Aller Aqua Group to promote carbon footprint of feed and source soya regionally

The Aller Aqua Group has during 2020 taken measures to stop buying South American soya for their European fish feed production. During 2021 the group will take the next big step in realising their sustainability-strategy, when they start CO2-labelling the fish feed produced at their three EU-factories.

During 2020 Aller Aqua stopped using South American soya in its European factories and is instead using 100 percent regionally produced soya from Europe and surrounding countries.
 

Image credit: Soya uy on Flickr
(CC BY 2.0)

By sourcing soya regionally, Aller Aqua addresses the increasing concern of deforestation in certain South American countries. 'This deforestation issue has been an increasing concern, not least during 2020, and as we had the opportunity and organisational setup to make the choice of eliminating South American Soya from our European production – this is what we have done!' explains Aller Aqua's CPO and Group Vice President, Henrik T. Halken.

Calculations by FiBL (Research Institute of Organic Agriculture) on behalf of the Donau Soja organisation shows that CO2-emission from salmon feed can be reduced by as much as 41 percent by exchanging the South American soya.

Mr Halken further explains, 'Generally we focus on sourcing as locally as possible, and I estimate that approximately 90 percent of the raw materials we use in our European factories today, are of European origin. This saves transportation and CO2-emission. We are happy to take a leading and active position in creating solutions for sustainability goals both nationally and in Europe, such as the launch of the European Green Deal.'

First in the market to Co2-label feeds
During the first half of 2021 Aller Aqua will take the next step in their work with sustainability, benefitting both customers and nature.

'As far as I am aware, we are the first on the market to do this! We want to declare the CO2-value on all our feeds produced in the EU. This shows our customers the carbon footprint that the feed in question has. We are convinced that our change from South American soya will show significant advantages in terms of a lower carbon footprint,' says Mr Halken.

The initiative will give Aller Aqua's customers an opportunity to make an active choice regarding CO2 and help highlight the low environmental impact of their fish production towards both supermarkets and consumers.

If you wish to reduce the carbon footprint from your diet, fish is a great option based on the low feed consumption per kilo meat produced.

The CO2-labelling of the feed will be carried out using internationally recognised standards also used by other international feed producers.

Visit the Aller Aqua website, HERE.

The Aquaculturists

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