BioMar celebrates 60th Anniversary at Aquaculture Europe 2022

BioMar Group celebrates its 60th anniversary with a special celebration at Aquaculture Europe 2022 in Rimini, Italy.

With over 100 guests and a 10-course meal, the company celebrates the remarkable milestone at Restaurant FronteMare on September 28th.


'We are delighted and grateful for each year that passed,' said Ole Christensen, vice-president of BioMar's EMEA division. 'Since we started our journey, we have continued working with the same dedication and passion, striving for innovating our feeds… Our ambition for a sustainable future goes beyond reducing our environmental footprint. It covers also regenerating our environment.'

Hoping to 'open many doors', Christensen looks at the years ahead for the company. With a new aquafeed production facility to be built in Iceland, we can only wonder what discoveries BioMar will reveal in the coming future.

During the Aquaculture Europe 2022 conference, BioMar releases information on new research on first feeding with its Larviva products. The research and development department aims to improve novel microdiets to aid in reducing the marine larvae's dependence on live feed.

For more information click HERE.

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Aquaculture Europe 2022 wraps up today!

Aquaculture Europe 2022 discussed the issues of compatibility and mutual synergy between the users of marine, brackish and freshwater resources and their relationship with the quality of those ecosystems are central in promoting the sustainable development of the Blue economy and aquaculture.

Traditional and emerging Blue economy sectors, currently operating in the Adriatic, Mediterranean and water bodies throughout Europe, are expected to grow and expand over the next years and to sustainably contribute to food production, biofuel and clean energy.

Nevertheless, scientific literature provides clear evidence that, according to current trends and within 10 years, our coastal and marine environment will change for sea acidification and warming, sea-level rise and coastal erosion and all water bodies will be affected by flooding, eutrophication and pollution, with important effects on ecosystem services, fish and shellfish stocks and food security.

Climate change, depletion of natural resources, loss of biodiversity, food security and safety, environmental pollution and waste represent important sustainability challenges for further expansion of European aquaculture and the ambition of the European Green Deal and the Farm to Fork Strategy. It will be necessary for the sector to address these externalities, but also focus on the way in which we chose, use and re-use resources, as we move towards a circular Blue economy.

How aquaculture is facing these challenges, and the solutions put in place to develop a sustainable, responsible and productive and climate neutral European aquaculture sector for key marine and freshwater fish, shellfish and algal species are the main themes for AE2022 event in Rimini.

The AE2022 parallel sessions covered the full scope of European aquaculture and compromised of submitted oral and ePoster presentations. AE2022 also featured an international trade exhibition, industry forum, student sessions and activities, satellite workshops and updates on EU research.

The International Aquafeed team were hard at work at this event, visiting many different companies and learning during the sessions. Be sure to keep an eye out for a report in an upcoming International Aquafeed magazine!

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Subsea sector provides a platform for new diving VR tool in aquaculture

In a first for the aquaculture sector, a new digital platform inspired by virtual reality (VR) technology used in the subsea energy and oil and gas sectors is being developed to enhance the health and safety of divers on fish farms.

Led by researchers at the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS), operated by the University of Strathclyde, the project was recently awarded funding of around £50,000 from the UK Seafood Innovation Fund (SIF) with additional support from the Sustainable Aquaculture Innovation Centre (SAIC).

Designed to replace existing paper-based dive planning, the system will use underwater 3D scanning with images captured by remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) to create a virtual replica of a seafood farm, supporting divers to plan activities ahead of entering the water.

Divers will be able to use a mobile, tablet, or even a VR headset to gain a better understanding of the fish farm environment through a digital model that can help them to assess the difficulty of the dive, what actions are required in terms of maintenance and cleaning, and whether any additional equipment is needed underwater.

NMIS is working with Ocean Kinetics – a provider of diving services to a range of sectors including aquaculture, energy and renewables – and Viewport 3, specialists in subsea 3D scanning, to create a test platform based on a Scottish Sea Farms site in Shetland.

Awais Munawar, visualisation theme lead – digital factory at NMIS, says, '3D scanning and VR technology is already used in many industries such as aerospace and energy, and there could be a significant opportunity for aquaculture to follow. Of course, there are also challenges to overcome, which is the purpose of this feasibility study. For instance, fish farms are not fixed structures in the way that many oil platforms are, and the environment can be quite different depending on the location and depth of the water.

'We are also looking to test a small 5G network to improve communications as part of diving activity in remote locations. This could be used to update the information captured by the remotely operated vehicles in real-time, as well as being used to alert any nearby vessels to the fact that divers are in the water. In the future, the system could have the potential to become part of a full digital twin, with additional data and images already captured by sites integrated into the platform to give a full picture of the situation under the water.'

Diving is considered one of the most complex and dangerous roles in aquaculture still undertaken manually, but the new digital planning tool could boost health and safety in a range of ways. With better access to information ahead of a dive, it could reduce the time needed in the water, support a better understanding of new or unfamiliar sites, and identify additional training or support needs.

For seafood producers, it could also enhance the efficiency of maintenance programmes, with the images captured by ROVs identifying issues such as the presence of marine growth ahead of divers going underwater. More streamlined dive schedules could also reduce interaction with fish.

Sarah Riddle, director of innovation and engagement at SAIC, says, 'This is a great example of how the aquaculture sector can work together with experts in subsea technology, manufacturing and other industries to learn from best practice and accelerate digital transformation. Designed specifically for seafood producers, the new tool could support training, maintenance, inspections and even environmental monitoring, helping to future proof the sector as it continues to grow.'

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Norway proposes 40 percent resource tax on aquaculture operations

The Norwegian government has proposed a new resource rent tax on aquaculture, to take effect January 1, 2023, affecting salmon producers, as well as trout and rainbow trout producers.    

Image credit: NOAA's National Ocean Service on Flickr
(CC BY 2.0)

According to the plan, which would need to be approved by parliament, half of the revenues collected will go to public funds. The tax is expected to generate between NOK 3.65 billion and NOK 3.8 billion (USD 347 - 361.2 million) annually.

The proposal was sent out for consultation on 28 September. Following its return, the government will bring the legislation to the Storting (supreme legislature of Norway) to enable the proposed rules to apply from the 2023 tax year.

Norway's publicly traded salmon farming firms all saw their share prices tumble in trading on Wednesday, 28 September, with Mowi, Lerøy Seafood, and SalMar's stock prices falling between 15 and 19 percent. According to Reuters, while Norway has a USD 1.2 trillion (EUR 1.2 trillion) sovereign wealth fund, the tax increases are necessary to curb inflation.

"The board and management in Lerøy Seafood Group are in the process of assessing the proposal but do not have a complete overview yet," Lerøy Seafood said in a statement. "However, the proposal is undoubtedly hostile to the industry. If approved, it will have a strong negative impact on the entire industry, unless decision makers at the Storting and people along coastal Norway manage to stop the proposal following the ongoing consultation period."

Announcing the move, which also includes tax increases on energy generation, the government stated that its bureau Statistics Norway has identified substantial resource rent – or profits after all costs had been accounted for – in the aquaculture industry over several years. It said that resource rent in aquaculture has risen strongly since 2012 and, for the period 2016 to 2018, totaled just over NOK 20 billion (USD 1.9 billion, EUR 1.9 billion).

The aquaculture sector's resource rent for 2021 is estimated at NOK 11.8 billion (USD 1.1 billion, EUR 1.1 billion), according to the government, which said it expected the industry to share of the extraordinary return generated through the exploitation of the marine resources it uses.

'The proposal covers the production of salmon, trout, and rainbow trout and involves the taxation of resource rent at an effective rate of 40 percent. The rules are formulated in such a way that only the largest operators will pay resource rent tax. This is done by granting a tax-free allowance of between 4,000 and 5,000 metric tons,' Norway's Finance Ministry said in a statement. 'A key element of the proposal is that the local communities which make natural resources available should be guaranteed a share of the resource rent. The tax revenues are estimated to be between NOK 3.65 and 3.8 billion and the government is planning for half of this to go to the municipal sector.'

The ministry has calculated the proposed tax-free allowance of between 4,000 and 5,000 MT is equivalent to NOK 54 million and NOK 67.5 million (USD 5.1 million and USD 6.4 million, EUR 5.3 million and EUR 6.6 million). Around 65 to 70 percent of aquaculture companies have collected biomass under licences of less than 4,000 and 5,000 MT of maximum permitted biomass, it said.

The government said development licences – used to test new technology – are not covered by the resource rent tax, but that if they are converted to ordinary licences for fish for consumption, they will be covered by the resource rent tax from the date of conversion.

The proposed tax rules grant tax-free allowances in the form of estimated average profit per ton of biomass, which can be deducted from positive resource rent income. Corporate tax will be calculated before resource rent tax on aquaculture, and resource rent-related corporate tax will then be deducted from firms' basis for resource rent tax.

For more information visit the link, HERE.

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Aquna Sustainable Murray Cod adopts welfare focused technology in regional first

Aquaculture technology specialists Ace Aquatec and their Australian distributor Fresh by Design have signed a first-of-its kind deal with Aquna Sustainable Murray Cod to build and install an in-water electrical stunner for cod in the APAC region.

In a trailblazing moment for Australian fish farming, the introduction of the company's innovative in-water stunning technology, which has a demonstrable track record of reducing stress to fish at the point of harvest, will help facilitate Murray Cod's commitment to humane farming processes, as well as contribute towards furthering ethical practices in the region.

Mat Ryan, Managing Director of Aquna Sustainable Murray Cod, says, 'At Aquna Sustainable Murray Cod fish welfare is of the utmost importance to us and we are excited to be able to use the stunning equipment from Ace Aquatec that allows us to maximise the fish welfare outcomes from our harvesting process. This means that fish will not be handled at all until post stunning during the harvest process which also significantly reduces our labour requirements and minimises any injury risk to staff.'

Ace Aquatec's Chief Sales and Marketing Officer, Tara McGregor-Woodhams, adds, 'With the theme of humane harvesting continuing to dominate discussions globally, we are excited to see Murray Cod's highly skilled production team adopt our in-water stunning technology as a core element in their processing strategy. This will enhance their quality and welfare first promise to their customers.'

Australian supplier Fresh by Design, appointed by Ace Aquatec as their first distributor in the APAC region earlier this year will supply and install the cod stunning system and also provide ongoing servicing and support with comprehensive advice on its implementation.

Fresh by Design General Manager, Lachlan Bassett says, 'This is a key milestone for fish welfare in Australia with Aquna Sustainable Murray Cod the first producer to implement the Ace Aquatec in-water stunning system for cod. We are proud to be involved with this project and to provide our support to Aquna Sustainable Murray Cod'.

Over the last few years, Ace Aquatec has become a global technology provider with offices in the UK, Norway, North America and Chile. They have also provided a number of global installations in Japan, Canada, and New Zealand.

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BIM publishes inaugural Annual Fisheries Report

BIM's National Seafood Survey provides insights into the status of Ireland's catching sector on an annual basis. It is an integral part of fisheries' performance data reporting to the EU. Based on the most recent survey returns the Annual Fisheries Report 2022: A Snapshot of Ireland's Fisheries Sector, examines the economic performance of the national fleet and its multiple segments. It also details the social demographics of people employed in the sector and the current challenges impacting the industry.

Image credit: Deborah Freeman on Flickr
(CC BY-SA 2.0)

The report provides insights and trends for the financial and operational performance of the Irish fishing fleet based on economic data of 2020 operations. It also provides an overview of key forces impacting the economic performance of the Irish fleet from 2020- 2022 based on industry feedback. Some of the impacts referenced in the report include Covid-19, Brexit, inflation, and the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Future projections for economic performance are included in the closing section.

Creating an accurate picture of the industry relies on a strong response rate, and consistent support and goodwill from skippers and vessel owners to provide economic and operational data on an annual basis. The results of the survey help both industry and policy makers to understand the challenges and opportunities they face, as well as the impact of fisheries management measures such as Total Allowable Catch (TAC) and quota allocation.

The survey returns also form the basis for the justification of national and EU grant aid programmes, focused on supporting the industry and coastal communities. The next survey for 2021 will open in October 2022 and end on 31 January 2023.

The report is available here.

BIM will be hosting National Seafood Survey information meetings with vessel owners at various ports from October onwards to discuss the finding of the Annual Fisheries report 2022, the importance of returning the annual survey and how to register and complete the online National Seafood Survey for 2022.

If you would like to register to attend one of the meetings listed below, please email Dr. Sarah Perry, National Seafood Survey Coordinator, for further details: DCFData@bim.ie

Additional meetings are scheduled with the NIFF and RIFFs and further meetings may be organised at more locations at a later date.

Killybegs

• KFO Board Room, October 11th, 2022, at 2pm

Greencastle

• BIM National Fisheries College, October 12th, 2022, at 6.30pm

Castletownbere

• BIM National Fisheries College, October 18th, 2022, at 6.00pm

Dingle

• Harbour Masters Office, October 19th, 2022, at 2.30pm

The Annual Fisheries report has the following key findings for 2020:

• Profitability of the Irish fleet has increased since 2019. Revenue increased by 2%, amounting to €312 million; gross value added (GVA) €161 million (+6%), gross profit €65 million (+24%) and net profit decreased to €32 million (-20%) due in part to Covid-19
• The Irish fishing fleet spent 77,460 days at sea, of which 84% were fishing days representing a decrease of 16% and 17% respectively from 2019
• Energy consumption decreased by 35% over the same period reflecting this decrease in effort
• The fleet landed over 218,600 tonnes valued at €312 million, an increase of 5% from 2019 in live weight and an increase of 2% in landed value (€306.5 million). In 2021, the fleet landed 233,000 tonnes, an increase of 7% from 2020
• Overall, the cost structure of the fleet has remained stable with a slight increase in all costs except non-variable costs (e.g., insurance, loan interest). Operating costs totalled €255 million, a slight increase of 1% from 2019 with energy costs increased by approximately 10%. When capital costs are included, the total cost of operating the national fleet rose by 4% since 2019 to €278.5 million
• Direct employment generated by the sector was estimated at 2,928 jobs
• corresponding to 2,684 full-time equivalents (FTEs)
• Based on feedback from industry, the impact of the Russian invasion of the Ukraine on inflation and rising fuel costs was the main driving force influencing the economic performance of the Irish fleet in 2022. In 2020, average fuel costs per litre were €0.42 whereas average fuels costs per litre in mid-2022 stood at €0.90 representing a 114% increase in cost and the current reported costs of €1.20 per litre represents a 18% increase since 2020

Future Projections
In terms of the outlook for economic performance for 2021-2022, preliminary data point to a decrease in revenue and profitability for the Irish fleet. For 2021, the data indicates an increase in landings by weight from 2020 (+6%) and a decrease in value of landings (-7.5%) due to decreasing fish prices and changes in quota allocation. Gross profit for 2021 is projected to decrease significantly (-58%) to €27.6 million combined with a decreasing net profit (-75%) to €8.1 million.

Preliminary data for 2022 compared to 2021 indicate a decrease in landings by weight (-17%), an increase in value of landings (+5%) and a decrease in gross profit (-12%) to €24.5 million. It is anticipated that the Brexit tie-up schemes will mitigate these projected outcomes and allow the industry to absorb the impacts of rising fuel costs for some segments of the fleet and the reduced access to fishing quota as a result of Brexit. In the long-term, decommissioning will help to bring fleet capacity back in balance with available quotas and improve the profitability for vessels remaining in the Irish fleet.

For more information about BIM visit the website, HERE.

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Aqua Expo 2022 will take place October 17-20, 2022

The most important shrimp technical event of the region will be held from October 17th to 20th at the Guayaquil Convention Center. The commercial exhibition will feature an area of seven thousand square meters approximately, where more than 200 stands will be set up. Local and foreign companies will exhibit the innovation of the industry, through products and services for all the aquaculture supply chain. Around three thousand people are expected to visit the trade fair daily this year.

Regarding the Aqua Expo 2022 congress, the technical program will be held in two programs simultaneously, addressing issues of animal health, nutrition and feed management, quality and safety, efficient production processes, use of new technologies, sustainability, certifications, and shrimp market projections. More than 60 national and foreign speakers will participate in exhibitions and panels.

The opening ceremony will be held on October 17th at 7:30 p.m. and will be attended by government and sectional authorities, as well as representatives of industry and academia. The event is sponsored by Agrantech, BioMar, BiofortSP, Cargill, DSM, Nicovita, Skretting, and USSEC.

An alliance has been achieved with international media such as AquaFeed, Panorama Acuícola and Infofish for the diffusion and coverage of the event.

The National Chamber of Aquaculture, organiser of the event for more than two decades, invites the world aquaculture sector to be part of the innovation and growth of the industry that meets every year in one place: Aqua Expo 2022.

Those interested in visiting the commercial exhibition or participating in the congress can visit the website, HERE.

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Moving mussels: new insights into shellfish farming

Researchers have identified how mussel larvae move – giving mussel and other shellfish farmers important insights into where and how to grow them.

The University of Stirling's Institute of Aquaculture used genetic testing of mussels at sample sites along Scotland's west coast combined with mathematical modelling to understand where mussels grow well – and it's all about the current.

PhD researcher Ana Corrochano-Fraile says, 'Mussel growing has been a bit of a black box. The larvae float in the water, we put ropes at sea and larvae appear there. If the stock goes down, we don't know why. If the quality goes down, we don't know why.

'Our model shows us how the larvae move in the currents, from south to north. We found that, in 30 days, a cloud of larvae can move from the Scottish border near Stranraer up to Islay, for example. They then attach to substrate – anything solid in the water, which could be ropes – and grow for one and a half years until they start reproducing. The next generation of larvae is carried on the current from Islay to the Outer Hebrides in 30 days – that's a lot further, because the current is faster there.

'For example, we found that 90 per cent of the mussels in Loch Roag on Lewis have come from Barra. Knowing where mussels come from and where they go tells us a lot about the best and worst locations for farms.'

The researchers worked with the Scottish Association of Marine Science, as well as mussel farms at different west coast locations, through the Fishmongers' Company, Scottish Sea Farms Ltd and Association of Scottish Seafood Growers. They discovered, for example, that larvae from Loch Eil farm leave the loch, but no new larvae come in, so although Loch Eil has a self-sustaining population, it also contributes to populations at other locations, such as Loch Linnhe.

Ms Corrochano-Fraile's supervisor, computational biologist Dr Michaël Bekaert, says, 'We were surprised by how fast the larvae moved in a short amount of time, and also how fragile and vulnerable they are.

'The research shows that if we were to block the current in some way between Scotland and Northern Ireland, or slow it down, we would lose larvae. Similarly, if we were to pollute the sea there, or somewhere like Loch Linnhe, where many fresh larvae are washing in, that would have a huge impact. To breed quality mussels, like with anything else, you need maximum diversity in the genes, so you don't want to lose fresh genes by messing with the current or polluting.

'We will need to understand the effects of climate change better, but if the current were to move much faster, for example, the larvae might be swept past the Outer Hebrides without stopping at all!'

Forty percent of the UK's mussels are produced in Scotland, with half of these growing along the west coast and the rest around Shetland. Mussel farming has a low impact on the environment, as they require no food, grow on ropes and, by nature of being bivalves, they even clean the water around them.

'This does mean they are vulnerable to pollution though,' explains Dr Bekaert. 'They will absorb heavy metals, for example. If we give them rubbish to eat, they keep it. But if these fast-flowing waters are clean, the mussels are clean.

'It is possible to produce a lot of mussels at very low cost – environmental and economic. The most expensive part is harvesting and processing them.'

Increasing mussel production is part of industry organisation Scotland Food and Drink's ambition to double Scotland's food production by 2030.

Dr Bekaert says, 'This level of detailed oceanographic information is also relevant to other valuable bivalves such as scallops and oysters and, being at a scale of metres rather than kilometres, is even useful for the salmon industry.'

The paper, 'Predictive biophysical models of bivalve larvae dispersal in Scotland', is published in the journal Frontiers in Marine Science.

For more information visit the University of Stirling website, HERE.

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Aker BioMarine sets its sights on growth in Indonesia and strengthens local team

Aker BioMarine continues to make headway in Indonesia, a key strategic market for the company. Aquaculture expert and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Bawanta Widya Suta, joins Aker BioMarine as Aquaculture Sales Manager in the Animal Health and Nutrition department. Mr Widya Suta will be charged to lead Aker BioMarine's growth journey in the Indonesia.

Indonesia is a high potential aquaculture market, with strong demand both domestically and internationally. Currently, it is estimated to be among the top four countries in terms of shrimp production in the world. As the world's leading krill producer, Aker BioMarine is actively building its presence in Indonesia. In late-2021, the company announced a strategic partnership with Seven Stones Indonesia to support its market entry.

'With Wanta on board, we are taking another step towards growth in Indonesia. His vast experience within the food, agriculture and aquaculture industries in Indonesia will help solidify our strong position, enabling us to bring greater knowledge, awareness, and interest in krill as a functional ingredient for aquaculture feeds across the region,' says Bjørn Wallentin, SVP AQUA Sales, Aker BioMarine.

Aker BioMarine has been sustainably harvesting krill in Antarctica for more than a decade. As a science-based company, the Aker BioMarine team depends on extensive research to understand the full potential of this tiny crustacean, and to ensure the well-being of the krill biomass. The company brings this sustainable approach to Indonesia, with the aim to spread the health benefits of krill across the country's aquaculture industry.

'For me, joining Aker BioMarine was an easy choice. I believe in the potential of krill as a natural source of protein and omega-3, key sources of nutrition that will play an important role as we face food challenges in the future. There is immense opportunity in Indonesia, and I believe that aquaculture here can benefit from this more sustainable, functional ingredient – bringing greater efficiency and profitability with less environmental impact to the producers here,' says Mr Widya Suta, Aquaculture Sales Manager, Animal Health and Nutrition, Aker BioMarine.

Mr Widya Suta comes to Aker BioMarine from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), where he focused on farmer training and biosecurity. In addition, he has previously served in leadership and managerial roles in PT. MJPF Farma Indonesia, Biowistechnologies, Inc., and Cargill Aqua Nutrition. He holds a doctorate degree in Veterinary Medicine from Bogor Agriculture University in Indonesia.

For more information visit the Aker BioMarine website, HERE.

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Ace Aquatec solidifies Americas presence following partnership with key distributor Pisces Fish Machinery Inc.

Dundee-headquartered aquaculture technology specialists, Ace Aquatec, have appointed Pisces Fish Machinery Inc as their first equipment distributor in North, Central and South America.  

The newly formed partnership will see Pisces supply the company's award-winning stunners for tilapia, trout, salmon and seabass to its customers across the Americas, where fish welfare and ethical practices have moved to the top of the agenda for many producers, supermarkets and consumers. 

With extensive experience in serving the needs of processors worldwide and an established network, Pisces are well placed to supply Ace Aquatec's in-water electrical stunner which has a 100 percent stun rate and an impressive record of reducing stress at harvest. 

Ace Aquatec's Chief Sales and Marketing Officer, Tara McGregor-Woodhams, says, 'Pisces have been leading the way in fish processing since 1983 and are highly regarded as the best in class for manufacturing a range of award-winning fish processing machines.   

'We're thrilled to be working closely with their team of experienced aquaculture professionals. This partnership will help us to roll out and lead on the distribution of our stunning technology across the Americas and gain key insight into one of our key target market.' 

Trevor Wastel, CEO from Pisces Fish Machinery Inc. adds, 'In-water electrical stunning has long been on our radar for helping strengthen our full-line offering in the fish processing industry. Not only does it create a calmer processing line before bleeding and filleting, but it accelerates the move to higher welfare standards at every point of harvesting. 

'We're delighted to be forming this partnership with Ace Aquatec and introducing our customers to their industry leading technology, it's exactly what the Americas market has needed.' 

Earlier this year, Ace Aquatec appointed Australian equipment supplier Fresh by Design as its first distributor in the Asia Pacific (APAC) region. The newly formed partnership supplies the in-water electrical stunner to its customers across Australia and New Zealand.

For more information about Ace Aquatec visit the website, HERE.

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OLPHEEL, the innovative aquaculture range by Phodé

The Olpheel range is launched to support performance and animal welfare in aquaculture, aiming challenges like stress reduction, supporting the animals' natural defences and metabolism, or stimulating appetite and feed intake.

Combining a specific olfactory mode of action and plant extracts synergies, the use of the Olpheel range reduces for example mortality during transportation, contributes to parasite risk management, event support the antioxidant status.

The Olpheel range is the first range totally dedicated to performance and animal well-being in aquaculture. It is a complete range to answer the variety of challenges encountered in aquaculture, and initially focuses on shrimps and salmonids with adapted formulations to each species.

The products are developed on innovative technological galenics to also meet the feed manufacturing expectations. Olpheel will be distributed worldwide.

Phodé Laboratories, French feed additive manufacturer known for their neurosensorial solutions, are experts in plant extracts and olfaction - brain - gut interactions.

For more information visit the Phodé website, HERE.

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Online Milling School courses announced!

An excellent platform for anyone that would like to fully understand the feed milling process and what it takes to produce quality sustainable feeds but may not have the time or resources to attend other similar physical courses.

For milling professionals, the Credo Online Milling School provide a place to review key milling operations and gain ideas and knowledge that help further improve their feed production process.

Allows learning and development without having to leave your workplace. Credo Online Milling Schools is made up of short online sessions spread across a period of time to accomodate for busy schedules.

Currently there are three Milling related online courses on offer. Feed Milling for Terrestrial animals, Feed Milling for Aquatic animals, and Petfood production.

For more information about the courses visit the website, HERE.

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SPAROS launches 3rd edition of the award for students and postdocs

SPAROS is launching the 3rd edition of the award for students and postdocs conducting research in aquaculture nutrition to foster the use of nutritional-based mathematical simulations in their work.

In this 2022/2023 edition, SPAROS will award the highest scoring applicant with free access to the newly released FEEDNETICSᵀᴹ web app to support their research work until they obtain their academic degree or for the duration of their postdoctoral research.

For more information please visit the contest rules HERE and get inspired by the FEEDNETICSᵀᴹ application for aquaculture researchers by watching the webinar recording via this link, or if you prefer join the training course to be held at SPAROS on October 12-13 (in-person hands-on event) HERE.

For more information visit the SPAROS website, HERE.

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The AlgaEurope abstract deadline has been extended

Algae have become a multi-billion sector in terms of biotechnology development that is expected to grow rapidly, providing valuable goods and services in multiple applications. In spite of centuries of scientific and commercial interests, the term algae has no taxonomic meaning. In the light of rapidly growing business interests associated with the term algae, a clear, simple definition of algae is not only required but essential for developing the necessary standards, and regulatory and legal issues.

AlgaEurope is one of the most global comprehensive conferences about science, technology and business in the Algae Biomass sector organised by industry professionals.

The final deadline for abstracts is now September 30th, 2022. There will be no more extension so if you are preparing your abstract for the upcoming conference, please make sure to submit before the deadline. The conference is due to take place December 13-15. 

Who should attend the conference:

• Algae Technology Developers / Suppliers
• Algae producers & cultivation plant owners and operators
• Venture capitalists and financial investors for biotechnology
• Food industries
• Biofuels Network, Animal Feed Companies
• Nutraceuticals/Pharmaceutical Companies, Fertilizer suppliers
• Water Treatment & Waste Water Professionals
• Technology providers for cultivation, harvesting, dewatering, drying, oil extraction, and processing

The call for abstract topics includes:

• Physiology
• Food
• Feed
• Process: Automation, Bioactivity measure
• Biostimulant, Biocontrol
• Bioremediation
• Cosmetics
• Biomaterial
• Genetics: Synthetic Biology
• Biorefinery
• Transversal: LCA, Business, Regulation
• Most originals

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

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Phytogenics are the future of animal nutrition

German manufacturer of feed additives Dr. Eckel Animal Nutrition launches worldwide series of events on the use of phytogenics in animal nutrition.

The Dr. Eckel World Tour 2022 kicked off with a well-attended event in Hua Hin, Thailand. The series focuses on the use of phytogenic additives for profitable and sustainable animal production. Following a visit to VICTAM Asia, the participants travelled to the conference venue. Dr Andreas Lewke, Managing Director of Dr. Eckel Animal Nutrition (Thailand), welcomed around 50 participants from all over Asia to the InterContinental Hua Hin Resort. Over three days, academic and industry experts shared and discussed the most promising innovations and solutions for effective ruminant feeding, poultry production and aquaculture.

Rarely has the industry faced such challenges: lockdowns, sanctions and political instability are putting markets, supply chains and pricing under enormous pressure, while the impacts of climate change are becoming increasingly manifest. Producers worldwide need to find solutions to utilise resources that are becoming increasingly scarce and expensive as efficiently as possible, in order to meet the demand for animal protein and still remain profitable. And these are the solutions the first World Tour conference in 2022 addressed.

In his keynote address, Vice President Dr Bernhard Eckel posed the central question of how we can secure a global food supply for a growing population in the face of current challenges. He clearly demonstrated how phytogenic additives can be used to attain the United Nations' sustainability goals and even increase production.

Professor Carsten Malisch from Aarhus University in Denmark outlined the various potential uses of plant secondary compounds and provided exciting insight into his current research on tannins and their benefits to animal nutrition, particularly that of reducing emissions in ruminant feeding.

The potential of plant-based additives in aquaculture has so far been hardly exploited. Dr Tirawat Rairat from the Department of Fishery Biology at Kasetsart University in Thailand clearly stated why it is urgent to reduce the use of antibiotics in aquaculture and why phytogenic additives are the better choice.

And finally, Dr. Eckel's Muhammad Umar introduced Anta®Phyt, a phytogenic champion from the Dr. Eckel product portfolio, and its possible applications. He also presented compelling trial results demonstrating its effectiveness. Veterinarian and entrepreneur Dr Forouzandeh Boroujerdi from Mavicarno Co. Ltd in Iran corroborated this with evidence of her own, acquired from her experience of using Dr. Eckel's product Anta®Phyt in poultry. Dr Viktor Eckel concluded the series of talks with a presentation on the company's product portfolio, present and future, in terms of phytogenic additives.

The well-debated concluding discussion reaffirmed the topicality of phytogenics. Both the participants and the speakers examined the most promising solutions and exchanged practical experiences. They agreed that, in addition to the technical information, the exchange between the various countries and regions was particularly valuable. All at the World Tour conference came to the unanimous conclusion that it is only through production methods that make the most efficient use of resources and promote healthy animal production that we will manage to produce sufficient healthy food in the future. Indeed, the path to successful, profitable and sustainable production is through the efficient use of resources, while that to optimal performance is through a focus on animal welfare and healthy animals with a strong immune system, combined with a holistic approach to management. This is the only way to secure the future of animal nutrition. And phytogenic additives are the key to this.

Conference host Andreas Lewke thanked all the participants and speakers for their valuable contributions and the overall success of the event. The World Tour 2022 will proceed to Surabaya in Indonesia, São Paulo in Brazil and, just before EuroTier, Braunschweig in Germany.

For more information about Dr Eckel visit the website, HERE.

The Aquaculturists

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