Victam Asia will join forces with VIV Asia for their event in January 2022

After postponing the Victam Asia event twice, with the current vaccination programmes happening all over the world, the event will likely go ahead in January 2022.

As many events were postponed the past two years, there will be a full agenda once events can take place again. To optimise the event for exhibitors and visitors and trying to avoid conflicts with other events, Victam and VNU have decided to join forces: Victam Asia and VIV Asia will be organised in co-location.

The two events Victam Asia and VIV Asia will be organised in co-location at the Impact Exhibition Centre in Bangkok, Thailand from January 12-14, 2022.

After informing the existing exhibitors, Victam Asia received a lot of positive feedback regarding the joining of the two events, and will happily be restarting activities soon.

For more information about the event visit the Victam Asia website, HERE.

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Aquaculture Europe 2021 to be held in person later this year

The President of the Regional Government of Madeira has recently announced that events can now take place on the island with 50 percent seating capacity, which is good news to the EAS Board of Directors. Having also filed a formal request to the Madeiran Health Authority, Aquaculture Europe strongly believe that whatever the final format and capacity, the event can go ahead in Funchal.
 

The abstract submission for oral-requested presentations deadline has also been extended to May 15, to give more people time to submit their pieces. The new deadline is, however, a strict one and abstracts submitted later than this date will have significantly less chance of being accepted for oral presentation and will be assigned as Eposters in sessions that have reached their capacity. The deadline for submitting abstracts for Eposter presentation remains as August 28.

Booths are still available for the AE2021 Exhibition, which runs October 4-7.

For more information about the event visit the Aquaculture Europe website, HERE.

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Registration is now available for AFIA’s Purchasing and Ingredient Suppliers Conference

Registration has opened for the American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) Purchasing and Ingredient Suppliers Conference (PISC), happening in-person August 17-19 in Orlando, Fla. This three-day 'must attend' program includes education and networking events for hundreds of feed ingredient buyers and sellers across the animal food manufacturing industry.

'We are thrilled to once again offer the feed industry the opportunity to make new connections and learn strategies that drive business,' says Veronica Rovelli, AFIA's senior director of meetings and events. 'PISC provides a perfect venue for industry members to foster and deepen relationships with their suppliers and clients, many of whom have been unable to travel over the past year due to COVID-19. We look forward to safely being back on the road seeing our members and making new acquaintances.'

In addition to the networking events, conference attendees will hear presentations on myriad topics, including: navigating the plant-based product trend, communicating with consumers using 'agvocacy,' managing the threat of foreign animal diseases, such as African swine fever, understanding the current trade and political landscape, forecasting the grain and economic outlooks and more.

The conference will also host a Suppliers Showcase where AFIA member suppliers will have the opportunity to highlight their products and services.

PISC will take place in-person at the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress in Orlando, but may look different than in years past due to the AFIA's commitment to providing a safe environment for attendees in light of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Those who are unable to travel may have an option to participate virtually by contacting register@afia.org.

To learn more about AFIA and their event visit their website, HERE.

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Qatar-based Gulf Biotech buys license from Unibio to turn natural gas into sustainable protein

Gulf Biotech, the Doha-based industrial biotech investor, and Unibio, the leading sustainable protein company, have signed a license agreement to produce sustainable and organic protein in Qatar. The large availability of natural gas makes Qatar an ideal location for the conversion of natural gas into protein.
 

The plant will initially have one module consisting of four U-Loop® fermenters, with a total annual capacity of 6,000 tonnes of Uniprotein®. The technology is based on a modular design and extra modules can easily be added to expand the production. Gulf Biotech will now focus on planning for the construction of the facility. The Uniprotein® produced in the plant will be used as a protein supplement in feed for fish and animals to replace unsustainable existing products derived from fishmeal or soy.

The facility will be the region's first natural gas to protein plant and will be based on Unibio's U-Loop® technology, where natural gas is converted through continuous fermentation into Uniprotein®. The production of Uniprotein® is highly resource-efficient and sustainable compared with the production of traditional protein, such as fishmeal and soy. Relative to soy production, Uniprotein® uses 1/300th of the water and 1/25,000th of the land.

With the signing of this agreement, Gulf Biotech, represented by H.E Hitmi Al-Hitmi, has shown its commitment to using innovative technology and Qatar's natural resources to tackle the highly pressing challenge of producing sustainable food for the world's rapidly growing population.

Henrik Busch-Larsen, CEO of Unibio states: 'The abundance of natural gas in Qatar makes the country an obvious choice for the production of Uniprotein®. We are delighted to be partnering with Gulf Biotech who are visionary, ambitious, and open to new technologies. Together, we can help address one of Qatar and the world's major challenges and sustainably feed the world's growing population. We look forward to bringing our partnership to the next phase where we will plan the engineering and construction of the new plant.'

H.E Hitmi Al-Hitmi, Founder of Gulf Biotech, says: 'We are extremely pleased to have signed the region's first license agreement with Unibio for a plant to produce organic and sustainable protein from natural gas. As the world seeks to feed its ever-growing population in an environmentally sustainable manner, the opportunity for us to produce protein-based on the fermentation of natural gas in Qatar is highly important. We see enormous potential for the future sustainable development of our business in Qatar and beyond.'

For more information visit the Unibio website, HERE.

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The Delacon team helps raise awareness with World Day for Safety and Health at Work 2021

Delacon's vision is to unlock the plant universe for better lives. Using nature in its phytogenics, the company has been caring about the resilience in livestock animals for 33 years. On the World Day for Safety and Health at Work on April 28, 2021, the Delacon team is raising awareness for the importance of health and resilience at work.

Image credit: Delacon

The global pandemic brought resilience back to one of the top priorities on Delacon's agenda. Covid-19 has challenged the population as a society, as an industry, and as individuals – from an economic, social, and health perspective. The feed-to-food chain has been under pressure to ensure the food supply for more than 7.9 billion people worldwide, while considering the changing consumer habits due to lockdowns and increased teleworking.

For Delacon, taking responsibility for better lives is linked to the company's vision and deeply rooted in its core values: make a difference, grow together, impact life. 'Especially in challenging times, values are guiding stars', explains Delacon CEO Markus Dedl. 'We have made a difference with the creativity in serving our customers. The Delacon team has grown together even further and ensured close connections with our partners globally – and we have impacted lives through actions of solidarity, within the team and for local communities.'

'I strongly believe that it needs healthy people for a sustainable and healthy organisation', Markus Dedl continues. According to the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, one-quarter of all employees worldwide name the workplace as a high stressor in life. Markus Dedl notes: "The workplace can have a high impact on people's overall resilience. Therefore, we decided to not only focus on safety and health related aspects, but also to create more awareness on resilience in general. We recently kicked off our awareness program and decided to take one day off on April 28 for the entire company – to remind ourselves of the importance of health & resilience, and to recharge our batteries."

For more information about Delacon visit their website, HERE.

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Cargill Aqua Nutrition names Helene Ziv-Douki as new president for the company

Helene Ziv-Douki has been named president for Cargill's Aqua Nutrition business, effective immediately. Ms Ziv-Douki, who joined Cargill in 2003, succeeds Pilar Cruz who was recently promoted to Chief Sustainability Officer, a new role for the company.

Helene Ziv-Douki

'Helene's success during her more than 20-year career reflects her approach as a builder of multicultural, diverse teams and talent, her customer focus, and her passion for excellence and innovation,' says Ruth Kimmelshue, global lead for Cargill's animal nutrition and health enterprise. 'She brings a passion for sustainability and the aqua and seafood industry, with unique capabilities and perspectives that will help our aqua nutrition team advance its business objectives and deliver for our customers.'

Ms Ziv-Douki first joined the animal nutrition and health team in 2017 as the risk management and sourcing director for the company's aqua nutrition business where she developed her passion for all things aqua. It was in this role that Ms Ziv-Douki had the opportunity to interact with aqua nutrition teams around the world, gain a deep understanding of the business, and provide innovative solutions to Cargill's aqua nutrition customers, including creating a market-leading partnership with the insect industry.

'It's an honour and dream come true to come back to our world-class aqua nutrition team,' says Ms Ziv-Douki. 'I'm excited to lead the team into the future as we chart a bold new course for a sustainable aquaculture, making a positive impact for the planet while delivering superior products to our customers. I'm really looking forward to spending time with our customers to identify how we can best serve them and create new opportunities for success.'

Cargill Aqua Nutrition is one of the larger aqua feed producers of the world, making feed for key species like salmon, shrimp, tilapia and other marine species in 20 countries. The business operates 40 facilities around the globe, 19 of which are fully dedicated to aqua nutrition.

For more information about Cargill Aqua Nutrition visit their website, HERE.

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Shrimp and salmon the most talked about topics at IFFO’s April 2021 Webinar

IFFO's Webinar took place April 20-21, providing all members of the Marine Ingredients Organisation with the latest insights from nearly 20 speakers, on the global fishmeal and fish oil markets, in-depth country presentations and new research.
 

Chaired by IntraFish's Rachel Mutter, a panel looked at salmon and shrimp market trends. All panellists, from Allan Cooper (Vitapro S.A.) to Therese Log Bergjord (Skretting), Aisla Jones (Co-op), Odd Eliasen (Havsbrun) and Jonathan Banks, underlined that sustainability, transparency and communication with consumers are central to the future of aquafeed. Documented facts and figures on seafood's carbon footprint, nutritional properties of fishmeal and fish oil and sustainable harvesting of fish stocks demonstrate aquaculture's success story.

Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, a major shift has happened mainly in the shrimp sector, with some changes occurring also in the salmon industry. Supply chains have adapted to allow for a move to retail to be made. Digital transformation, through analytics, will be the way forward to improve service, traceability and feed efficiency.

Climate change presents new challenges to fisheries governance and management. Scientific knowledge is providing strategic thinking to take relevant adaptation and mitigation measures. IFFO's President and Director General emphasised that collaboration between stakeholders from public and private sectors ought to be strengthened, as fishery management principles depend on a combination of regulations, law enforcement and scientific as well as technical knowledge.

Petter M. Johannessen, IFFO Director General, said: 'There is a need for 20 million tons of additional farmed seafood towards 2030. In this decade, 25-30 million tons of additional feed ingredients are therefore required. Collaboration will be of vital importance for securing enough healthy food for the ever-growing global population'.

IFFO will continue applying science and market research intelligence to anticipate the future state of the marine ingredients industry regarding fish stocks and biomass.

Developing an innovative traceability system that includes all activities from fishing to feed, using key information such as species, catch area, gear, vessel name, fishmeal plant, is key to fulfil the environmental and commercial objectives (IUU and origin) of the market. MarinTrust, the leading third-party accredited certification standards for marine ingredients, explained that such a project was on its way. Interoperability is key, which explains that a long-term perspective is needed.

For more information about IFFO visit their website, HERE.

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Aquaculture America 2021 to move forward with an in-person show in August 2021

Aquaculture America 2021, which was rescheduled for August 11-14, 2021 will go forward on these dates with an in-person Conference and Trade Show. The event will be held at the San Antonio Marriott Rivercenter, San Antonio, Texas USA.
 

The Covid-19 situation has been taken into account and the organisers of the event feel that with vaccination progress and the measured return of in-person gatherings, they can go forward with Aquaculture America 2021. Specific measures related to Covid-19 safety protocols at Aquaculture America 2021 will be announced at a later date to reflect the most current guidance.

There is still time to submit abstracts, complete registrations, and sign up for booths before the event.

The Student Abstract Award eligibility deadline has been extended to June 1st, 2021. Students must be current WAS and USAS chapter members at the time of submission to be eligible for abstract, video, and application-based awards.

For more information visit the Aquaculture America website, HERE.

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New dates released for Indo Livestock Series 2021 Expo and Forum

Due to the unstable pandemic situation, PT Napindo Media Ashatama, the organiser of the mentioned expo, has decided to divert the offline edition of Indo Livestock2021 initially scheduled for June 23-25 2021 to instead be a virtual event which is going to be held August 2-7, 2021.

In this virtual event, the organisers will present a new experience of business and promotion through programs and features including a Virtual Booth, Technical Product Presentation and Business Matchmaking, which can be easily accessed in a timeless and flexible effort. Distance and time-commitments are no longer a barrier because you can do all the activities virtually or online.

This virtual event is aimed to be the best solution to generate business and promotion activities. The virtual expo will open up the doors for everyone to retain a broader connection with leading companies and stakeholder in livestock, vet, agriculture, and fisheries sectors during these restrictions.

The upcoming 16th edition of Indo Livestock, Indo Feed, Indo Dairy, Indo Agritech, Indo Vet and Indo Fisheries 2022 will be held July 6-8 2022 at Jakarta Convention Centre, Jakarta, Indonesia.

For more information visit the Indo Livestock Series website, HERE.

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Thai Union Ingredients launches new UniQTMDHA product range

Thai Union Ingredients (TUI) has launched its new UniQTMDHA tuna oil range, continuing the focus of it's parent company Thai Union Group PCL on Healthy Living, Healthy Oceans, and building on the success of the UniQTMBONE product launched in January.
 

The UniQTMDHA tuna oil range comes in two forms: the first is UniQTMDHA crude oil, which is produced from selected raw materials via a gentle extraction process, resulting in a high-quality crude oil and with a high refining yield that delivers a DHA content of 28 percent to 30 percent. The second, UniQTMDHA refined oil, takes the crude oil as its base and has similar DHA levels to those found in fresh fish.

For both products, the TUI unique manufacturing process uses less fish to produce the same amount of oil, uses fewer chemicals, consumes less energy, and produces less waste – all helping preserve the environment.

UniQTMDHA refined oil is produced in TUI's cutting-edge facility in Rostock, Germany. The plant is equipped with the latest processing technology that meets the stringent standards needed to produce the highest-quality products, including those for infant products that require the best grade of Omega-3 oils.

The Rostock plant is the final point in TUI's end-to-end supply chain for tuna oil and processes crude, white tuna oil from Thai Union plants in the Seychelles, Ghana and Thailand. The high-tech nature of the plant and the quality of its products allows TUI to explore other aspects of Omega-3 production, including contract and toll manufacturing. The Rostock refinery is a central part of TUI's strategic plan to derive value from all the available co-products from tuna processing, providing healthy and nutritious ingredients to support the lifestyles of consumers of all ages, globally.

'Healthy Living, Healthy Oceans has been a core part of Thai Union's business strategy since the beginning of 2020 and is a natural extension of our market-leading sustainability work,' said Thiraphong Chansiri, Thai Union's CEO and President. 'It is important to us to recognise that sustainability applies across every aspect of our business; from protecting the vital blue economy to supporting the healthy lifestyles of consumers around the world. This latest product range from Thai Union Ingredients epitomises this strategy, making sure that we not only use every part of every fish, but that we also help people of all ages stay healthy and active while fuelling the development of their children.'

Leonardus Coolen, the Managing Director of TUI, expects continued momentum in first half of 2021. 'UniQTMDHA is the next step on our journey to ensure that TUI keeps delivering healthy, high-quality ingredients to our customers. Our Rostock plant is particularly exciting from a strategic perspective as it allows us to leverage of our supply chain in an even greater way. The state-of-the-art technology at the plant means that we will continue to explore even more product options for the future.'

The UniQTMDHA range is Halal and Kosher certified. It is available for sale worldwide.

For more information about Thai Union Ingredients visit their website, HERE.

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The decision concerning the physical exhibition of Aqua Nor 2021 will be made on May 18th

The Aqua Nor event is set to go ahead later this year in August, the decision as to whether Aqua Nor 2021 will be a hybrid or fully digital exhibition will be announced on May 18th next month.

Image credit: Aqua Nor

Aqua Nor had initially planned to release their decision concerning the implementation of the physical part of the event near the end of April. However, they have postponed their reveal until mid-May whilst they wait for the Government's decision regarding whether public events and exhibitions can take place.

Regarding hotels, the cancellation deadline has been pushed back until May 20th, instead of May 1st, and all partner hotels have also extended the deadline too.

If all goes well the event will still be held in Trondheim, but if the Covid-19 pandemic prevents a physical event, Aqua Nor 2021 will be held online as an all-digital event.

For more information about Aqua Nor visit their website, HERE.

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The Online Aquafeed Production School 2021 begins May 4th

The Online Aquafeed Production School 2021 12-week programme begins Tuesday May 4th, running through to the end of July this year.

The course is broken down into 12 two hour sessions, starting at 2pm Bangkok Time (GMT+7).

Agenda

• Review of ingredients in general for aquafeed production
• Review of protein sources and new possibilities for aquafeed industry including results of use
• Q&A

The first session will discuss raw materials and the effect of their use with regards to processing methods. It will also discuss the limitations with regard to ingredients and processes, as well as how the formulation needs to match the equipment being used to make a successful aquafeed.

The course is offered to help with understanding the design, development, and operation of an aquafeed production plant for the range of products typically used in the aquaculture industry. Ingredients, a general nutritional review, equipment used, and why, are also discussed during the course.

The sessions will also be re-broadcast on Fridays at 10:00 Chicago Time to reach the industry in North, Central, and South America.

For more information about the Online Aquafeed Production School visit their website, HERE.

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Register now for the Online Milling School Spring Edition 2021, starting April 21st

The Online Milling School (OMS) Spring 2021 Edition course begins Wednesday, April 21st at 2pm Bangkok time (GMT+7). The first session discusses raw material receiving and storage, the common issues encountered, and effective warehouse inventory.

Agenda

• Introduction to Credo and Online Milling School
• Raw material intake and storage
• Silo management

Speakers

Pablo A. Fernandes Moriana
Head of Grain Storage for SEA&Oceania Region
Pablo A. Fernandes Moriana recently joined Bühler in September 2020, bringing more than 10 years of experience in the field of Silo and Grain Storage with him. His work has taken him across four continents, giving him a multicultural and multifunctional point of view in the industry.

Once he had obtained a Bachelor's degree in Business and Administration, Mr Moriana earned a Global Executive MBA at EAE Business School in 2019.

Dr Claus M. Braunbeck
Asia area manager for FrigorTec Gmbh
Dr Claus M. Braunbeck attended the Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms University in Bonn and the University of Hohenheim, studying agronomy. Graduating in the field of agricultural engineering, he took his Ph. D at the Institute of Agricultural Engineering in the Tropics and Subtropics of the University of Hohenheim. Whilst working on the development of a rice husk furnace for the low-temperature drying of paddy during his doctorate, he also supported a German Technical Cooperation (GTZ) project on post-harvest technology for rice in the humid tropics at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI).

After this project, Dr Claus M. Braunbeck worked for nearly 10 years as a project manager in the field of ventilation technology in agriculture. Later on he joined GEA Farm Technologies GmbH as a sales manager for milking equipment with responsibility for sales in Asia. Since 2011 Dr. Braunbeck has been the Asia area manager for FrigorTec GmbH.

Ryan Alan S. Celis
Feed Mill Owner and Feed Mill Engineering Consultant
With a background in mechanical engineering, Ryan Alan S. Celis started with San Miguel Philippines in 1988, taking on various positions including head of Maintenance, Plant Engineer, and also Manufacturing Manager for the company's feed milling operations based in Manila.

Mr Celis set up his own engineering and consultancy company in 1998 specialising in project engineering, feed mill construction and fabrication, and project management.

He currently runs his own feedmill, based in southern Philipines, contract manufacturing for various feed companies.

The Spring 2021 Course in detail

There are 12 individual two hour sessions, running every Wednesday through to early July. All sessions will be live at 2pm Bangkok Time (GMT+7), featuring both live and recorded presentations as well as a Q&A session each week. There will be an opportunity at the end of the course to catch up on any courses missed for those who have signed up for the full 12 sessions.

Each session will be re-broadcast every Friday at 10:00 Chicago Time to reach the industry in North, Central, and South America.

The 'Feed Milling Production Management' Certificate

Our Certificate validates your attendance and demonstrates to your company, co-workers and future employers that you have a greater understanding and knowledge of the complete feed milling process.

Following the completion of the first Course in October 2020, on average 45 percent of students completed all 12 Session and obtained the much valued OMS Certificate of Attainment.

For more information and to register visit the Online Milling School website, HERE.

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SPACE launches a new monthly agricultural podcast

SPACE is launching its first monthly podcast about agricultural news titled, 'The voice of farming.'

The ten-minute podcast is tailored towards those in the livestock industry, as well as anyone who wishes to know more about agriculture.
 

The first episode is now available, discussing the soaring cost of agricultural commodities, and featuring a review of recent agricultural news.

For more information about the SPACE podcast visit their website, HERE.

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Kemin industries launches Paradigmox® Green to aid with organic livestock production

Kemin Industries, a global ingredient manufacturer that strives to sustainably transform the quality of life every day for 80 percent of the world with its products and services, has launched a new antioxidant solution called Paradigmox® Green. This is for the organic livestock production industry in the EMENA (Europe, Middle East, North Africa) region.

Antioxidants are a crucial element in every livestock diet, as they preserve valuable nutrients and protect the diet from oxidation, ensuring optimal animal health, performance and carcass quality. 

 

Image credit: Bytemarks on Flickr
(CC BY 2.0)

'The science is undeniable: the risk of feed oxidation is considerable and inherent to the feed production process,' says Karen Bierinckx, Product Manager, Kemin Animal Nutrition and Health – EMENA. 'Oxidation can happen at any point in the production and distribution of feed, from the addition of oxidation-prone ingredients, such as lipids, to the preparation of premix, to heat-induced oxidation during transportation and storage. Supplementation of quality, peroxide-free feed improves animal welfare and assures healthy livestock products – which we consume daily. This helps preserve and provide consumer nutritional and health benefits.'

Antioxidants are key in every diet, so Kemin Animal Nutrition and Health – EMENA offers an extensive portfolio of antioxidant solutions for its customers, with each product answering specific customer needs.

Globally, consumers are demanding more natural, sustainable and ecofriendly food products, making food producers move away from synthetic additives towards 'green', alternative products.

"To meet this emerging need, Kemin has developed Paradigmox Green, a fully natural blend that is also suitable for organic production,' says Frederika Somers, Business Manager – Nutrition for Monogastrics, Kemin Animal Nutrition and Health – EMENA. 'By launching Paradigmox Green, Kemin now can offer a complete antioxidant solutions portfolio – liquid or dry, traditional or organic – that fits seamlessly with our customers' specific requirements.'

Kemin scientists have developed unique liquid and dry blends consisting of synergistic mixes of natural tocopherols with chelators for complete protection against oxidation. The highly efficient antioxidants in Paradigmox Green are permitted for use in organic farming to help animal nutrition and health specialists meet market expectations.

'The combination of tocopherols with natural ingredients makes Paradigmox Green a very effective antioxidant that benefits the animal, farmer, feed producer, retailer and final end-product user,' says Ms Bierinckx. 'With this newest solution, Kemin can answer the market demand for more environmentally friendly practices and boost Europe's 'green' economy.'

To support animal nutrition and health professionals, Kemin also offers services to ensure optimal results when using its products.

The extensive and unique Lipid Evaluation Test provides in-depth oxidative analysis to elucidate the nutritional quality of the lipid source that Kemin customers are currently using in their diets. Evaluating fats and oils is crucial, as large variations in oxidative value and energy may dilute the nutritional value of lipids, potentially resulting in lower animal performance and possible health risks.

Kemin also provides a full evaluation of the oxidative quality of feed and feed raw materials, focusing on a complete oxidative profile validation, sensitivity towards future oxidation assessments and antioxidant recovery protocols.

For liquid antioxidants, Kemin Application Solutions offers a tailor-made liquid antioxidant application, supported by automated application technology developed and implemented to ensure excellent product distribution and ease of use.

For more information about Kemin Industries visit their website, HERE.

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A commercial study shows how Orego-Stim Plus AS is able to support tilapia health and performance

Image credit: Anpario

A brief summary of the trial shows tilapia that were offered Orego-Stim Plus AS in their feed had improved growth and lower mortality, resulting in a 30:1 ROI.

Florfenicol is a broad-spectrum antibiotic commonly used to treat bacterial infection in aquaculture species, and was used in this trial. Orego-Stim Plus AS is a high quality eubiotic comprised of 100% natural oregano essential oil and saponins, and may help to support development and maintenance of optimal gut health in farmed tilapia.

A commercial study was conducted at a medium-large tilapia farm in Campeche, Mexico, over a 28-day period. The study aimed to assess the suitability of Orego-Stim Plus AS (OS+) at 5 kg/ton of feed in place of Florfenicol (20 mg/kg biomass) in supporting hybrid tilapia health and performance. Tilapia were subjected to one of two treatments; a medicated diet with Florfenicol from 1-7 days, or a standard diet supplemented with Orego-Stim Plus AS (OS+) from 1-14 days.

Fish receiving antibiotic treatment were spilt into two groups according to initial weight to ensure appropriate active levels of the antibiotic were administered. An average of the results was calculated and reported. The fish were not specifically challenged and the observed mortality occurred under standard production conditions.

Results

The addition of Orego-Stim Plus AS to tilapia feed has resulted in a 50 percent higher total biomass increase over the 28-day period than antibiotic treatment (Figure 1). Along with this, the study found a 37 percent increase of improvement in final fish weight, a 23 percent improvement in feed conversion ratio (Figure 2), and a mortality figure which was 5.1 percent lower that the Florfenicol treated group, reducing incidence of mortality by 48 percent (Figure 3). This resulted in a final return on investment (ROI) of 30:1.

The study demonstrates that Orego-Stim Plus AS can be a cost-effective, natural solution to maintain and support fish production in the absence of antibiotics.

For more information visit the Anpario website, HERE.

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New visual rebranding for Norwegian cod farmer Norcod

A Norwegian cod-farming venture has completed an inspiring rebranding, that better reflects the premium quality of its farmed Atlantic Cod – a product it anticipates in time will come be known around the world simply as 'Norcod'.

'The cornerstone of our new visual identity is a strong, clear, modern and elegant logo featuring a simple circular design element that we've dubbed the 'Norcod circle',' says company CEO Christian Riber. 'It reflects not only who we are, but also what we do and the four core brand values we live by – Fresh, Transparent, Devoted and Quality. Simply put, our DNA.'

Symbolic element
The circle is symbolic of, firstly, fish schooling in ring formation representing Norcod's Fresh promise (with rapid delivery in 48 hours to the UK and Northern Europe and 72 hours to Southern Europe and the US) and the important welfare aspect of happy, thriving fish. Secondly, it represents the large round fish pens deployed by Norcod, as well as its vision and promise as a modern company to be fully Transparent. Thirdly, it symbolises the globe, representing Norcod's Devoted pursuit of sustainable production in the oceans. Lastly, it represents a round dinner plate symbolising the Quality of Norcod's premium product as a delicious meal.

'The circle also stands for the circular economy, in line with our 'blue future' goals to be the world's first large-scale producer of high-quality Atlantic Cod that is respectfully farmed, carefully packed and delivered in a timely and efficient manner,' says Mr Riber, noting that the first successful commercial farming of one of the world's major groundfish species is ground-breaking in itself. 'The novel branding reflects this spirit of innovation."

The company's ultimate goal is for its fish to be known simply as 'Norcod' – a product title in its own right and reflecting an exclusive and unique brand.

'The world is hungry for fresh cod given increasing pressure on wild stocks and fishing quotas. Our new identity also signifies the valuable contribution we want to make by providing a healthy source of protein for the world's growing population,' Mr Riber informs.

Colour palette
While the simple geometry of the Norcod circle is also mirrored in the logo typeface, the colour palette has also been selected very carefully. The two primary colours, 'Deep Blue Sea' and 'Cod Golden', symbolise the natural dark-blue aquatic environment of the sea as well as trust, dignity, intelligence, authority, reliability and strength.

Green production
Norcod is part of the shift to future food production that is less taxing on the environment than many land-based protein sources. 'We also have multiple initiatives to ensure green production, including battery-hybrid feed barges and service vessels, sustainable feed with high marine content, state-of-the-art equipment and a high focus on fish health and welfare,' says Mr Riber.

He adds that the company will put a lot of effort into documenting the sustainable credentials of its product with valid data. Mr Riber makes the company's goals clear, 'We are committed to environmentally friendly production and sustainability in every aspect of our operations and interactions.'

Exotic origins
The new identity also highlights the Nordic origins of Norcod and the cold, pristine Norwegian waters in which it is farmed. This may not seem 'exotic' to people in Scandinavia, but is certainly perceived as exotic in many other countries.

New Nordic cuisine featuring the freshest ingredients has also become highly regarded globally in recent years. 'The clean design of our logo reflects this trend, and I have no doubt fans of fine dining around the world will love Norcod,' comments Mr Riber.

Selected chefs, including Michelin-starred and renowned seafood chefs, have provided positive feedback on Norcod and its very firm flesh with no skin and meat damage thanks to careful handling and no use of trawl, nets or hooks. 'It is a really nice-looking fish, with bright and firm meat, a healthy bone structure and a very nice, clean flavour,' one chef commented.

Strong selling points
'We are confident our new identity will help position the company as a dynamic new force in the aquaculture industry and the seafood market based on our unique value propositions,' says Mr Riber. These include exceptional quality, 8% higher yield compared to wild-caught Cod, freshness, price and delivery stability, product consistency and out-of-season availability.

Looking ahead
The Norcod team has worked extremely hard throughout the establishment phase and Mr Riber states they are looking forward to its first sales of fresh farmed Cod this summer. 'When we start to generate income, we will continue to build the company and steadily increase our harvest volume in the coming years, according to plan,' he says.

For more information about Norcod visit their website, HERE.

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Bygora readies launch of the first online B2B marketplace for novel proteins

Bygora announces the launch of its digital B2B marketplace for novel ingredients supplying the feed, pet food, and biofuel industries.

Novel ingredients, such as insect proteins and those derived from seaweed and single-cell sources, represent the future. But until now, producers and buyers of novel feedstock have found it difficult to connect, bygora has stepped in to help with this.

'We can put satellites in space,' notes Alexander Fuehren, Digital Transformation Specialist at bygora, 'but we lacked an efficient way to trade the kinds of sustainable next-generation feed and food ingredients that support the basic conditions of life here on Earth. That needed to change.'

By providing a dedicated SaaS B2B platform for buying and selling novel proteins, the firm aims to provide producers the ongoing revenue they need to scale up their operations, and give buyers the ready access they need to incorporate sustainable protein sources more fully into their product lines.

Bygora offers a fast, efficient, and transparent solution for the full range of B2B functions, including trading, negotiation, document handling, payment and market insights, all in one responsive, easy-to-navigate online framework. Both sellers and buyers see only the products and potential customers that are relevant to their needs, and an integrated chat feature allows real-time negotiations.

Once a deal is agreed upon, bygora allows users to book third party services, insurance, or laboratory services. Even secure digital payment methods are supported, and all transactions are confirmed with comprehensive documentation, generated entirely on bygora's platform.

For more information about bygora visit their website, HERE.

The Aquaculturists

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Jennifer Kuo appointed as Chief Technology Development and Sustainability Officer at Grobest

Aquaculture feed company Grobest has appointed Jennifer Kuo as Chief Technology Development and Sustainability Officer to sharpen focus on the development of unique technologies in line with delivering industry-leading sustainability goals.

Jennifer Kuo
Image credit: Grobest

Ms Kuo has a deep understanding of the unique Grobest technology platforms built through more than 28 years experience at Grobest and in shrimp farming throughout Asia.

In her new function at Grobest, Ms Kuo will lead the development of Grobest's unique additive and premix technology to ensure the continued success of the company's farming partners across Asia as well as leading the implementation of Grobest's Sustainability agenda.

In announcing Jennifer's appointment Samson Li, Chief Executive Officer for Grobest, stated 'I am delighted to announce that Jennifer will be joining the C-Suite team at Grobest. Her experience will bring a new level of focus to how we develop & leverage our unique additive and premix technologies to deliver sustainable competitive advantage and better farming outcomes for our farming partners. Jennifer will also lead our ambitious Sustainability agenda. This is a critical impact area and Jennifer's appointment to the C-Suite will raise the awareness and importance of our sustainability agenda throughout the business to ensure that we set and achieve ambitious world-class impact.'

'At Grobest we are committed to lead the market in Functional Performance Feed, including Growth Enhance, Immunity Enhance and Disease Reduction, and to do that in a sustainable matter that secures the environment, and the communities that our farmers operate in, for generations to come. Jennifer has a great combination of experience and qualifications to lead this new team in order to bring our vision to life.'

For more information about Grobest visit their website, HERE.

The Aquaculturists

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