Unlocking new potential for microalgae in aquafeed
by Jorge Dias, General Manager, Sparos, OlhĂŁo, Portugal, Paulo Gavaia, Researcher, The Centre of Marine Sciences, Faro, Portugal, and Andrew Spicer, CEO, Algenuity, Stewartby, UK
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CCMAR is investigating the effect of lactoferrin- and phytase-expressing strains on bone development in zebrafish
ustainable food sources are essential for an ever-growing world population, putting additional pressures on a rapidly growing aquaculture industry. Effective production of healthy aquaculture species requires nutritionally balanced and cost-effective aquafeeds; the formulation of these feeds presents many challenges, and new solutions are constantly being sought. This article discusses the suitability of algae as a sustainable raw material in aquafeeds, as well as the health benefits genetically modifying algae can add, such as enhanced nutritional uptake, immunostimulation and gut health and wellbeing. The aquafeed industry is highly cost driven. Raw materials used in feeds must provide all the essential nutrients required by a particular species, but this must be balanced with cost. The availability of these raw materials is also a very important consideration, as factory outputs for the production of fish feed can be in the region of 150 to 200 thousand tonnes per year. Ingredients that are seasonal or have very low market availability are, therefore, best avoided. Not surprisingly,
researchers are continually looking for alternative feed solutions, and one of the most promising of these is microalgae.
Seeking novel aquafeeds
Microalgae have been used as part of the live feeds chain in aquaculture hatcheries for some time, but there is now a drive to exploit these organisms in formulated feeds. This technology is still in its early days and, at present, the use of microalgae as bulk feed ingredients is still some way off, due to costs and product availability limitations. As a result, the current focus is on the use of algal products as functional ingredients to enhance traditional feeds during sensitive periods of the production cycle, or in specific situations arising from farming practices. Microalgae have great potential as a source of functional ingredients, offering supplementary benefits alongside basic nutrition, filling a notable gap in the aquafeed sector.
Opening the door to new approaches in aquaculture
A decade ago, aquafeeds contained a lot of fish meal harvested from the sea, but this is a limited resource and an alternative source of protein and lipids – particularly lipids rich in the
24 | April 2019 - International Aquafeed