Local raw materials for production of fish feed for ... - Nordic Innovation

Executive summary
The availability and price of fossil fuels for the transport sector could become a problem in the near
future and that would affect the food security in the world. Moreover, it is expected that the global
need for food will increase substantially in the coming decades. Surely aquaculture will play a
crucial role in delivering high-quality proteins to the market. It is therefore of concern that
aquaculture has mainly been growing in Asia and Central-America in recent years, but less in
Europe although the Norwegian production of salmon has increased substantially. Europe only
counts for approximately 2% of the total world aquaculture production and thus new solutions are
needed. The Nordic countries have huge possibilities in becoming a leading region in sustainable
aquaculture with the local resources, know-how and clean image.
The aquaculture industry is the fastest growing food production industry in the world and
approximately 50% of all fish consumed by humans is from aquaculture. The main cost factor in
aquaculture is the cost of feed. Furthermore, high amounts of feed ingredients from marine sources
have been of concern both environmentally and economically. Thus, it is of importance for the
aquaculture industry to aim for the development of new locally-produced, cost-effective, beneficent
and eco-friendly ingredients for innovative practical feed production.
This report gives an overview about the status in the Nordic aquaculture industries, with focus on
feed production and related businesses. Suggestions are put forward for an increased and more
sustainable Nordic aquaculture in the future with focus on local environmentally friendly feed
production and new species. Furthermore, information is listed about relevant players in the
aquaculture value chain in each country. These are industry associations, R&D organizations,
aquaculture companies, feed producers and raw material producers.
The aim is to find innovative solutions for a competitive and sustainable Nordic aquaculture
focusing on local feed raw materials. Ideas are put forward on utilization of seaweed and algae,
production of rapeseed and barley and high quality proteins from mussel meal, fungi, single cells or
invertebrates. In some cases waste organic material from horticulture, green houses and other
agriculture products could be utilized or even remnants from one fish species as feed raw material
for another species. Moreover, the production could be beneficial for the environment as in the case
of production of mussel meal, seaweed and algae, with utilization of excess nutrients / contaminants
in the environment for the production of valuable raw materials.
In spite of good knowledge on feed for aquaculture there is still a need for research in the area,
especially on sustainability, economical solutions regarding new technology, new species and new
local feed raw materials. In this respect long-term effects on changes in the diet for different species
need to be clarified. The carbon footprint of the production is also of increased concern as the
aquaculture business is often accused for being unsustainable and impacting the environment
negatively.
Food production, not least in the marine sector and aquaculture, is one of the main fundamental
industries in the Nordic countries. Wild fisheries have stagnated or even declined and the
aquaculture in other continents has been increasing substantially. It is therefore essential for these
industries to implement innovative solutions to maintain the competitiveness of the region in this
field. New opportunities for sustainable aquaculture production are emerging providing the tools.
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