dsm-firmenich has registered to the F3 Krill Replacement Challenge with a palatable protein ingredient produced at industrial scale using the company’s biotechnology platform.
This technology has been instrumental in the production of vitamins, enzymes, attractants and algal EPA & DHA omega-3s. Successfully contributing with solutions to close the demand-supply gap of various molecules and nutrients, they are now leveraging their expertise to tackle additional challenges.
“This ingredient has been selectively sourced from our vast library of microbial organisms which include fungi, bacteria and yeasts,” explained Karim Kurmaly, director Smart Protein, dsm-firmenich. “It has been tested in various products and channels successfully by several customers, but we have not yet tested it in complete fish-free feed.”
The good news is that the nutrient is able to withstand the feed manufacturing process involved in the production of extruded fish feed. “It does not affect attractabilty and is expected to positively impact palatability,” Kurmaly stated. “This is our first in a fish-free diet, so let's see what we can learn regarding feed intake and growth.”
“In terms of costs, the industrial-scale production of the nutrient allows it to be both affordable and cost-effective,” Kurmaly said. This challenge may highlight other attributes that we have not fully considered and will definitely add positively to our learning.
“It is important to enter the F3 Krill Replacement Challenge because krill is a finite resource within our marine ecosystem which supports marine biodiversity and migrating sea bird populations. Unfortunately, finite resources like krill, marine proteins and oils come with inevitable unpredictable supply-side risks. To maintain a financially sustainable aquafeed industry, we need to develop industrial-scale cost-effective alternatives so that stakeholders along the value chain can benefit. This does however require the industrial experts to develop and invest, and for key stakeholders to support with off-take agreements, as evident in the food industry,” Kurmaly said.
Don't miss interviews with other registrants of the F3 Krill Replacement Challenge:
Entobel: The attraction of insect meal
eniferBio: The power of mycoprotein
JF Nutritech: Could phytonutrients replace krill?
Stratium: Insect protein to replace krill
Symrise Aqua Feed: Land-based byproducts
Protenga: An insect-based palatability enhancer
Nutrition Technologies: A new insect-based approach
