Fibras Industriales SA company profile

Fibras Industriales SA (FISA) has more than 70 years’ experience in the production and commercialisation of nets for the fishing and aquaculture sectors, with great participation in the areas of agriculture, sports, mining, construction, among others.

Innovation and quality
The constant research and innovation in their production processes allow them to offer products of the highest quality standards and services tailored to the needs of their clients globally.

Wide range of products
FISA have a complete range of products. They can offer all types of nets existing and used in the world, cages for farms, sports, among others and the widest variety of ropes, twine and floats.

The main markets they work in are:
- Fishing of all species
- Farming centre for all species
- Sports (Baseball, Golf, Soccer, Lacrosse, among others)
- Construction and Mining Safety
- Farming

Visit the FISA website, HERE.

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Alltech European Summer Harvest Survey shows moderate to high mycotoxin risk across the region

Weather patterns have been variable across Europe throughout the 2020 growing season and have had a direct impact on the presence of specific moulds and mycotoxins across different regions.

Mycotoxins are produced by certain species of moulds and are a concern for livestock producers due to their ability to influence feed quality and subsequent animal health and performance. Samples collected from across Europe as part of the Alltech European Summer Harvest Survey have been submitted to the Alltech 37+® mycotoxin analytical services laboratory, and analysis is indicating the presence of moderate to high levels of mycotoxin risk.

 

Results from the 2020 Alltech Summer Harvest Survey 
indicate moderate to high levels of mycotoxins across Europe
Image credit: Alltech

The results are based on 274 samples of barley, wheat, corn, corn silage, grass silage, alfalfa, haylage, grass, peas, oats, sunflower meal, triticale and soybean. These samples are collected from farms or animal feed production sites from 15 countries across Europe including Russia, Spain, Portugal, Denmark, Hungary, Germany, United Kingdom, Czech Republic, Estonia, Republic of Lithuania, Morocco, Greece, Belarus, Croatia and Kazakhstan, and offer a representative picture of the contamination risk in all regions, with an overall moderate to high risk. Samples have shown an average of 4.4 mycotoxins, with 99.6% containing at least one mycotoxin and 96.4% containing two or more mycotoxins. Fumonisins were found in 80.7% of the samples, while 74.5% contained type B-trichothecenes.

A noticeable trend in recent years is the growing presence of emerging mycotoxins. More than 75% of samples contained this group, which includes specific mycotoxins such as beauvericin, moniliformin, phomopsin A, alternariol and enniatin A and B. Zearalenone (ZEN), a mycotoxin that can have a significant impact on the fertility of most species groups, was detected in almost 7% of samples. Aflatoxin B1 (AfB1), a member of the Aspergillus species and a particularly harmful toxin, was detected in less than 7% of the samples that have been analysed — a percentage that is potentially lower than expected considering the dryer-than-normal conditions across much of Central and Eastern Europe this year.

''Overall, the current results indicate a moderate to high mycotoxin risk across Europe this year, and producers must remain aware of how the risk and impact will vary between different species and animal groups, with breeding animals and youngstock being more susceptible,' said Dr Radka Borutova, European technical support manager with the Alltech Mycotoxin Management team. 'We know that feeding even low-level contaminated feeds has been shown to impact animal health and performance, so even in lower-risk scenarios, producers should not neglect the need to guard against the threat of mycotoxins.''

Summary of results by region:
• Southern Europe (Portugal, Spain, Greece and Croatia): The results from this region show that 91.3% and 80.4% of all samples were contaminated with fumonisins and emerging mycotoxins, respectively. The average concentration of fumonisins was 1,195.88 ppb, a concentration able to harm the health and performance of pigs. More than 86% of samples contained fusaric acid, which is frequently found in different feedstuffs, mainly in corn. Fusaric acid gets into many mycotoxin interactions and has a synergistic effect with other mycotoxins like fumonisins and moniliformin. AfB1 was detected in less than 6% of the samples, and the maximum concentration of 8 ppb was found in one of the Spanish samples. The maximum concentration of deoxynivalenol (DON) was found in Spain in corn silage, and the concentration was 4,903.3 ppb.

• Central Europe (Germany, Hungary and Czech Republic): Samples show contamination of fumonisins of 86.7% and 73.5% with type B-trichothecenes. The average concentration of type B-trichothecenes was 463.5 ppb, a concentration able to harm the health and performance of pigs. More than 68% contained emerging mycotoxins, a group of with increasing relevance in the past few years. AfB1 was detected in less than 4% of the samples, and the maximum concentration of 3.6 ppb was found in one of the Hungarian samples. The maximum concentration of DON was found in the Czech Republic in corn silage with a concentration of 3,921 ppb.

• The Baltics and Eastern Europe (Estonia, Lithuania, Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan): Of the samples analysed, 70.9% were contaminated with type B-trichothecenes, fumonisins and emerging mycotoxins. The average concentration of type B-trichothecenes was 454.9 ppb. None of the samples from Eastern Europe were contaminated with zearalenone, a mycotoxin that can have a significant impact on the fertility of most species groups. AfB1 was detected in more than 10% of the samples, and the maximum concentration of 27 ppb was found in one of the Lithuanian grass silage samples. The maximum concentration of DON was found in the Republic of Lithuania in corn silage, and the concentration was 4,970.5 ppb.

• Northern Europe (Denmark): The results from this region show that 94% and 92% of all samples were contaminated with emerging mycotoxins and type B-trichothecenes, respectively. The average concentration of emerging mycotoxins was 414.4 ppb. Interestingly, 6% of samples contained ergot alkaloids, while the average concentration was 695.4 ppb and the maximum concentration was 2,037 ppb, found in barley. AfB1 was detected in less than 2.5% of the samples, and the maximum concentration of 3 ppb was found in wheat harvested in Denmark. The maximum concentration of DON was found in Denmark in barley, and the concentration was 1,351.8 ppb.

The average levels of mycotoxins identified fall below the EU-recommended levels for each of the mycotoxins when assessed individually. Only 0.36% of samples exceeded EU allowed concentration of AfB1 (20 ppb) in feed ingredients (COMMISSION REGULATION (EU) No 574/2011. However, the risk level for productive species based on Alltech's risk equivalent quantity (REQ) varies from moderate to high when the multiple-mycotoxin challenge is considered.

• Pig producers should be aware that the risk level based on the average REQ for breeding sows and young piglets is deemed to be high.
• When the mycotoxin contamination levels are applied to poultry, the mycotoxin risk for breeding birds is moderate, while in broiler birds, it is low to moderate.
• In ruminants, the results from the samples analysed so far indicate a low to moderate risk in dairy cows.

There was a notable difference in the mycotoxin contamination levels of large grains (corn) and small grains (wheat, barley, oats). The average number of mycotoxins detected in corn samples was 6.4, while in small grains, it was 3.6. This variance is reflected in the REQ and risk of feeding these ingredients to specific species and animal groups. For instance, in sows and gilts, this year's corn samples represent a higher risk of mycotoxins, but when small grains are fed to the same animals, the mycotoxin risk is deemed to be lower.

Alltech will host a webinar with Dr Radka Borutova on December 9, 2020, at 11:00 a.m. CET.

Register for the webinar, HERE.

For more information and results from the 2020 Alltech Summer Harvest Survey visit the Alltech website, HERE.

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Aller Aqua company profile

Aller Aqua produce fish feed for freshwater and saltwater aquaculture. That is the brief presentation, but it doesn’t even come close to covering the entire story.

Aller Aqua is a family owned company with roots tracing back more than a thousand years. They have produced fish feed for more than 50 years, and this makes them one of the worlds most experienced fish feed producers, delivering some of the best products on the market, to their customers.

Today Aller Aqua has factories in Denmark, Poland, Germany and Egypt, they export products to more than 70 countries worldwide. They have a broad and professional product range, consisting of feed for 30 species of fish.

According to their website, “We know the importance the right feed plays in our customers production, and therefore our own professional development- and research centre in Germany, Aller Aqua Research, consistently works on optimising, developing and documenting the effect of our products. This ensures that our customers receive top-quality professional products, at competitive prices – delivered on time. As a company we are big enough to meet your needs, and small enough to be flexible”.

“This ensures that we can react quickly to our customer’s needs, which is essential when you strive not only to deliver fish feed, but also to spar with and contribute to optimising our customers businesses. Our experience and history is our guarantee to our customers that we know what we are talking about, that we keep our promises, and that we are right here – and that will still be the case in many years to come”.

Visit the website HERE.

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Hiddenfjord to stop using air freight for salmon

Atlantic Salmon farmer, Hiddenfjord has announced the suspension of all air freight as of October 10 2020. This change has reduced Hiddenfjord's overseas transportation CO2 emissions by 94 percent as reported by the independent Norwegian research organisation, SINTEF.

Air freight is a major contributor to global CO2 emissions and emits around 50 times as much CO2 as sea freight. Hiddenfjord is the first in the aquaculture industry to make a commitment of this size and scope, significantly decreasing their environmental impact in line with the 13 UN Global Goal about urgent climate action.
 

Image credit: Kent Wang on Flickr
(CC BY-SA 2.0)

Salmon already has a much lower carbon footprint than other animal foods such as pork or beef but replacing air freight with sea freight makes it a very sustainable food choice.

Atli Gregersen, Managing Director and owner of Hiddenfjord says, 'The facts are clear, we all need to immediately stop using airplanes to transport goods in order to reduce climate change.'

Mr Gregersen adds, 'this was a challenging decision for us. We knew it could mean lower prices and a much higher risk because of reduced flexibility in reaching far-away markets. But ethically, it is absolutely the right decision. If we claim that we want to be a truly sustainable company, we must take responsible actions.'

New independent consumer research shows that Hiddenfjord salmon has maintained the same quality, despite the company's termination of air freight.

Óli Hansen, Sales Director at Hiddenfjord explains, 'Even if the suspension of air freight has been a big change for many of our customers, we were very happy to be able to prove that we could maintain our well-known high quality – now with a much lower CO2 footprint. We see good growth in sales figures and the product is attracting interest from new customers focusing on sustainability.'

The maintained high quality is primarily attributed to three significant factors:

For thousands of years the Atlantic salmon has migrated from rivers flowing into the North Atlantic Ocean to the sea around the Faroe Islands to feed and grow and has adapted to the conditions of the region's waters. This pristine environment characterised by stable year-round sea temperatures between 6-11 C° and a specific regional daylight regime in the Faroe Islands is the natural home of the Atlantic salmon.

Hiddenfjord salmon is raised in the wild – in pens placed in exposed sites with high waves and strong currents that provide the perfect natural living conditions for the Atlantic salmon, while at the same time preventing seabed pollution. Hiddenfjord is the salmon farmer that raises salmon in the harshest conditions in the world.

Hiddenfjord uses a unique concept of stress-free harvesting that utilises the salmon's natural instinct to swim against the current. It is guided from the open sea pens to the harvesting basin and stunned without stress.

Visit the Hiddenfjord website, HERE.

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Sustainability in the seafood industry

The seafood industry delivers a high protein food with one of the lowest environmental footprints and yet it is still overshadowed by a history of unsustainable practices.

The industry has come a long way over the last two decades by adopting responsible farming practices, to creating sustainable feeds. It has a positive environmental story and the time might just be right to launch a good news story that is simple and allows easy engagement by consumers.
 

Image credit: BioMar

There is a shift in the market towards more positive messaging around seafood from key NGOs, partly lead by a holistic view of the global food system. Last month WWF launched their Planet Diet complete with menu planner where seafood features more prominently than other high protein foods.

They encourage consumers to purchase certified seafood, and it's clear they see it as part of the solution in a planet friendly diet.

This is not surprising given that fish has a smaller environmental impact compared to other high protein food choices, as showed in the Protein Scorecard by the World Resources Institute.

An image repositioning strategy is required to change the existing consumer mind set, however we the industry can perpetuate a myth by simply defending ourselves all the time.

That is why BioMar has created the Sustainable Nutrition campaign; www.supportyourplanet.com to help inspire a new, simple message that we can all adopt.

Katherine Bryar, Global Head of Marketing & Branding, BioMar Group says, 'Fish have a great sustainable protein story, one that will inspire people to eat more seafood not only for their own health but for the health of our planet. Everyone operating in the seafood industry can relate to this campaign,'

In recent research conducted this year by Global Scan and MSC, showed that 71 percent of consumers want to reduce their environmental footprint and 45 percent even feel guilty about their impact on the planet.

For most people helping to solve climate change seems too large and complicated of a problem. This campaign was designed to show people that with a simple food choice they can make a difference, one bite at a time.

'With this type of behavioural-change marketing, it is important to maintain positive messaging when telling your story and avoid demonising others,' says Ms Bryar.

BioMar has shared the concept with several seafood industry bodies, and there is interest to take it directly to consumers. A Sustainable Nutrition taskforce with representatives from Global Salmon Initiative, Chilean Salmon Marketing Council, British Trout Association, Norwegian Seafood Federation and Scottish Salmon Producers Organisation, has been formed and others are welcomed to join.

Together they will combine their collective expertise and resources to design a marketing and media strategy.

All going well the taskforce hopes to launch this campaign to consumers in key markets in Q2 2021.

Carlos Diaz, CEO BioMar Group says, 'For BioMar it is important that we support our customers and if this helps create a positive environmental image around seafood and increases consumption than it's a win-win scenario for us as we are solely dedicated to the sustainable future of the aquaculture industry.'

Visit the BioMar website, HERE. 

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Evonik launch new e-business portal myAMINO

Evonik is expanding its customer service offering for its animal nutrition customers with a new digital portal called myAMINO.

Through the new e-business portal, Evonik has brought together its digital customer activities and services and added two web stores.
 

Image credit: Evonik

myAMINO will become the first digital point of contact for customers, making interacting with Evonik as convenient and as efficient as possible.

The launch of the myAMINO e-business portal marks an important milestone in Evonik's digitalisation strategy to strengthen its animal nutrition business which is part of Evonik's life science division nutrition and care.

Offering a digital customer experience, Evonik is taking the next logical step in the implementation of its system house strategy for sustainable animal nutrition - an innovation growth field in nutrition and care.

'Fostering e-business is one of our main strategic goals,' says Dr Dirk Hoehler, head of sales and e-business in the animal nutrition business line. 'We want to make it as convenient as possible for our customers to contact us, find relevant information and process their orders'.

myAMINO offers customer access to products, services, information, training, contacts, partners and order management for animal nutrition.

Customers can register on the portal to become activated users. Then they can log in at any time and browse, order, call up analysis data, or track delivery data.

The online shopping on myAMINO allows customers to search Evonik's core portfolio, for products like MetAMINO® by various categories, for example by type of packaging or animal species. They can obtain an overview of the range of products and services geared to their individual needs and place orders around the clock.

A second webshop makes it possible to order complementary products and services, such as laboratory equipment for amino acid analysis, online. The registration process in this webshop is straightforward and payment is possible via PayPal or credit card.

Visit the Evonik website, HERE.

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World Aquaculture 2020 webinar series now online

World Aquaculture Society in partnership with Singapore Food Agency will be presenting World Aquaculture 2020 (WA2020) webinar series on the theme 'Next Generation Aquaculture, Innovation and Sustainability will Feed the World.'

WA2020 webinar is holding a three day virtual meeting from December 14-16, 2020 from 14:00 - 16:00 hrs (Singapore, GMT+08:00) each day.
 

Register for the webinar will be free but registration will still be required.

This webinar is dedicated to providing insight on WA2020 theme 'Next Generation Aquaculture, Innovation and Sustainability will Feed the World'. The organisers have commented that they are very excited to be hosting this webinar and look forward to meeting you as an in-person conference and trade show at WA2020 from June 14-18, 2021 in Singapore next year at Singapore EXPO Convention and Exhibition Centre.

December 14, 2020, the first day of this webinar is the plenary session and will be presented by Dr Matthias Halwart, Delivery Manager, FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture, and Dr Farshad Shishehchian, CEO of Blue Aqua. Many speakers have been invited and will be presented during December 15-16, Dr Luis Fernando Aranguren Caro, Dr Kallaya Sritunyalucksana, Dr John Michael Wigglesworth, Dr Guillaume Drillet, Dr Leow Ban Tat, Dr Romi Novriadi, Dr Brett Glencross and Dr Albert Tacon.

Find out more about the program schedule, and speaker profile for WA2020 webinar on the WAS website, HERE. After the registration, you will receive an email confirmation, password and the link which will allow you to enter the webinar.

After the registration, you will receive an email confirmation, password and the link which will allow you to enter the webinar.

Register for the webinar, HERE.

For Conference Management, contact Mr John Cooksey, email worldaqua@was.org, and for booths and sponsorship, contact Mr Mario Stael, email mario@marevent.com.

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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

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VIV Qingdao 2020 Provides a Lively Milestone Edition for VIV in China

The 2020 edition of VIV Qingdao, held over 3 days on 17-19 September in China, presented a vibrant show for the industry. This year the event offered an invaluable and to celebrate VIV’s 20 year presence in China.

Despite the COVID limitations in travelling, VIV Qingdao 2020 presented no less than 40,000 square meters of exhibition floor-space featuring 352 companies covering all aspects of our industry; from Feed to Food supply chain.
 

Over the three days at the Qingdao Cosmopolitan Exposition, the show welcomed a total of 16,557 professional visitors. At the same time, the global buyers joined virtually via the digital “Explore VIV” platform that registered 55,402 page views. The platform allowed all visitors to experience the show from afar, attend the webinars, listen to the “VIV Talk Show” interviews real-time and join interesting networking activities.

The online visitors reached out to the exhibitors in Qingdao from 30 countries, including China, Iran, UK, the Netherlands, Peru, Canada, Brazil, Germany, Japan, USA, the Philippines, Malaysia, among others.

On the Saturday, the welcome meeting featured an important gathering of the members of our industry, as well as institutions, including: Ms. Chu Lian Yu, Chairman of China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, and Director of Qingdao Convention and Exhibition Office; Mr. Yan Liliang, Deputy Director of Qingdao Agriculture and Rural Bureau; Mr. Ma Chuang, Deputy Secretary-General of Chinese Association of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine; Mr. Shine Liu, the Vice President of VNU Exhibitions Asia. Concurrently, the “Thanks Award” was announced to top Chinese and foreign companies, trade associations, industry media, and partners who have contributed the most to China's animal husbandry development and to VIV success in China over the past 20 year.

Read more, HERE.

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Andritz company profile

ANDRITZ is a globally leading supplier of plants, equipment, and services for hydropower stations, the pulp and paper industry, the metalworking and steel industries, and for solid/liquid separation in the municipal and industrial sectors.

The publicly listed technology Group is headquartered in Graz, Austria, and has a staff of almost 25,000 employees. ANDRITZ operates over 250 sites worldwide.

Visit the website HERE.

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Chinese river crab

by Rebecca Sherratt, Features Editor, International Aquafeed

The Chinese river crab (Eriocheir sinensis), also referred to as the Chinese mitten crab, is named so due to its furry claws, which are said resemble mittens. The species is considered relatively new to the aquaculture industry, having only being produced for aquaculture purposes since 1989. As well as China, this crustacean can also be found in temperate waters along Korea, Japan, Taiwan and Eastern Russia.

Much commercial production of Chinese river crabs is carried out in China. This crustacean is typically marketed live, although in recent years processed products have entered the market. Exports are primarily focused within Japan, Hong Kong and Korea. Market rates suggest Chinese river crab is gaining more international attention, as export numbers increased by 70 percent in 2004, compared to the previous year. These rates have continued to increase year-on-year as the Western market establishes itself.
 

Chinese river crabs typically reside in inland water bodies connected to estuaries. Upon reaching sexual maturity, they relocate to downstream estuaries to reproduce. The species is omnivorous, feeding on small fish, mussels, worms and aquatic plants.

One of the issues most prevalent in Chinese river crab production is the myriad of diseases they can become subject to. Particular diseases to be wary of include Shiver disease, Shell ulcer disease and Sacculina disease, all of which can be caused by a variety of factors such as parasites, viruses and bacteria. Treating these diseases can be very complicated, whilst some diseases (such as Shiver disease) currently have no known cure, so ensuring farm hygiene conditions are optimised is crucial.

In 1995, 41,516 tonnes (t) of Chinese river crabs were farmed for aquaculture purposes. In 2005 this number increased to 378,376t and again to 812,183t in 2016.

Read more, HERE.

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PCE company profile

Pelleting Consumables Europe (PCE) is a global supplier of tailor-made, high-grade precision ring dies and roller shells.  

Thanks to years of experience in the pelleting industry they can provide their customers expert advice on the geometry and design of Ring Dies and Roller Shells.

Manufacturing reliable ring dies and roller shells for compound feed, biofuel and recycling industries and a wide range of other applications.

Their tailor-made Ring Dies and Roller shells are available for pellet presses of all brands and are manufactured at their ultra-modern manufacturing facility.

As the entire process takes place In-house, they can guarantee short lead times and optimum quality.

PCE ring dies and roller shells are made of high-quality steel. The Ring Dies are manufactured as standard from high-grade, high chrome steel X46Cr13, tempered to 53-55 HRC.

The associated Roller Shells are manufactured from 100Cr6 or 20MnCr5, depending on specific application.

According to the PCE website, “our company is continuously focussed on improving the life cycle of our products and to increase profits for our customers.”

PCE key features: 
- Longer life cycle
- Higher capacity
- Low power consumption

In addition to their products they also assist with the planning of your spare and wear part inventory.

A team of experts is available to guide you by selecting the right ring dies, roller shells and to set up a service level spare part management program.

PCE is your partner for just perfect ring dies and roller shells.

Visit the PCE website, HERE.

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Making sense of materials used for manufacturing cage netting

by Fibras Industriales SA, Peru

When deciding what type of cages to install in a fish farm, various factors must be taken into consideration. These factors may include water depth, currents present in the body of water, fouling accumulation, oxygen saturation, water temperature, potential storm risks and more.

After considering all these factors, the next step is to decide the dimensions of the cages required and how many to install in a given area. Some companies prefer spreading labour over a larger number of smaller cages, whilst other companies may prefer farming in less cages which are larger in size, thus reducing operational costs.
 

It will be part of the farm managers or operators’ job to decide the type of netting to use for the cage(s). Different types of netting may include twisted knotted, knotless Raschel, braided knotted or Muketsu twisted knotless netting. Deciding which type of netting to use will be influenced by the role each cage will play in the production process, such as the stage of growth of the fish, whether predator or bird protection is necessary etc. Some of FISA’s customers have opted for braided knotted polyester or HDPE braided Supra® netting for cages, thus avoiding the necessity of using both an anti-predator net and cage. This provides an innovative, two-in-one solution for many fish farmers. Each type of netting has its own advantages and disadvantages and is suitable for a variety of farms, locations, designs and operational procedures.

A second factor that must be considered when choosing cage netting is the raw material used in the manufacture of the netting. This issue can be very tricky as there are a number of various materials available and not all manufacturers or net lofts offer a full range of materials, thus their customers don’t always have access to the full range of available options.

Read more, HERE.

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Ace Aquatec company profile

Ace Aquatec partners with world leading experts in different scientific fields to apply breakthrough technological developments to aquaculture and marine industries.

Co-founded in 1999 by inventor John Ace Hopkins and investor Annette Pyne-Carter after they saw the potential technological innovation could have in accelerating the adoption of responsible fish farming practices.

From the head office in Dundee, Scotland, they project manage global R&D projects, manufacturing at two UK factories, and co-ordinate their installers and engineers worldwide. Ace Aquatec also have a Canadian office and distribution partners in key markets.

Ace Aquatec has grown from a family run business into a global supplier of aquaculture solutions retaining a key focus on local partnerships and personal customised solutions.

Visit the Ace Aquatec website, HERE.

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Anpario invests half a million pounds in factory upgrade to support sustainable future

Independent feed additives manufacturer, Anpario plc, has invested £500,000 in a series of upgrades within its UK-based production facility.

The project, which began earlier this year, involves three stages. A new transfer system between the mixer and packing system on one of the key production lines; the installation of a fully automated pallet processing system and the installation of an innovative wrap round gantry which will also increase storage capacity at the site.
 

Anpario's recent factory upgrades
Image credit: Anpario

'The aim of the project is to further enhance operational efficiency whilst reducing the company's carbon footprint,' explained Shane Bailey, Anpario's operations director. ' For example, the new transfer system has reduced energy consumption when transferring products from the mixer to the packer by up to 90 percent and halved the amount of waste produced from operation of that line within the factory.' 

'Not only does the upgrade reduce environmental impact, but it is also much more efficient, with the upgraded line running at up to eight times faster than the previous system,' said Mr Bailey.

'The addition of the fully automated pallet processing system is one of a range of measures and improvements at the plant over the past five years which have focused on increasing the output capacity for our products, including Orego-Stim and Anpario's acid based eubiotic (ABE) range, in order to meet on-going sales growth', explained Mr Bailey.

The investment has resulted in other benefits for Anpario, including building on quality assurance goals and improved health and safety of the operations team. The project also supports the aspirations of the company's 'Green Team' comprising individuals from each department who share the companies ambition to minimise impact on the environment.

'Anpario is fully committed to reducing the environmental impact of our operations and is working towards key milestones to deliver what our employees, customers, and stakeholders expect from us. We will achieve these targets thanks to the passion of our staff to reduce and conserve energy within the factory, and thanks to the ongoing investments aimed at making our operations environmentally sound and sustainable for the future', concluded Mr Bailey.

The final stage of the project is scheduled for completion by the end of 2020.

Visit the Anpario website, HERE.

 

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More people buying natural pet food leads to increased demand for electric stunners for fry/parr

Award-winning Scottish aquaculture technology supplier Ace Aquatec has seen demand soar for its electric stunners for fry and parr as consumers opt for more premium pet foods while they spend more time at home with their pets due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Ace Aquatec Sales Director, Mike Forbes said, 'The number of pet owners has surged this year with the RSPCA seeing a 600 percent increase in puppy fostering interest, and there's a growing trend in pet owners seeing high quality pet food as a health benefit instead of a luxury.
 

HG Ormsary site
Image credit: Ace Aquatec

'The global pet food market is anticipated to benefit from this ever-increasing demand for natural and premium products. We're seeing enquiries from fish farming companies around the globe on how to tap into this demand by selling parr and broodstock by-product as a natural, healthy, and safe ingredient for pet food products.

'Incinerators are often used to dispose of culled fish after anaesthetising at significant cost and waste. Our stunner has the ability to cull fish without using chemicals which creates the opportunity to convert currently costly by-product into an ethical supply stream for producers of premium pet food, fish oils, and food for farm or zoo animals. Farmers want to see their fish go to use, rather than literally going to waste'.

One of Ace's Aquatec's customers, Jarl van den Berg from Hendrix Genetics agreed, 'One unexpected result of COVID-19 has been the rise of new pet owners and existing pet owners wanting to spoil their pets by feeding them the best quality food. Salmon is a great source of protein and we're seeing increased requests for fresh fish that can be put into wet pet food. In order to do this, we looked at how our surplus fish were being culled and agreed that we would move away from using anaesthetics to create value from an otherwise waste product.'

'We adopted Ace Aquatec's Humane Stunner Universal as it is the best solution in the market in terms of animal welfare standards and environmental impact. Their chemical free, in-water electric stunner has transformed our processing, reduced wastage, and improved our environmental footprint by stopping our fish going to incinerator.

'It has also allowed us to talk to large pet food suppliers about the efficacy of our supply chain and welfare standards. Consumer habits are changing at pace, and understanding those changes is critical as we prioritise how to recalibrate to meet the changed circumstances driven by COVID-19'.

Visit the Ace Aquatec website, HERE.

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Agri-Tech Expo 2020 brings together the Asia Agricultural Community

The 4th edition of Asia Agri-Tech Expo & Forum, Taiwan's the-one-and-only international agricultural trade event, concluded its three-day run from November 5-7, 2020 at the Taipei Nangang Exhibition Centre Hall 1, held concurrently with Livestock Taiwan Expo & Forum and Aquaculture Taiwan Expo & Forum.

Once again, the show reaffirmed its role as one of the Asia's most important gateway to the Asia agricultural market, attracted 155 exhibitors for in-person exhibition and 8,382 professional visitors from over 18 countries and regions. 
 

Due to travel restrictions, Asia Agri-Tech launched its first online exhibition which was held concurrently with the in-person exhibition. The online exhibition hosted 128 exhibitors from nine countries and regions who were presented their innovative products and services online, this attracted 970 professional visitors from 38 countries and regions. The organisers commented,  'the online exhibition has proved the success of the 'online and offline' formula by offering brand-new updates, avant-garde industrial solutions and innovative contents to revitalise agricultural industry under this tough period.

The event saw 27 professional conferences and seminars featuring smart agriculture, biosecurity, animal health and circular economy, attracting an audience of more than 1,200 people. A joint international forum, The Practice and Benefits of Circular Agriculture in Waste Reducing and Recycling, organised by The Asia Pacific Food and Fertiliser Technology Center (FFTC) together with Livestock Research Institute (TLRI) and co-organised by Informa Markets Asia Ltd., Taiwan Branch, attracted more than 300 people both online and offline.

Ms Sabine Liu, the General Manager of Informa Markets Taiwan Branch stated, 'Asia Agri-Tech Expo is the only one hybrid trade show after pandemic outbreak for the whole Asian agricultural market, quantity and quality of visitor exceeded industry and exhibitors' expectation. Taiwan was removed from the foot and mouth disease list this year, and Taiwan government decided to invest $333 million US to revitalise its pig industry, which also attracted industry leading brands, such as Cargill, SKIOLD, BUHLER, Korea Feed Ingredient Association, Taiwan Fertilizer, Tatung, US Soybean Export Council, EVERLIGHT etc. get together to present their innovative products.'

The 5th edition of Asia Agri-Tech Expo & Forum is slated to take place at Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center, Hall 1 from 11-13 November, 2021.  According to Informa Markets in Taiwan, at the close of the 2020 trade show, more than 1,200sqm were booked by exhibitors for 2021 Edition.

Visit the Asia Agri-Tech Expo & Forum website, HERE.

The Aquaculturists

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AI and machine learning for improved aquaculture with Cermaq’s iFarm

by Cermaq, Norway

The iFarm five-year project is the first of its kind and will allow for an individualised fish approach to salmon farming. Now, the first fish have been transferred in Cermaq’s iFarm.

By using artificial intelligence and machine learning, Cermaq will be able to identify each fish in a net pen, allowing for targeted health interventions if required and individualised health records for each individual fish. The iFarm five-year project is the first of its kind and will allow for an individualised fish approach to salmon farming. Now, the first fish have been transferred in Cermaq’s iFarm.
 

Last December, Cermaq Norway was awarded four development licenses for iFarm, and preparation work started in January. Since then, thanks to the efforts and support of many people across Cermaq, BioSort, the developer of the technology, and ScaleAQ, who has supported the delivery of the system, the various components of iFarm are taking shape and they have been able to successfully install the system.

First smolt ever in iFarm
In mid-September, the project rounded a big milestone when the first smolt was transferred in the iFarm pens.

“This is a very exciting and important phase in the project; now we will see how the fish behave in the actual iFarm environment, and whether our modelling and predicted outcomes for behaviour are accurate,” said Karl Fredrik Ottem, Cermaq's project manager for iFarm.

In iFarm, the fish are kept lower in the system using a net roof. When the fish rise to the surface to refill their airbladders, they are guided through a portal, or chamber, where a sensor can quickly scan, recognise and record data on that specific fish using recognition data based on each fish’s unique markings and structure.

“A prototype of the sensor itself will not be in place until November, allowing the fish to become used to their new environment over the coming eight weeks. Until then, we will spend time observing the fish's behaviour in the cage, how they move and how they eat, so that we can make any adjustments before we install the sensor. In addition, this time will allow us to develop and implement good operating practices as this is a new farm installation and we know we will need to adapt our practices,” added Mr Ottem.

Read more, HERE.

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Yemmak company profile

Established in 1965, Yemmak is a Turkish feed machinery manufacturer, providing industrial process solutions for the animal waste processing, chemical and biomass industries. 

Through its deep industry experience spanning over half a century, Yemmak exports to 35 countries on four continents, and provides services in project consulting and engineering, special-purpose projects, automation, modernisation, steel construction and after-sales support with a 250-strong staff lead specialist engineers at its 50,000m2 area plant in Bandırma, Turkey.

Yemmak is among the few producers in Turkey and Europe that can manage machinery, process and turnkey projects from a single centre.

Yemmak recognises the key role of advanced technology in improving Turkey's prospects and believes R&D investments are crucial in this regard.

As a global brand, Yemmak exports 70 percent of its products to 35 countries including Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Israel, Lebanon and the rest of the Middle East; Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan and all other Turkish republics; and Russia, Ukraine, Armenia, Sweden and Panama. Providing low energy costs, the design, production, and assembly operations of the company are of high quality, selection, reliability, and efficiency.

Yemmak sees each project as a complete system, and identifies for its customers the most optimal solutions. With the mission of transforming factories into manufacturers that turn out products with high marginal utility, Yemmak has set up numerous of the highest capacity factories, producing feed for poultry, cattle and fish. It is currently establishing the largest turkey feed factory in Russia.

Yemmak's primary product groups consist of: 
- Raw material intake and cleaning units
- Storage solutions for solid and liquid raw materials
- Grinders Mixer systems
- Blending units
- Pelletising technologies
- Weighing and bagging machinery
- Transport equipment
- Electrical power panels and control panels
- Automation systems

Yemmak reshapes production through environmentally friendly, sustainable and innovative technologies.

Visit the Yemmak website, HERE.

The Aquaculturists

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AquaMaof’s land-based RAS facilities

 

AquaMaof provides an end-to-end land-based fish production solution. Beginning with project definition, they work with clients to understand their own unique requirements, including the species of fish they are working with, location, local conditions and more.

The AquaMaof team then create a detailed engineering and technology blueprint, designing a land-based facility to meet the client’s exact specifications. Once the facility is up and running, they deliver early-stage support and training of staff, providing advice on operations, upgrades and technology. They offer these personalised solutions for Atlantic salmon, Grouper, Rainbow trout, Whiteleg shrimp, Gilthead seabream, Red tilapia and Barramundi.

Read more, HERE.

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Alltech Coppens company profile

 

Specialist in fish feed
Alltech Coppens is a specialist in developing, producing, and marketing fish feed. Their experienced specialists guarantee high-quality, innovative fish feed. They apply knowledge in order to develop the most suitable fish feed for each fish species in each stage of life. The Alltech Coppens Aqua Centre (ACAC) plays a central role in this process. Thanks to this, they have been a trendsetting business in the aquaculture sector for many years now.

Mission
Alltech Coppens develops its wide range of high-quality fish feed with passion and care. Their attention to detail makes them a reliable expert who are completely dedicated to their customers' performance.

Vision
The aquaculture sector is experiencing tremendous growth worldwide. Alltech Coppens ensures that fish farmers around the world can practise responsible and effective aquaculture. Together, they are making a sustainable contribution to food production for a rapidly growing global population.

Visit the Alltech Coppens website, HERE.

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Innovation in aquaculture is essential to future food security

by Runa Haug Khoury, Director Sustainability, Aker BioMarine

The world’s population is growing, which means we’re going to need more food. In fact, the World Resource Institute says we are going to need about 70 percent more food that we do today. But how can we meet this demand and not destroy the Earth in doing so? One important answer to this lies in the sea.

Land-based food production is a significant source of carbon emissions, which means that increasing the amount of food produced on land will have detrimental effects on our planet. In addition, the 2019 International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) said that even if we find a way to innovate and reduce emissions, the land-based food system simply cannot support the future demand.
 

Seafood is an essential ingredient in our food future
The time has come to make a substantial shift towards the sea for our harvested food, chipping away at the 98 percent stronghold of land harvested food. Fish and seafood can not only feed us, they can also deliver essential nutrients required for a healthy diet, including omega-3 fatty acids and vitamins such as A, B12 and D.

The potential for food harvesting from the sea is immense. The High-Level Panel for Sustainable Ocean Economy tells us that the ocean could potentially supply six times more food than it does today. That could equate more than two-thirds of the edible meat that will be needed to feed our future population, but without the hefty carbon footprint that harvesting meat leaves behind.

The lower carbon footprint stemming from the harvesting of ocean species is due, in part, to the composition of the aquaculture feed they consume. As farmed ocean food becomes increasingly critical to our future food security, it becomes just as essential to ensure the diets of the shrimp, salmon, seabass and other species is just as sustainable.

Read more, HERE.

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Inteqnion Solutions company profile

Inteqnion is specialised in the design, build and installation of control systems for the batch and continuous controlled process industry. With their control solutions, Inteqnion focus on the improvement and optimisation of your production process. 

Industries 
You can find Inteqnion Process Control Systems in different segments within the feed, flour and bulk industry. For each segment, Inteqnion modifies the Process Control Systems for the specific requirements in the particular market.

Why choose Inteqnion? 
“When you cooperate with Inteqnion you choose for quality and reliability. You benefit from our knowledge and experience our passion. Inteqnion is a no-nonsense organisation with more than 30 professionals who have years of experience in the process industry”
– Interqnion Solutions

Visit the Inteqnion website, HERE.

The Aquaculturists

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Feed of the future?

by Unibio, Denmark

Unibio, a Danish industrial biotech company, has developed a sustainable and environmentally friendly high-value protein, Uniprotein® meal, for feed. Uniprotein® meal is a microbial protein meal capable of easily replacing fishmeal and soy as protein ingredient in feed for various animals including fish and shrimps.

Compared to fishmeal, test results show an improved specific growth rate of +13 percent for salmon with a Uniprotein® inclusion level of up to 36 percent. Uniprotein® meal is both non-GMO and organic and can be produced in almost endless quantities as the production is based on bacteria which are converted to protein through a fermentation process with methane as feedstock.
 

A perfect alternative to fishmeal
Since fishmeal is a scarce resource, and aquaculture is growing, new alternatives to fishmeal need to be found. The use of plant-based protein has increased significantly during the past decade. Uniprotein® meal, a microbial protein meal grown on methane, has been shown to be another suitable protein source for farmed fish, particularly for shrimps, the salmonid species and other monogastric animals.

Uniprotein® meal consists of 72.9 percent crude protein and 9.1 percent crude fat in the dry matter and has a moisture content of six-to-eight percent, which is comparable to fishmeal. Also, the amino acid composition of Uniprotein® meal is similar to that of fishmeal, which makes it an ideal protein source to replace fishmeal, and it can be used as a direct protein supplement in feed for all animals and fish.

Besides being a suitable replacement of fishmeal due to its nutritional composition, Uniprotein® meal has been shown to have some positive immune-stimulatory effects on the gastrointestinal tract of salmonid species. In salmon a microbial protein meal content of up to 36 percent in the diet has resulted in an improved specific growth rate (+13%) and a significantly higher feed efficiency ratio (+11%) compared to fishmeal diets. Inclusion levels of microbial protein meal of up to 36 percent also showed a higher retention of nitrogen (+19%) and a higher retention of energy (+15%) compared to a fishmeal control diet. These results indicate that inclusion of microbial protein meal improves the gut health of the fish and the function of the gastrointestinal tract, thus increasing digestion and utilisation of nutrients.

“It has been shown that Uniprotein® meal is a perfect substitute for fishmeal. The composition is nearly the same, and tests have shown that the growth rate for e.g. salmon is higher when fed with Uniprotein® meal. We believe that Uniprotein® meal is a competitive alternative to fishmeal”, Unibio CEO Henrik Busch-Larsen states.

Read more, HERE.

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