Wednesday, March 28, 2018

29/03/2018: Embracing learning earns Scottish Sea Farms’ apprentice top aquaculture award

A Scottish Sea Farms’ employee has been named Aquaculture Learner of the Year at the LANTRA Scotland Awards 2018

30-year old Alan Tangny, who is based on the Isle of Mull and is undertaking a Modern Apprenticeship in Aquaculture through Inverness College UHI, was nominated for the exceptional commitment shown both to his on-site and SVQ work. 

 
Alan Tangny
Image credit: Scottish Sea Farms
Making his achievement all the more remarkable, the 30-year old father of four came to salmon farming in his late twenties with no previous knowledge of the sector. Alan said, “I left school at 16, went straight to university then left again after two weeks. It just wasn’t for me. So, I took a job as a waiter and worked my way up to chef, but once my children came along I was looking for something with more family-friendly hours.”

Alan applied for a vacancy with Scottish Sea Farms for a husbandry trainee and, on being offered the role, was enrolled on the Modern Apprenticeship. Three years on, he has not only successfully completed his Level 2 training, but he has recently been promoted to a senior husbandry position with the company.

Martin Sampson, Inverness College UHI lecturer and SVQ assessor commented, “Alan is a great example of how a person can achieve their life goals by embracing the opportunities for advancement opened up by learning and running with it. He has approached the SVQ learning process with the same enthusiasm and ability that he applies to his job. His work in the SVQ has been exemplary, and his rapid progression and achievement in his workplace parallels and is testament to this.”

Alan attributes his success to the support offered by Scottish Sea Farms. “At a company level, they invest a lot in training and development – there’s real potential for career progression. At a farm level, the team have been every bit as supportive, giving their time and sharing their considerable experience. As someone who lives on Mull, as well as works here, it has been great to learn first-hand how much Scottish Sea Farms do both to protect the salmon in their care and the surrounding environment.”

Now, Alan starts work at 8am and is home in the evening in time to see his young children. Next on the horizon is Level 3 training – once he finishes building his own house on Mull that is.

Jim Gallagher, Managing Director at Scottish Sea Farms said, “This is a huge win for Alan and for the company. Alan represents everything we look for in our team. He’s talented, hard-working and cares passionately about fish health and welfare. If his story inspires more people to consider a career in salmon farming, then it can only be good news for the sector.”

For more information visit the Scottish Sea Farms website, HERE.

The Aquaculturists
This blog is maintained by The Aquaculturists staff and is supported by the
magazine International Aquafeed which is published by
Perendale Publishers Ltd

For additional daily news from aquaculture around the world: aquaculture-news

29/03/2018: Alternative aquafeeds to improve fishery performance

by Ben Pinniger, Founder, BP Milling, UK

BP Milling produce fish feed supplements for the still water sport fishery market, producing an affordable fishmeal-free food source aimed to improve fish health and improve fishery performance. 


 
Image credit: BP Milling UK
Unlike most conventional fish feeds which are developed for maximum feed conversion, our feeds are designed as an affordable food source to function as a tool for healthy fishery development.

The market
The carp angling market has grown enormously in the past 40 years, with social media fuelling opportunities for big companies to showcase new tackle innovations and technology, transforming the old traditional pastime into a trendy modern day fashion enjoyed by millions. The growth has attracted new fishery developments and fish suppliers, all in a race to profit from this new demand.

Unfortunately with this demand comes competition and desperation from fishery owners who arrive new to livestock management. Inexperienced fishery owners immediately look to re-stocking new fish as the only solution to improve fishery performance and attract new business; this lack of livestock understanding is a costly learning curve for many!

We work closely with these still-water sport fisheries all over the UK to introduce them to management techniques that improve performance, save money and develop the business safely.

Educating fisheries that there’s no ‘quick-fix’ to creating a profitable and sustainable fishery business. It can be a frustrating battle for us, but unfortunately healthy development takes time.

Feeding is the most obvious tool for healthy stock development, supplementing the fishes natural diet is a relatively new prospect to most of our clients, so the results are quick to materialise when they begin.

Unlike conventional fishmeal feeds, our feed supplements are not purposely designed to achieve the best growth response achievable, instead we encourage clients to feed for fish welfare and improved fishery performance, the growth comes as a result of this.

Capitalise on free sources of nutrition
Although our feeds are ‘nutritionally incomplete’, we do also use them successfully for fish production by sensibly managing our ponds to create a fertile environment where all that is needed is a simple feed supplement. Unlike a filtered tank system an earth-pond has its own ecosystem, with nutritional value to the substrate, weed/algae and invertebrate life.

This natural food chain provides an abundance of free nutrition to our fish, we optimise these sources of nutrition with:

• Manure – Establish an algal bloom encouraging plankton and the following food chain.
• Chalk - Regular calcium carbonate treatment will neutralise pH and allow bacterial action deeper in the silt, this breakdown of organic matter converts acidic silt layers into healthy forms of nitrate that fertilise the pond.
• Light and air - Maximising light and air exposure is key to pond productivity, not only for oxygen transfer but also for healthy algal blooms which are the vital trigger for a thriving food chain.


Read the full article, HERE.

Visit the BP Milling UK website, HERE.

The Aquaculturists
This blog is maintained by The Aquaculturists staff and is supported by the
magazine International Aquafeed which is published by
Perendale Publishers Ltd

For additional daily news from aquaculture around the world: aquaculture-news

Extru-Tech Inc company profile

Founded in 1985, Extru-Tech® has installed numerous extrusion systems worldwide designed for the production of human food, pet food, aquatic feed and animal feed products.

Extru-Tech® also maintains the reputation of supplying the extrusion industry with superior quality replacement parts.


Extru-Tech® currently produces and markets one of the industry's most complete lines of extrusion processing systems. 

In addition, they offer a full line of ancillary equipment and customised equipment solutions for specialised processes.

Visit the website HERE











The Aquaculturists
This blog is maintained by The Aquaculturists staff and is supported by the
magazine International Aquafeed which is published by
Perendale Publishers Ltd

For additional daily news from aquaculture around the world: aquaculture-news

29/03/2018: Satake introduces a new viable organism analyser for ballast water, Sea Japan 2018

SATAKE will co-exhibit its new viable organism analyser at the biggest maritime show in Japan, Sea Japan 2018, starting April 11, 2018 at Tokyo Big Sight, Tokyo, Japan. 

Viable Organism Analyser
Image credit: Satake
 At booth JPN-11, Satake will co-exhibit and demonstrate both the new Viable Organism Analyser VOA1000K and the Viable Organism Sampler (reference exhibit).

The new analyser has been downsized by 20 percent in weight compared to the previous model introduced in 2014. It is one of the few devices able to directly count the number of organisms, both zooplankton and phytoplankton, as well as both large size (50μm and over) and small size (10μm to under 50μm) organisms. With this new model of Viable Organism Analyser, the staining time of organisms has been shortened from 30 minutes to 15 minutes, which makes Port State Control (PSC) processing easier.

The Viable Organism Sampler can easily concentrate one cubic meter of ballast water for large size organisms (a high survival probability after BWMS treatment) measurement in a short time. A flexible nylon filter is used to suppress damage to living organism. Furthermore, the reliability of the test is assured by changing the nylon filter every time. It is compact, lightweight, no power required, and can be brought easily on board.


For more information visit the Satake website, HERE.

Visit the Sea Japan 2018 website, HERE.

The Aquaculturists
This blog is maintained by The Aquaculturists staff and is supported by the
magazine International Aquafeed which is published by
Perendale Publishers Ltd

For additional daily news from aquaculture around the world: aquaculture-news

Tuesday, March 27, 2018

28/03/2018: Canada’s seafood farmers welcome new federal review of science-based decision-making in aquaculture

The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation projects that aquaculture will account for two-thirds of the global food fish consumption by 2030. 

 
Image credit: Ankakay on Flickr
(CC BY 2.0)
According to the latest Statistics Canada data, Canadian seafood farmers produced $1.35 billion of fresh, nutritious seafood in 2016. Our farming and processing activities generated over $5 billion in economic activity, $2 billion in GDP, and more than 25,000 full-time jobs for Canadians earning an estimated $1.16 billion in wages in 2016, with significant Indigenous participation across the nation.


“Aquaculture in Canada today is leading the way with science and the very highest environmental, food safety and social standards. Working in partnership with Fisheries and Oceans Canada, coastal communities and Canada’s Indigenous peoples, we have built a responsible and sustainable farmed seafood sector that we can all be very proud of,” said Timothy Kennedy, Executive Director of CAIA. “Any efforts to increase engagement with Canadians and to develop trust and understanding of the science are welcomed.” 

Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard has asked Canada’s Chief Science Advisor, Dr Mona Nemer, to lead an independent expert panel to provide recommendations on the appropriate use, consideration, and communication of scientific evidence in protecting the marine environment in decision-making on aquaculture.

“Farmed seafood in Canada is sustainable, diverse and growing. We are playing a leadership role on environmental stewardship and creating high value middle class jobs. We are excited by the future opportunities.” 

For more information visit the Canadian Aquaculture Indutsry Alliance website, HERE.

The Aquaculturists
This blog is maintained by The Aquaculturists staff and is supported by the
magazine International Aquafeed which is published by
Perendale Publishers Ltd

For additional daily news from aquaculture around the world: aquaculture-news

28/03/2018: Diving deeper for a sea lice solution

by Keith Filer, Ph.D. Research Project Manager for Aquaculture, Alltech

The small crustacean Lepeophtheirus salmonis, commonly referred to as sea lice, has a major impact on the production of Atlantic salmon (Salmo sala). Sea lice feed on fish skin, mucus and blood, with severe damage caused during high infestations. 


 
Lepophtheirus Salmonis,
commonly referred to as sea lice
Image credit: Alltech
Large rates of infestation lead to severe damage and possibly mortality due to the exposure of subcutaneous tissues, bacterial infections and stress. Various treatment options are available to reduce the impact of sea lice, but the treatments do result in increased mortality and reduced growth, as well as higher production costs. The estimated costs to the aquaculture industry due to sea lice are as high as US$1 billion annually. A combination of treatment and management strategies are commonly used to combat the impact of sea lice on salmon farms.

Conventional treatments

The treatments for sea lice control generally involve medicine administered through the feed, chemical baths and cleaner fish.

Maintaining low numbers of sea lice throughout a production cycle after transfer to sea can require all three treatments to be utilised. Medicated feed treatments are used for fish up to about two kilograms, with the cost being the prohibitive reason to not use it in larger fish.

Bath treatments can be incorporated into grading and transition periods with fish larger than two kilograms, but baths tend to be avoided with smaller fish because of the increased risk of mortality.

Cleaner fish such as wrasse are typically added to the pens with the smolt and remain in the pens throughout the entire production cycle. Treatments lose effectiveness as the salmon become larger than two kilograms.

Management strategies are also utilised to reduce the impact of sea lice and ensure that other treatment strategies are as effective as possible. An integrated pest management approach has been proposed in production areas with high incidence of sea lice. Such an approach could include stocking of single year classes, rotating production sites and coordinated treatment among farms in the same region. The industry in Norway has turned to mandatory and synchronised control efforts to reduce the impact of sea lice as much as possible.

A new approach
The active ingredients in the oral medications used to control sea lice move through the fish to the skin and into the sea lice once it has attached. With the skin and the associated mucus layer being the contact point for the sea lice, another approach is reducing the ability of the sea lice to attach to the skin. Critical to this approach is the innate immune response, which is an important component of fish health, and the epithelial and mucosal barrier, which are important because of the constant exposure to the environment. The mucus contains lectins, lysozymes, complement proteins, antimicrobial proteins and immunoglobulin M.

Information has been generated to suggest that a nutritional approach to the manipulation of the mucus layer, as well as the innate immune system in general, can reduce the incidence of ectoparasites on fish. These nutritional approaches have been used to increase the mucus layer in fish and supports additional innate immune responses. Alltech has used nutritional approaches with Bio-Mos® to support the innate immune response in a variety of fish species.

Bio-Mos consists of the complex carbohydrate mannan oligosaccharide that is derived from the yeast cell wall of a selected strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Bio-Mos stimulates the natural defences of fish by optimisation of the immune function’.

Years of work with Bio-Mos led to the production of a soluble mannan-rich fraction (MRF). The soluble MRF can be used in very small quantities to maintain innate immunity responses of very young animals, even during development. The concept for the MRF was initially demonstrated in chicken eggs. Injection into the egg indicated that early life exposure optimised the innate immunity of the chicken throughout its growing period. Nutrigenomics was also used to identify changes in gene expression patterns when eggs were treated with the MRF.


Read the full article, HERE.

The Aquaculturists
This blog is maintained by The Aquaculturists staff and is supported by the
magazine International Aquafeed which is published by
Perendale Publishers Ltd

For additional daily news from aquaculture around the world: aquaculture-news

Jefo company profile

Jefo is a world leader in the field of non-medicated performance feed additives for the poultry, swine, ruminant and aquaculture sectors. Founded in Canada in 1982, today Jefo has offices on 5 continents, and specialises in the design, manufacturing, warehousing and JIT-distribution of an array of animal nutrition specialty products.

Jefo is a pioneer in the green revolution taking place in animal nutrition.

According to their website: "Our commitment is to providing effective alternatives for optimal performances in animal nutrition".

The Europe / Africa division of Jefo was created in 1998 and is headquartered in Nantes, France. We market a line of original products including vitamins, enzymes, organic acids and essential oils.

Visit the website HERE.






The Aquaculturists
This blog is maintained by The Aquaculturists staff and is supported by the
magazine International Aquafeed which is published by
Perendale Publishers Ltd

For additional daily news from aquaculture around the world: aquaculture-news

27/03/2018: Scottish Marine Aquaculture Awards 2018

Shortlist announced for Scottish Marine Aquaculture Awards 2018 Thirty-eight companies, individuals and initiatives have made the shortlist for the 2018 Scottish Marine Aquaculture Awards

The awards, run for the first time by Aquaculture UK, are now officially closed. The organisers have been overwhelmed by both the number of entries and standard of the submissions received.
 


The awards are a unique opportunity to recognise individuals, companies or organisations that have made the most significant contribution to the UK’s aquaculture industry since 2015. A range of companies – from start-ups to established names – and their representatives have made the final shortlist, with nominees chosen on the basis of their high standards of innovation, responsibility in their approach to business and their environmental sustainability.

The culmination being a spectacular awards presentation and dinner, hosted by Dougie Vipond, on Wednesday 23 May 2018, during the Aquaculture UK 2018 exhibition in Aviemore.

Ten award categories recognising the breadth of innovation and good practice from across the sector will be contested at an awards dinner during the Aquaculture UK exhibition on May 23.

These include awards for innovation, business development, stewardship and sustainability, and an inaugural set of awards recognising the contributions made by the shellfish sector and the industry’s rising stars.

Entries were encouraged from individuals, companies and other organisations involved in the UK aquaculture industry, no matter how large or small, who:
• Employ the highest standards of aquaculture husbandry
• Supply aquaculture products to local, national and international markets
• Farm with a high level of environmental awareness and deliver a high-quality product

The Best Aquaculture Company Award will be announced on the night and the industry can vote online for the People’s Choice award from the list of nominees, HERE.

The winner of this award will also be announced at the awards presentation.

Susan Tinch, Event Manager, Aquaculture UK, said, “This shortlist reflects the spirit of enterprise and the commitment to excellence that characterises the UK aquaculture sector. We would like to thank all those who entered and congratulate those who have made the shortlist. The quality of the entries across all the categories this year was exceptional and the judges took over a day to deliberate, before selecting the final nominees. The Scottish Aquaculture Marine Awards have established themselves as a key date in the industry’s calendar and Aquaculture UK is delighted to provide a platform highlighting all the excellent work taking place. We are all looking forward to a fantastic night on May 23.”

The awards are sponsored by The Crown Estate, MSD Animal Health, AFEX, Hendrix Genetics, Skretting, Acoura, EWOS, Scottish Salmon Producers Organisation, Scottish Aquaculture Innovation Centre, Elanco and Benchmark.

For more information on the awards including categories, visit the Scottish Marine Aquaculture Awards website, HERE.




The Aquaculturists
This blog is maintained by The Aquaculturists staff and is supported by the
magazine International Aquafeed which is published by
Perendale Publishers Ltd

For additional daily news from aquaculture around the world: aquaculture-news

27/03/2018: Remote community streams ahead with superfast broadband access

Homes and businesses on the remote peninsula of Knoydart and Loch Nevis on Scotland’s west coast can now enjoy the benefits of superfast broadband, thanks to a collaboration between leading salmon grower Scottish Sea Farms and rural broadband company HebNet CIC

Previously, the area was served by an internet service that was struggling to cope with the increased demands being placed on it. Similarly, the satellite system that Scottish Sea Farms was reliant on for internet access wasn’t able to support the growing business need for high speed, high capacity connectivity between its three Loch Nevis farms and the shore base.
 

Image credit: Scottish Sea Farms

Now, Scottish Sea Farms and HebNet have upgraded the local infrastructure with a state-of-the-art enterprise-grade wireless link between Skye and Knoydart capable of delivering superfast broadband of 30Mbit/s or more to end users, putting the area on a par with broadband provision in parts of central Scotland.

Adding to this, Scottish Sea Farms has invested in a dedicated fibre optic connection, supplied by community internet service provider HUBS CIC, which links the core networks of both organisations, guaranteeing capacity, availability and quick resolution in the event of a fault.

For Scottish Sea Farms, this faster, more reliable solution has enabled each of the company’s three Loch Nevis farms to be equipped with remote feeding and monitoring systems – key advances in terms of ensuring that farmed salmon are fed as and when they instinctively want.

For the wider community, the increased capacity makes things like smart-enabled TVs, gaming and live streaming applications such as YouTube, Netflix and Amazon Prime an everyday reality.

Jim Gallagher, Managing Director of Scottish Sea Farms said, “Each and every pound that our company invests is focused on one thing, enhancing the health and welfare of our fish, and this latest investment helps us do exactly that. It also contributes towards our goal of ensuring that the communities in which we live and work derive maximum benefit from us being there, by offering access to the same high levels of connectivity that come as standard in more central locations.”

Ian Bolas, Director at HebNet, a community interest company which also supplies broadband for the nearby Small Isles and Elgol, added, “Designing and installing the infrastructures required by the remote locations we serve is one challenge, but meeting the significant cost involved is quite another. By working with Scottish Sea Farms, who met well over 50 percent of those costs, we have been able to bring forward our own planned upgrades by as much as 12 months – something that will benefit local residents, businesses and tourists alike.”

The new enterprise-grade wireless link went live earlier this month, keeping HebNet on track to meet or possibly even exceed requirements set out within the Scottish Government’s commitment to deliver Next Generation Access broadband well ahead of the 2021 target. 


For more information visit the Scottish Sea Farms website, HERE.

The Aquaculturists
This blog is maintained by The Aquaculturists staff and is supported by the
magazine International Aquafeed which is published by
Perendale Publishers Ltd

For additional daily news from aquaculture around the world: aquaculture-news

Monday, March 26, 2018

27/03/2018: National Aquaculture Centre operations underway

by Clifford Spencer, Aquaculture without Frontiers

Aquaculture without Frontiers co-ownership of the National Aquaculture Centre will start to come into its own as the latter’s operations now get underway.

   
In this respect the National Aquaculture is a lead exhibitor and sponsor of the Young Coastal Scientists and Engineers event being held this week in the UK, and AwF representatives will be on hand to talk to aspiring young scientists and engineers about their hopes and aspirations at the start of their careers. The conference is aimed at early career scientists and engineers concerned with any aspect of physical coastal science or engineering and includes post-graduate students and post-doctoral researchers in universities.

The organisation also encourages junior engineers, scientists and researchers in private companies and government agencies to attend. Research on coastal physical processes in the UK occurs under various disciplinary labels, including oceanography, geography, geology and engineering. This results in a fragmented coastal research community with limited interaction and collaboration between different disciplines. The lack of integration is felt most by young coastal researchers (post-docs and PhDs), who should be open to multi- and interdisciplinary interaction.

To assist with developing an integrated UK coastal research community, the first Young Coastal Scientists and Engineers Conference (YCSEC) was held in Nottingham in 2005. It is now an annual event travelling the UK and has been replicated in North America. Our attending and exhibiting at this event will help the build-up of essential new involvement and interest of the young (and their associated open minds and enthusiasm) to support valuable and meaningful AwF charitable activity, with these volunteers also being then able to further benefit from the input of the most experienced AwF volunteers in their charitable work. The older volunteers will no doubt welcome and in turn benefit from the unshakeable confidence and energy of their younger AwF compatriots.

Also, of great value will be the close working relationship of the NAC with the dominant UK fish processing cluster at the NAC’s geographically adjacent Grimsby base. The town and surrounding region hosts some 75 fish processing businesses ranging in size from the giants like Youngs to small family owned businesses that survive on speciality knowledge and products. Indeed nearly 80 percent of fish processing for the UK domestic demand takes place in the town of Grimsby and its surrounding region. Think of the opportunities for technology transfer for AwF in supporting nascent aquaculture smallholder businesses for developing and transition countries and their hard working local staff that will come from these relationships!


Read the full article, HERE.

The Aquaculturists
This blog is maintained by The Aquaculturists staff and is supported by the
magazine International Aquafeed which is published by
Perendale Publishers Ltd

For additional daily news from aquaculture around the world: aquaculture-news

Ottevanger Milling Engineers company profile



Ottevanger Milling Engineers is a leading European company in the design and manufacture of equipment and complete installations for the grain-processing and mixed-feed industries.

Food producers throughout the world use these installations to produce food for people and animals. In modern, well-equipped plants in Aalten and Moerkapelle (The Netherlands) Ottevanger's specialists use the latest technologies to design and manufacture a comprehensive range of products.

Computer-controlled plants – anywhere in the world – are provided with on-line technical support from these plants. In its design of any installation Ottevanger takes into account the strictest environmental regulations and safety requirements.

There are, for example, always adequate facilities for air purification as well as sound and heat insulation. A lot of attention is also devoted to hygiene through the use of stainless steel and special coatings.

Thanks to its expert knowledge and expertise, amassed throughout its over one hundred years' experience, Ottevanger is the ideal partner for the implementation of your project.

Visit the Ottevanger website, HERE.

The Aquaculturists
This blog is maintained by The Aquaculturists staff and is supported by the
magazine International Aquafeed which is published by
Perendale Publishers Ltd

For additional daily news from aquaculture around the world: aquaculture-news

the interview | Mr Jean Fontaine BSc (Agr), President, Jefo Group

Mr Jean Fontaine Agr, serves as the President of Jefo Nutrition, Inc.
He oversees all company activities in order to increase the performance of research, manufacturing of innovative products and the service to Jefo Nutrition offers invaluable and trusting customers. He graduated from Laval University in Animal Nutrition (Zootechny) in 1981 and trained in Foreign Trade and Export Techniques in 1982.














How did Jefo develop and with what vision?
Jefo was founded in 1982, when I was a young bachelor in animal science, and I saw an opportunity to benefit local producers. Starting out as a distributor for commodity products, the company grew and soon offered its own nutrition product line, backed by its own expertise and vision. The vision was to reduce antibiotic use and improve animal performances, with more natural and healthy solutions.
In due course, laborious beginnings paved the way for exponential growth. Today, Jefo is part of the big leagues in the feed additives industry.
We continue to build on the foundations that have led to its success: strong relationships, risk-taking, hard work, and knowledge. Originating with one man, the Jefo spirit is now carried forward by all our employees, distributors and customers. Jefo is not only a quality brand, it is also an extended community.
After more than 35 years in agribusiness, Jefo proposes various solutions such as essential oils, acidifiers, enzymes, amino acids, vitamins, minerals and bypass fats, which are divided in three programmes: Jefo Care – Prevention & Health, Jefo Peak – Performance & Production, and Jefo Cycle – Reproduction. Some product lines use the Jefo Matrix Technology, which takes into account the digestive transit time of each species to enable a targeted release of nutrients in the intestines.

What are the most significant changes that have occurred since the beginning?
The most significant change has been to witness the organic growth of Jefo, from a small provincial company, to a Global company now servicing the world.
The company now has a global presence in close to 60 countries and our reach is now global. We have partners and employees on all continents, allowing us to witness global and regional challenges, and addressing them with specific solutions to improve animal health and performances
This is a very exciting challenge. The pace has more than doubled in the last five years, with the increased pressure on antibiotic reduction and the raising prices of ingredients. Our solutions are getting increasingly popular! We experienced a radical change from an educational context (20 years ago) to delivering practical solutions to our customers that are now requesting them!

Why do you feel the agri-business is important?
The agri-business is one of the most important segment if our lives! We have the responsibility to feed the world with performance, health and sustainability in mind (both socially and environmentally).
Animal welfare is also becoming an increasing issue, with consumer’s level of education rising and the rise of social media. Jefo is addressing this, as a part of our global positioning: Life, made easier.

Why are innovative feed additive solutions important in aquaculture today?
Being the youngest among industrialised animal production systems, aquaculture has been going through a revolution in recent years -- from land based small stake holders to large integrated farming operations. These operations also include open ocean aquaculture or Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS). Issues such as the release of nutritional wastes to the environment, poor management and inadequate nutrition causing eutrophication, frequent disease outbreaks, subsequently resulting in significant economic sufferings in the industry.
Innovative solutions such as enzymes, organic acids and other phytogenic compounds, for example, can help improve the utilisation of nutrients to reduce organic wastes, manage gut microbes, optimise gut health, and improve immune response in aquatic animals. The enzymes are specifically more important for RAS systems, where reducing nutrient load is a key component to improving efficiency.
Jefo, with its innovative solutions, including, for example, enzymes, microencapsulated organic acids and essential oils, is at the forefront of this revolution. Providing solutions that help not only the industry but also the environment, and thus saving Mother Nature for generations to come has been our goal since the beginning.

How important is aquaculture to meet the protein needs for a growing global population?
World population is expected to reach 9.7 billion by 2050. Growing population as well as the rising incomes in developing countries, are driving up the global food demand, specifically the demand for animal protein. The United Nations projected that, by 2050, food and feed production will need to increase by as much as 70 percent.
As the fastest growing animal production industry and being the most efficient in converting nutrients to protein, aquaculture will be the key driving force to meet this global protein need to feed the growing population.

Where do you see aquaculture as a major source of food production in 20-30 years from now?
Today, we are confined by very limited land and freshwater resources. There is fierce competition for arable land among all the farming systems, not to mention the competition for industrial and urban development. Moreover, terrestrial farming, industrialisation and urbanisation are consistently blamed for water pollution.
70 percent of our earth is covered with water, 97 percent of which are seas and oceans. To protect this beautiful planet, we have to move our food production systems from land to ocean. In doing so, we can produce as much aquatic plants and animals as we produce today but using only one percent of the oceanic surface.
Most of the technologies needed for ocean based faming systems are available today. We just need to use our vision and will to take the necessary steps to make it happen.

Sunday, March 25, 2018

26/03/2018: Meijer partners with nation's only fresh pack BAP certified aquaculture farm

Meijer is taking its seafood sustainability commitment to the next level, thanks to a new partnership with Jackson, Michigan-based, Indian Brook Trout Farm

The rainbow trout farm is the nation's only fresh pack Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) certified aquaculture facility. That means, the farm and its new processing plant are operating in the most responsible and sustainable manner. 


 
Image credit: JC7001 on Flickr
(CC BY-SA 2.0)
Beginning in April, Meijer customers across the Midwest will have the opportunity to purchase the freshest, locally-grown rainbow trout, Meijer Seafood Buyer Dave Wier said.

"At Meijer, we're focused on providing our customers with the freshest, highest quality seafood, which includes striving to offer seafood caught and farmed in the most responsible and sustainable way," Mr Wier said. "Not only is this the right thing to do for the environment, but our customers want to know that the seafood they buy from us comes from sources that do not deplete or damage the resource. We are pleased to partner with Indian Brook Trout Farm because their entire farm is focused on doing what's right for the fish and the environment."

Global Aquaculture Alliance Executive Director Wally Stevens said he "commends" Indian Brook Trout Farm for attaining its BAP certification. The certification program is based on independent audits that evaluate compliance with BAP standards throughout the entire aquaculture supply chain.

"To be BAP certified is to prove your commitment to the environment, social integrity, and the health of the animal and public," Mr Stevens said.

“Commitment, location and access to pure water was the recipe for success,” said Owen Ballow, President of Indian Brook Trout Farm.

The farm utilises artesian water from a 10,000-year-old natural aquifer 180 feet below the surface. After retiring from the hospital industry, Mr Ballow purchased Indian Brook Trout Farm in 2013, following an eight year search for the perfect location to invest in his aquaculture passion.

The 90-acre fish farm in western Jackson County taps into a deep, bedrock aquifer – also utilised by a national bottled water company – that pumps pure water into dozens of fish tanks and ponds that house 350,000 rainbow trout at varying stages of growth from eggs to maturity.

There are no antibiotics, hormones or pesticides used at the farm, and the fish are fed an 85 percent all plant diet.

Visit the Indian Brook Trout Farm website, HERE.

The Aquaculturists
This blog is maintained by The Aquaculturists staff and is supported by the
magazine International Aquafeed which is published by
Perendale Publishers Ltd

For additional daily news from aquaculture around the world: aquaculture-news

26/03/2018: Fishmeal will stay current in global food chain

It is towards the end of the northern hemisphere winter, and a look out the window at swirling clouds of snow confirms we are in the middle of an unusual weather event
  
 

The media in the UK have done much to make this as dramatic a story as possible, and in amongst all the stories about people being snowbound in vehicles and trains, and the shutting of airports, there are stories emerging about a lack of some foods in UK shops. This is a reminder about how fragile food supply chains are, and how quickly they can be affected by a set of extraordinary circumstances.

For me, it brings to mind the importance of the fishmeal and fish oil industry, and where it rests in relation to protein systems and global food security. The fishmeal sector is itself the foundation of a significant proportion of the global protein supply chain.

Fishmeal is an essential component for feeds in fed aquaculture, for pig weaning diets and poultry starter diets. In aquaculture the list of fed species is growing, and the FAO cites more than 200 fed species, which is enormous in comparison to terrestrial farming. Fishmeal remains essential to the farming of the immediately recognisable aquaculture species such as Atlantic salmon and shrimps, and it is also an important constituent in diets of many of the minor species where the exact nutritional requirements may not yet be fully understood.

Providing diets manufactured with a high fishmeal inclusion allows the production of these new and lesser-known species with an incomplete nutritional knowledge base, as the energy dense nature of fishmeal and the rich micronutrient profile are adequate to provide nutritious feeds in the absence of scientific data.

In many ways it is testimony to the generally good management of stocks as well as the efficient recovery of processed by-product as raw material, that the global annual production of this important material is consistently around five million tonnes volume. Although that volume is comparatively small in relation to some of the other animal feed ingredients, its importance far exceeds any volume comparison. Clearly there are fluctuations over time, with the most obvious being the impact of El Niňo events, but largely that annual supply remains available for animal feed production year in, year out.


Read the full article, HERE.

The Aquaculturists
This blog is maintained by The Aquaculturists staff and is supported by the
magazine International Aquafeed which is published by
Perendale Publishers Ltd

For additional daily news from aquaculture around the world: aquaculture-news

Thursday, March 22, 2018

23/03/2018: PIX AMC 2018, early bird registration ends 29th March

Supply Chain Opportunities – Farmers to Consumers' is the theme of this year’s conference

The PIX/AMC 2018 program will again feature three days filled with the latest in innovation and information, with knowledgeable industry personnel from both Australia and overseas attending.
 

The program is streamed into chicken meat, egg production, free range and organic farming, flour milling and feed milling for all livestock species, including beef, dairy, pigs and others. There will be topics of interest for each and every delegate.

Workshops on numerous special interest areas encompassing all aspects of the poultry industry will also be on offer. For the more technically-minded, the Australasian Veterinary Poultry Association (AVPA) will again be holding a scientific meeting directly after the conference.

A highlight of the conference will be the trade display area which is the industry’s largest and most extensive. Made up over 200 booths, exhibitors will be on hand to demonstrate their latest products and equipment.

The Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre is a world-class venue and coupled with the exciting social program planned with the conference allows for relaxed discussion opportunities and a chance to catch up with friends and colleagues.

The organisers have again chosen the Gold Coast in June for the favourable weather and vast accommodation and co-curricular entertainment options available.

PIX/AMC 2018 will be the biggest and most important poultry and milling conference in the region for the 2018 calendar year.
 



For more information and to register visit the PIX AMC website, HERE.

The Aquaculturists
This blog is maintained by The Aquaculturists staff and is supported by the
magazine International Aquafeed which is published by
Perendale Publishers Ltd

For additional daily news from aquaculture around the world: aquaculture-news

23/03/2018: Leading agriculture players announce partnerships to improve food security in the Middle East

Officially inaugurated by His Excellency Sheikh Dr Majid Sultan Al Qassimi, Acting Assistant Undersecretary for Food Diversity Sector and Director of Animal Development & Health Department at the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, AgraME, the region’s only event dedicated to the full value chain of agribusiness, aquaculture and animal health, recently concluded its latest edition at the Dubai World Trade Centre. 

Government Ministers, C- Level industry professionals, investors, farmers, veterinarians and suppliers spanning 90 countries, assembled over three days to network, trade, share knowledge and set the agenda for the future of the agriculture sector. A key theme that ran throughout the event this year was a number of trade announcements made from regional investment body AAAID, Agthia Group and global heavy machinery player, Massey Ferguson.
 

Image credit: AgraME

AgraME, for the first time ever, hosted 40 businesses of the ‘AAAID’s Affiliate Company Programme’ who attended the conference - in addition to AAAID’s strategic partners. Business meetings were held between companies that discovered ongoing areas of cooperation between in the field of Agriculture Business. To kick off day two’s conference agenda, a total of six agreements and Memorandum of Understandings were signed in the presence AAAID Chairman H.E Mohammed Bin Obaid Al Mazrooei, and H.E Mariam AlMheiri, Minister of State who is responsible for future food security and other key industry figures.

Some of the companies to sign MoU’s onsite included the Arab Company for Drugs Ltd, Emirates Modern Poultry Co. and Al Rawabi Dairy Company.

Agthia, one of the UAE’s leading food and beverage companies in the UAE, also announced that it had entered an innovation and technology partnership agreement with Trouw Nutrition Hifeed, a Nutreco Company and global leader in animal nutrition and aquafeed. The deal aims to develop a portfolio of products and services for optimised nutrition, enhanced animal performance and improved economic efficiency in poultry and ruminants.

The partnership decision was signed on the opening day of AgraME, and was attended by H.E Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, Mr Otto Seijler, Managing Director of Trouw Nutrition Hifeed and Eng. Tariq Ahmed Al Wahedi, CEO Agthia Group, among others.
 

Image credit: AgraME

Samantha Bleasby, Exhibition Director for AgraME, said, “AgraME continues to evolve and grow year-on-year and this year’s edition was no different. It was a great indicator of how rapidly the region’s agriculture industry is growing and developing, and the high level of partnership announcements from exhibitors, governments and national organisations further strengthens the show’s reputation as the place to be for anyone connected with the agriculture, aquaculture and animal health industries.”

Kanoo Machinery, a member of The Kanoo Group and one of the exclusive dealers of world-class brands in the Middle East, was a key exhibitor of the newly revamped Crop Farming show vertical at this year’s event and was showcasing brands and technologies such as Massey Ferguson, Bobcat, and Snorkel.

Graeme de Villiers, acting country manager for Kanoo Machinery in the UAE, commented, “Gatherings such as AgraME provides us with an environment and opportunity to highlight our cutting-edge products and services that offer the most efficient and dependable operation for wide-ranging farming needs.”

“We represent global brands associated with constant innovation and related to technology, highly engineered for precision,” he added.

Speaking on the sidelines of day one, H.E. Sheikh Dr Al Qassimi, who also opened the day one aquaculture conference, commented, “AgraME is the perfect example for how the UAE has been connecting people to meet the continuous demand for new products and technologies that will help us achieve this sustainability. Due to its success, it is now one of the longest running exhibitions in the Middle East covering the four key sectors of Agriculture, Animal Health, Crop Farming and Aquaculture. The exhibition has a great importance in relation to food security, overcoming climate change impact and our over exploited natural resources.”

In addition to the exhibition the show included three dedicated conference streams - Aquaculture, Animal Health and the AAAID Company Meeting. Covering a range of hot industry topics, with Animal Health being accredited by Continuing Professional Development, the workshops and seminars provided attendees with the latest insights and understanding of latest technologies, techniques and processes redefining the sector.

The dates announced for AgraME 2019 are 5-7th March.

For more information visit the AgraME website, HERE

The Aquaculturists
This blog is maintained by The Aquaculturists staff and is supported by the
magazine International Aquafeed which is published by
Perendale Publishers Ltd

For additional daily news from aquaculture around the world: aquaculture-news

23/03/2018: Fish and Inflammation

by Ioannis Zabetakis

We are what we eat. Our food is also what it eats.
  

In other words, if fish are fed better aquafeeds, then we can improve the nutritional value of the final fish product, maximise the added value of the final produce and expand nutraceutical and pharmaceutical applications of fish, fish products and marine oils.

Working towards the improvement of the nutritional value of aquafeeds and fish, we would need to focus on the bioactivities of fish components against inflammation.

Fish have a great positive impact on all chronic diseases, including cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Linking fish consumption to CVDs was first established through the seven-country study and today we know that fish components have strong cardioprotective and anti-inflammatory properties.

The Journal Fishes published by MDPI is going to publish a special issue titled “Fish and Inflammation”.

In this Special Issue, we would like to present the latest research on fish consumption and its impact on inflammation-related chronic diseases in humans, e.g., CVDs. In vitro and ex vivo studies are equally welcome.

We would be pleased to solicit manuscripts pertaining to original research, mini and full reviews, short communications, as well as perspectives, which address any aspect of fish, CVDs and inflammation.

Submissions are invited that include, but are not limited to: Fish diet and its impact on the nutritional value of fish; Fish intake and development of CVDs; Specific fish components (e.g., polar lipids, omega-3 fatty acids) and their anti-inflammatory properties; Bioactive compounds from the seafood chain.


Read the full article, HERE.

The Aquaculturists
This blog is maintained by The Aquaculturists staff and is supported by the
magazine International Aquafeed which is published by
Perendale Publishers Ltd

For additional daily news from aquaculture around the world: aquaculture-news

Amandus Kahl company profile



More than 130 years of experience in plant and machine manufacture have made Amandus Kahl a respected manufacturer and supplier of extruders, compound feed presses, wood pelleting plants or granulate coolers, for example.

The company’s motivation has always been to develop an even better product for their customers. For this reason they cooperate with research institutes and universities. You can always be sure that they will supply you an optimally customised wood pelleting plant, grain cooking plant, waste-tyre recycling plant etc.

Their scope of services also comprises maintenance and repair of the compacting machines, compound feed presses, extruders and wood pelleting plants as well as all other products they offer in their company.

Visit the website HERE.

The Aquaculturists
This blog is maintained by The Aquaculturists staff and is supported by the
magazine International Aquafeed which is published by
Perendale Publishers Ltd

For additional daily news from aquaculture around the world: aquaculture-news

Wednesday, March 21, 2018

22/03/2018: European protein plan should focus on how to deliver on improved “protein quality”

The European compound feed industry, represented by FEFAC, holds the largest market potential for vegetable protein grown in the EU. 

In a detailed position paper ((18) PR 8), made public in the margins of the DG AGRI stakeholder survey on the European Protein Plan, FEFAC raises attention to the “protein quality” dimension of the different protein sources and their use in animal nutrition. FEFAC stresses that different protein sources are needed for different animal nutrition requirements.
 

FEFAC President Nick Major said, “We notice the strong political interest to reduce the EU protein deficit and the inherent reliance on imports. It should be clear, however, that market demand from the feed industry for European vegetable protein is based on the nutritional requirements of livestock, i.e. identifying the optimal protein quality in available feed materials and delivering them to food-producing animals. We, therefore, need to ensure that the quality and nutritional composition of the protein is fully taken into account.”

The quality of protein is determined by factors such as amino acid profile, digestibility, protein concentration and presence of anti-nutrients. Animal nutrition science has already enabled the continuous improvement of protein efficiency in livestock farming, for example through phase feeding and the use of synthetic amino acids to more closely match the animal’s requirements. However, the adoption of new technologies such as innovative plant breeding will be necessary to further boost the inclusion rate of European proteins in feed formulation.

FEFAC President Nick Major commented, “If the EU is serious about reducing the protein deficit, we need to get to a stage where improving protein quality through plant breeding is seen as a key long-term strategic driver for market investments. EU policy development will need to reflect the ambition of wanting to reap the benefits of the most advanced plant breeding technologies so they can be brought to farm level.”

As part of seven key recommendations, FEFAC also advises the European Commission to invest in effective tools that can measure the impact of all relevant EU policies on the strategic protein supply of the European feed sector.


For more information visit the FEFAC website, HERE.

The Aquaculturists
This blog is maintained by The Aquaculturists staff and is supported by the
magazine International Aquafeed which is published by
Perendale Publishers Ltd

For additional daily news from aquaculture around the world: aquaculture-news

22/03/2018: Future of milling to be determined at IDMA

IDMA, an international fair for milling machinery, cereals and pulses processing technologies, is again the event for those who want to make advantageous investments with its overseas promotions, and strong collaborations with sectoral associations. 

The future of the milling sector will be determined at IDMA, international flour, feed, semolina, rice, corn, bulgur, milling machinery & pulse, pasta, biscuit technologies exhibition, and the wheels of the industry will turn at IDMA.
 


Grain is one of the most strategic products of today because it constitutes the grist of many foodstuffs and has a very critical place in feeding the world. Many countries are conducting R&D studies towards increasing the efficiency in grains in order to guarantee food safety.

FAO has updated its forecast for worldwide cereal production in 2017 now stands at 2 billion 640 million tons. This figure is a world record. Along with the production, grain trade is also in an increasing trend.

According to International Grains Council (IGC), grain trade will make an unprecedented peak in 2017/18 year with a volume of 361 million tons. This increasing strategic value and corresponding production figures increase the importance of the milling sector which constitutes a critical chain for grain to be processed until it comes to our tables as food.

IDMA comprehends this critical matter and has the aim of being a platform providing the milling sector an opportunity for technology and information sharing, organisers are excited to be opening its gates for the eighth time.

IDMA, which succeeded in attracting many investors from all around the world in 2017, despite it being a year when the entire world experienced recession, is aiming at increasingly sustaining this success in 2019 as well.

Global milling giants are gathering at IDMA 
The 8th edition of IDMA which will open its gates between 11 and 14 April, 2019 will be held in CNR Expo-Istanbul, the largest and rooted fairground in Turkey. Over 280 Turkish and international brands including the top brands from milling and cereals and pulses processing technologies sectors will open booths and present their latest technologies in the exhibition that will take place on an area of 38 thousand square meters in total.

Technologies exhibited

• Grain and flour mill technologies
• Bulgur production technologies
• Feed productıon technologies
• Rice and pulses processing technologies
• Pasta production technologies
• Biscuıt production technologies
• Grain and pulses storage technologies
• Laboratory equipment
• Spare parts and sub-industry products


For more information visit the IDMA website, HERE.

The Aquaculturists
This blog is maintained by The Aquaculturists staff and is supported by the
magazine International Aquafeed which is published by
Perendale Publishers Ltd

For additional daily news from aquaculture around the world: aquaculture-news