46 Feed Technology Jégou believes it is an (relatively) easier task to convince farmers on the importance and interest of using functional feeds, whether in LATAM or in Asia, because of the increasing maturity of the industry and because of the overall growing concern on antimicrobial resistance and sustainability. “On the other hand, we are facing vast competition, with many promises. We need to assess what is the situation and understand what the main concerns are; in what way these concerns impact the economic results; and in what way we can help the farmer. We then need to also formulate a plan. We need to see the farmer again as a business partner,” adding that there should be a followup. “We need to have this trustworthy relationship.” Rosen said that for nutrition companies, it is to be better in providing the precise nutrition or functional nutrition. “It is also about bringing more science into aquaculture, more evaluations and making sure that the feed utilised are creating optimal results, technically and economically, and best adapted to their situation. In animal production, the poultry guys have advanced far ahead of us and so we need to catch up!”
Future product development
In Mérida, the ADM team also shared the AquaTrax functional feed additive and its Api Camarón line of shrimp feed. AquaTrax leverages Pichia guilliermondii inactivated yeast to alleviate disease stress through a modulating
effect on gut microbiota and immune functions. After two separate disease challenges, Vibrio parahaemolyticus and white spot syndrome virus, survival of Litopenaeus vannamei after 5 weeks increased by 76% and 84% respectively compared to control without P. guilliermondii inclusion. In the field without any specific pathogenic challenge, vannamei shrimp fed supplemented diets showed a significant 10% increase in growth performance compared to control at the end of a 7-week trial. ADM’s research department is divided into two parts: product development and innovation. “The first develops the actual existing products and bringing them to the market and exploring different functionalities. The second looks at what is possible in nature that we could possibly use to tackle specific problems,” explained Rosen. There are other ongoing investigations, such as adaptations to automatic feeders; direct measurements of oxygen using IoT and managing ammonia stress with feed formulations, by lowering nitrogen discharge or improved physiology of the animal. Jégou summarised, “We want and need the industry to progress. We need to be open minded and work together. We do not advocate that our additives are silver bullets, but we can propose targeted holistic solutions from feed design to water bioremediation.”
Land of Adventure: Exploring Aquatic Animal Health for Sustainable Aquaculture Plenary Speakers
July/August 2022 AQUA Culture Asia Pacific
Keynote Speakers
Date
Item
APRIL 30th 2022
Abstract Submission Dateline
JUNE 1st 2022
Notification of Abstract Acceptance
JUNE 3rd 2022
Early Registration Deadline
JULY 15th 2022
Normal Registration
