LCA) and early stakeholder collaboration.
To evaluate the environmental impacts of raw materials used in aquafeeds, this research utilized various environmental footprinting techniques. These included Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), Product Environmental Footprints (PEF), carbon footprint analysis, Forage-Fish Dependency Ratio (FFDR), and Fish-In Fish-Out (FIFO) metrics. While these methodologies provide essential indicators for assessing sustainability, the review noted their limitations and highlighted the need to incorporate biodiversity indicators not covered by LCA.
The study concluded that accurate, high-quality data is vital for decision-making and stressed the necessity for standardized methodologies to ensure comprehensive sustainability assessments. Including supply chain biodiversity indicators is crucial for a complete understanding of environmental impacts.
Novel ingredients such as insect meal, single-cell proteins, low-impact agricultural crops, and by-products from the food processing industry are promising alternatives to traditional marine-based ingredients. These new ingredients can significantly reduce the environmental footprint of aquafeeds without compromising nutritional quality. However, each ingredient is at different stages of becoming fully sustainable as they evolve over time.
The review highlighted that early engagement and education of customers and consumers are important to increase success rates when commercializing these new raw materials.
Economic factors also play a role in this transition. The fluctuation in raw material prices and availability presents opportunities for innovation within the aquafeed industry. Raw material suppliers need to provide LCA data reflecting future commercial scale-up rather than pilot-scale figures to ensure scalability and consistency. Additionally, collaborative efforts among researchers, policymakers, producers, retailers, and consumers are necessary to overcome challenges related to implementing sustainable raw materials.
Key challenges identified include improving data accuracy and sustainability metrics, standardizing assessment methodologies, navigating diverse stakeholder interests, and addressing barriers across the value chain. The study advocates for a holistic view of sustainability to ensure that aquaculture feeds have minimal environmental impact while maintaining food safety and nutritional quality.
By adopting circular and restorative practices like valorizing waste streams and using renewable energy sources, the aquafeed industry can substantially lower its environmental footprint. Successfully implementing sustainable raw materials will benefit both the environment and ensure safe, nutritious food production for future generations.