NUTRITION & HEALTH Although we now have 2020 almost behind us, there will be many of the 2020 events for aquaculture now rescheduled, delayed or even cancelled due to this exceptional year.
advising the USDA on specific growth areas and investments in fish farming technology. The USDA has serious interests in RAS on shore systems and I am confident that we will see significant advances in home farm production and a blue-green agenda being advocated by the Biden administration. The trade deficit in seafood for the United States is very large due to imports from Asia and in the past much from China. I would envisage progress in deep water marine farms in Federal waters with the exploration of novel candidate species.
As a fish nutrition scientist, it was sad not to have been able to return to South Korea for the International Symposium on Professor Simon Davies Fish Nutrition this year. This would have Nutrition Editor, International Aquafeed been a really important meeting of minds dedicated to our industry and where we could disseminate our findings, catch up with colleagues and friends to share ideas, discuss our plans and foster new collaborations. Hunger pandemic This symposium is held every two years and is now out of The 2020’s may turn positive after all then, despite our current sequence but hopefully, it will get back on track. major setbacks. I am an optimist and expect the global economy Likewise I was due to attend scientific conferences and exhibitions to rebound. In our feed sector and in particular the aquaculture in China, Thailand and Europe that have now been kicked well market there are huge potentials to realise. into touch for the time being. I have realistically planned to However, a very sobering statement from David Beasley, the resume my globetrotting activities in 2022 when things should head of the World Food Program, recalled his warning to the settle down and the pandemic may be well and truly quenched. UN Security Council in April that as the world was dealing with Nonetheless, my other activities have been progressing thanks to the coronavirus pandemic, it was also “on the brink of a hunger the technology that exists to connect us together. pandemic” that could lead to “multiple famines of biblical The fish farming industry has a capacity to recover and aquaculture proportions” within a few months, if immediate action wasn’t has continued to provide its share of global seafood demand, with taken. “We were able to avert it in 2020 ... because the world the feed sector continuing its quest to develop novel platforms of leaders responded with money, stimulus packages, deferral of research and applications. It is still impressive to see investments in debt,” he said. new avenues of aquaculture system design especially in land-based Whatever happens, aquaculture must be supported to continue systems (RAS) and deeper offshore facilities. its goals of supplying healthy and sustainable food from the In fact, I am currently associated with several consortia hoping marine, brackish and freshwater sector within a stable and secure to roll out aquaculture within my own region of SW England and supply chain. This is imperative in facing any challenges we Wales, who are also looking to engage with selected educational may all encounter. The societal as well the scientific, technical, institutions for their experience in a consultancy capacity. Our governance and legislative areas must work in harmony towards focus will be to evaluate the potential for both established fish achieving these agendas. species and even exotic non-conventional types. We must all play our part from the ‘farm to the fork’ with the animal feed companies crucial in this essential and complex chain. I for one, hope to expand on this mission as I work with leading Ann endless challenge agencies and consortia to bring sustainable aquaculture to parts of With the growing list of emerging species being investigated for the UK, such as in Wales and SW England. The full loop economy culture, it’s an endless challenge to obtain a detailed inventory will incorporate controlled environmental agriculture and of their biology, environmental preferences, breeding, early integrated aquaculture will be new drivers for a more localised development, growth and feeding behaviour and nutritional sustainable food economy. This amalgamation of blue and green requirements. In aquaculture, the multidisciplinary approach is technology can be the new ‘turquoise revolution’. paramount and together will lead to successful rearing of fish Finally, let me thank our outgoing features editor Rebecca under captivity. Sherratt, who I have had the pleasure to work with over the last In this final month of 2020 we have seen many challenges, as I have stated throughout the spring and summer months. Like in fish few years, for all of her efforts on IAF and her professionalism. I welcome working with our own Peter Parker working from our farming, we see new technologies in disease control and scenarios remote office New Zealand who has been with us for some time we are all familiar with globally. and together we will be scouting for great articles, features and However, we can be optimistic with announcements of vaccines reports. for COVID-19 and hopefully mass immunisation will protect us Please send us material to move us forward in 2021. all, with a level of normality returning in 2021. Have a nice seasonal holiday wherever you are in all the time With the US Presidential election now over and a new President zones and a nice safe break with family and friends. Happy in office from January, we will see how the American policy Christmas and a very Happy New Year! for agriculture will develop and the Federal government’s See you all in our January 2021 issue. commitments to aquaculture. I have previously been involved in 4 | December 2020 - International Aquafeed