United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Chi Farms limited have entered into a partnership to enhance capacity of small-scale farmers in the country and to add about 4,000 tonnes of catfish into the nation’s food basket yearly. Chi Farms, according to the project layout, will ensure supply of quality feed and catfish juveniles to the farmers by enhancing its feed milling and hatching capacities.

A team of scientists from Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) is conducting probiotic-type research to see if salmon have bacteria or bacterial bio-markers in their gut or mucus that makes them more resistant to sea lice. “Broodstock samples are being analyzed at Laval University. If results show that some salmon families have fewer sea lice counts and contained certain species of bacteria, we will then try applying a beneficial probiotic — perhaps in feed — to fish that don’t naturally have that resistance.”

A group of specialists is working on the development of technology to improve fish nutrition with the ultimate aim of strengthening the aquaculture industry in the country, as feed quality is one of the main factors limiting its growth. \"It is important to understand nutrition in aquaculture as a process whose outcome is modulated by physiological conditions, life cycle stage, species, health status and environmental conditions of the resource being farmed. The fish’s growth and well-being can and should be optimized through the delivery of feed with adequate nutrients.\"

Canadian researchers are engaged in genomic work aimed at developing therapeutic diets for Atlantic salmon and reducing simultaneous infections in Atlantic salmon farms. “Our functional genomics research will identify molecular mechanisms involved in salmon responses to co-infections. This will lead to the development of better feeds for improved treatments to combat co-infections.”

A new type of canola in development by Cargill could give aquaculture farmers a more sustainable way to raise fish rich in EPA/DHA omega-3 fatty acids. In feeding trials it conducted with salmon in Chile, Cargill was able to completely replace fish oil in feed rations with oil from EPA/DHA canola. The new canola, which is genetically engineered to make long chain omega-3 fatty acids, will offer a more sustainable alternative as it eases pressure on finite marine resources. Testing and regulatory approval for both the canola and the EPA/DHA enhanced canola oil is underway. The EPA/DHA enhanced canola oil is expected to reach the market sometime after 2020.

Nutreco is launching a new way to kick-start breakthrough solutions with the Nutreco FeedTech Challenge. Centered around the question ‘What is your breakthrough innovation – that CANNOT wait?’ Nutreco calls for the brightest minds to help realize sustainable food production for a growing world population. The winner will receive a unique prize in the form of a scientific on-farm validation trial in one of Nutreco’s research farms. “This challenge and in particular the validation trial can provide a significant contribution to introducing new breakthrough innovations into real life. For start-ups it is a great opportunity to accelerate the development of their innovations, possibly even leading to a funding offer from Nutreco or one of our partners.”

AgriProtein announced earlier this week that it has secured $17.5 million of further capital from key strategic partners to fund expansion into Europe, North & South America and Asia. The new investment values the company at over $117 million – making it the most valuable fly-farming business in the world. On the world’s largest farm by headcount, AgriProtein produces and licenses MagMeal™ a high-protein feed made from dried, milled and de-fatted larvae produced by Black Soldier Flies (Hermetia illucens) fed on existing organic waste derived from municipal and other industrial waste partners.

Aquaculture Without Frontiers has announced that Karen Veverica is being honored as Woman of the Month for her work as an elite trainer with exemplary impacts in the aquaculture sector. "She has an incredible wealth of practical knowledge that I've repeatedly encouraged her to pass on in some kind of major publication, such as a book or production guide. In particular, her work in Africa has been exemplary and indicative of a long-term commitment to aquaculture development on the continent.”

Land O’Lakes, Inc. has signed a letter of intent to acquire Southern States Cooperative, Inc.’s animal feed business, which manufactures a range of feeds including fish feed. “We are pleased with the opportunities this partnership with a fellow cooperative brings to Southern States. Our members will continue to receive the same level of service from our retail locations while benefitting from Land O’Lakes’ feed business, Purina Animal Nutrition and their knowledge and experience in manufacturing the quality feed our customers expect.”

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced an open period for applications for grants to support the development of new animal drugs intended for minor species or minor uses in major species. Qualified studies include those intended to support target animal safety or effectiveness, environmental safety, or human food safety. Subject to the availability of funds, grants will be available for up to $100,000 per year for up to two years for routine studies; and up to $150,000 per year for up to two years for studies of unusual complexity, duration or size. A third year of funding may be available for long-term toxicology studies.

The Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) biosecurity area management standards have been released for a 60-day public comment period. The standards apply to groups of cooperating farms that nurture a collective, risk-mitigating model of good governance across a defined aquaculture area. “All stakeholders are encouraged to participate in this public comment exercise so that the finished standards can benefit from the most broad-based input possible.”

BioMar-Tongwei Biotech (Wuxi) Ltd has acquired 100 % of the shares in the fish feed company Haiwei, situated in the South of China. “We are confident that BioMar can contribute to the further development of Haiwei and continue their success through process knowledge, R&D methodology, and continuous improvement of feed recipes”

The 2016 Annual World Congress of Aquaculture and Fisheries (WCAF) has come to an end. This year\'s event had 400 participants from 46 different countries. As part of the WCAF program, Dr Nagel held a presentation on Aller Aqua’s VITAMAX feeds, as a method for increasing the immune system in fish and thus relieving pressure to medicate. This took place is a special session on new developments within feeds and feed ingredients.

Cooke Aquaculture is ramping up the use of feed barges at its farms in Canada and Scotland in a bid to lower industry costs and improve on industry sustainability practices. The Canadian company has installed nine Steinsvik feeding systems in its global operations with another 12 scheduled for delivery in 2017 and 2018.

Antimicrobial consumption in Danish animals has continued to decrease in 2015. A cool summer has resulted in fewer disease problems in Danish fish farms and antimicrobial consumption is thus 42 per cent lower in 2015 than the year before. A successful vaccination strategy has also helped to generally reduce consumption in fish farms.

Rating company Moody\'s Investors Service will maintain the corporate bonds rating of Pesquera Exalmar SAA in the B3 rating, with a negative outlook, according to its latest risk rating report. Given the latest quota and effective catch levels generated as a result of El Niño Phenomenon, the report mentions that the rating incorporates \"a limited operational scale and modest diversification compared to regional peers and other companies in the sector, exposure to volumes and volatile prices in the fishmeal and fish oil markets, sensitivity of flows to the regulatory framework and climatic conditions as well as a pronounced seasonality of cash flow

Six post-graduate students from three Chinese universities were recently awarded Jefo Graduate Scholarships in Aquaculture. The 2016 class of recipients include He Jie and Zhu Jianming of Soochow University, Liu Kang and Xie Rui-Tao of Guangdong Ocean University, and Zhao Xinxin and Shi Ze from Shanghai Ocean University. The 2016 winners are involved in diverse array of research such as toxicity of heavy metals and pesticides, nutritional requirements of some novel species, gut microflora and enzyme application in a variety of aquatic species from mussel to catfish to cobia to carp to crab.

Nutriad has completed the 2016 Nutriad Mycotoxin Survey, which included 73 wheat and 32 triticale samples collected across Poland. More than 800 analyses were conducted to test for the presence of the 8 mycotoxins most frequently found in agricultural commodities that are intended for animal feed production. The survey provided an insight into the incidences of aflatoxin B1 (AfB1), zearalenone (ZEN), deoxynivalenol (DON), T-2 toxin, HT-2 toxin, fumonisin B1 (FB1), fumonisin B2 (FB2) and ochratoxin A (OTA) across all regions of Poland.

Over 400 fish farmers in Lira district are delighted after getting the first fish feed mill in their area which will save them costs of having to travel to Kampala to fetch feeds for their fish. The expenditure on transport costs has been hindering the farmers’ profit margin but this fish feed mill will help them save on the transport costs they have been incurring to get fish feeds and this is a plus because farmers’ incomes will increase and help them in their livelihood.”

The Ministry of Agriculture has begun a new partnership with the USAID-funded Feed the Future, Liberia Agribusiness Development Activities, commonly known as LADA. The ministry has committed to providing LADA with crucial equipment, including 15 cassava mills and 15 fish feed mills.