The FDA has awarded four grants totaling $600,000 to help fund research to support New Animal Drug Applications (NADAs) for drugs intended for minor uses or minor species. Three of the grants have been awarded to NovaEel Inc., for studies to demonstrate safety and effectiveness of estradiol administered in feed to American eels. NovaEel Inc. is pursing approval of the drug for increased rate of weight gain in American eels fed in recirculating aquaculture systems.

The FDA has issued a Draft Guidance for Industry on \"Studies to Evaluate the Metabolism and Residue Kinetics of Veterinary Drugs in Food-Producing Species: Marker Residue Depletion Studies to Establish Product Withdrawal Periods in Aquatic Species.\" The objective of this guidance is to provide study design recommendations that will facilitate the universal acceptance of the generated residue depletion data to fulfill the national/regional requirements and recommendations for evaluating veterinary drug residues in the International Cooperation on Harmonization of Technical Requirements for Registration of Veterinary Medicinal Products (VICH) regions. The FDA is now accepting public comments on this draft guidance.

AEV’s food subsidiary Pilmico International Pte Ltd announced its acquisition of a majority stake in one of Asia’s largest privately-owned agribusiness corporations, Gold Coin Management Holdings Limited, as it expands its  feeds business in the Asia Pacific region.

Ecuador\'s Minister of Aquaculture and Fisheries recently visited the construction site of the new shrimp feed plant being built by Cargill and Naturisa. The industrial facility, which is expected to come into operation in the last quarter of this year, requires a USD 60 million investment in infrastructure and equipment. \"This investment is a win for all, soon the aquaculture sector will have the largest processing plant in the country and this will generate more production and employment.\"

FEFAC has released a two-page factsheet aiming to provide perspective from the feed sector in the light of the development of the European Protein Plan. The fact sheet stresses the importance of the animal nutrition dimension in the European feed industry’s capacity to valorize vegetable protein sources grown in Europe. Also the potential contribution for plant breeding innovation is noted. At the same time, FEFAC highlights that trade-offs are possible when choosing one protein source over another. "The ‘protein supply dimension’ needs to be a factor of importance in the decision making process of all EU policies that have an effect on the strategic EU protein supply."

WSBCP, LLC, in collaboration with the City of Waupun and the Wisconsin Soybean Marketing Board, has proposed the development of a $150 million soybean crushing facility. Despite its significant soybean production, Wisconsin does not currently have an in-state crushing facility to process soybeans into soy oil, soy protein and soy meal used for animal feed. Currently, soybeans grown in Wisconsin must be shipped out of state for processing, and then trucked back into the state for distribution to farms. Following final approval, construction would begin in 2019 with completion slated for 2021. Once fully operational, the facility will be able to process up to 100,000 bushels of soybeans daily.

The International Feed Industry Federation (IFIF) has announced the launch of the IFIF Global Animal Nutrition Program\'s \'Train the Trainer\' program in Ghana. Over 30 national and regional feed officials and feed mill representatives participated in the first training and they will act as multipliers by sharing the training with colleagues throughout Ghana. The training program is based on the IFIF FAO Feed Manual of Good Practices for the Feed Industry and focuses on increasing safety and feed quality at the production level. \"We will continue to roll out our Global Animal Nutrition Program to other countries to support, train and develop the capacities of the local feed industries to raise feed and food safety standards globally.”

According to Steve Hart, vice president of the Global Aquaculture Alliance, China’s 25% tariff on US soybeans won’t have much impact on prices of Chinese aquatic feed and, subsequently, Chinese aquaculture margins. “Overall, global supply is pretty strong now, so feed prices shouldn\'t be too impacted. Prices are significantly below the last peak in 2012.\"

Aller Aqua Egypt has launched a new website in Arabic. \"We have been active in Egypt since 2011 and have been experiencing massive growth over the years. Introducing a website in Arabic has been a logic next step to show our initiatives to support aquaculture in Egypt. With this new website in Arabic, we provide easy access to information about our feed ranges targeted the species farmed in the region, and you will find information about local events where you can meet us to discuss how we can continue to grow together.\"

Fish farmers across Rwanda have raised concerns over lack of quality and affordable feed, which they say is affecting fish production in the country. Currently, Rwanda\'s three large and four small fish feed factories are not able to supply enough feed to meet the demand of 400 tonnes of feed per day. One feed manufacturer explained that the high costs of electricity and raw materials do not allow the factory to produce at its capacity.

The fishmeal factories that dot West Africa's coastline and supply aquaculture industries in Europe and Asia are vying with locals for their staple fish. "The foreign production of the fish feed is driving up the price of sardinella on the local market. Workers in the fisheries sector say they fear losing their jobs as they face increasing competition over the region's staple diet. Women who prepare, smoke and then sell the fish are especially affected by the rising prices."

Alltech’s founder, the late Dr. Pearse Lyons, has been honored with the Kennedy-Lemass Medal by the American Chamber of Commerce Ireland. The award honors U.S. leaders of Irish heritage who have helped strengthen the Irish-U.S. relationship. “My father was passionate about Ireland and the United States, and he spent his life promoting both countries around the world. He had an extraordinary ability to bring people from all walks of life together to make a difference in the world. This was especially true when it came to cultivating and supporting scientific, ag-tech and agricultural endeavors between the U.S. and Ireland.”

BioMar has increased its research capabilities with an expansion of its Aquaculture Technology Centre, ATC Hirtshals facility in Denmark. The facility now includes a state-of-the-art marine fish larval trial unit that allows for larval rearing and the production of live feed. The opening of the new hatchery research and development facilities is the second of a three-phased strategic plan for the hatchery feed segment. BioMar announced last year heavy investment in the area including the establishment of a business unit in Nersac, France and the expansion of the fry feed production line in Brande, Denmark expected later in 2019. \"Our new research facilities will help us continue to evolve our larval feed range while allowing us to respond faster to market and customer needs.\"

Researchers at Nofima have discovered that a mineral-rich ingredient extracted from fish bones can affect the color of salmon muscles. In experiments where salmon were fed diets containing the ingredient, the color level of the salmon muscles increased considerably by 35 per cent. The salmon’s ability to digest astaxanthin increased by nearly 20 per cent in fish fed the mineral ingredient, while the pigment levels in both the blood and liver also increased. “We believe that the main explanation of why the muscle becomes redder is that the salmon digest more of the astaxanthin with the mineral ingredient present in the feed.\"

In a landmark move, representatives from conservation groups and the seafood and aquaculture industries - including krill fishing companies and BioMar - have agreed to support the creation of marine protected areas, including large no-fishing zones in the Antarctic. This major announcement from a group of the largest krill fishing companies will see nearly all krill companies operating in the Antarctic voluntarily stop fishing in huge areas around the Antarctic. According to BioMar\'s Sustainability Director, “sourcing krill can be done at safe levels that considers the Antarctic ecosystem and marine species that rely on it as an essential nutrient in their diet. The overwhelming support for this commitment up and down the value chain shows just what can be achieved when we collaborate together under the shared vision of a sustainable aquaculture industry.\"

EFSA has published its guidance on how to assess the safety of nanoscience and nanotechnology applications. The guidance gives practical suggestions on the types of testing that are needed and the methods that can be applied.

Aller Aqua Qingdao recently welcomed Mr. Yu Kangzhen, Chinese Vice Minister of Agriculture, and representatives from the province, city and district of Qingdao to the Aller Aqua factory. During the visit, the delegation toured the new feed factory and learned about the principles behind extruded fish feeds and how Aller Aqua secures production of feeds following European standards. \"It was an honor to receive such visit at our factory, and we are very proud and happy to show our state-of-the-art feed factory to the Government.\"

INVE Thailand has become the first company in Asia to be awarded a certificate to export its Artemia cysts, feed and health products into Ecuador. It will now be used as a reference in the region for other companies seeking similar certificates. “We are proud of the dedication of our management team and staff in Thailand. This is not only a milestone achievement for INVE and Benchmark, but also the next step towards a more efficient supply chain and enhanced service for our customers in Ecuador.

Japanese eel farmers have decided to fatten up the resource more than usual this spring, until doubling its standard commercial size, in a bid to curb the surge of eel prices due to a supply shortage. When eels are fattened, naturally their bones grow bigger and thicker, making it difficult to swallow, as the bones may get stuck in diners\' throats. Taking this into consideration, farmers came up with a method of reducing by about 30 per cent the amount of a high-calcium type of feed. They then give the eels feed that is abundant in protein. Such efforts help cultivate fleshy eels while containing the growth of their bones.

Ridley has shared the results of its commercial feed trial with three prawn farms, which include new data on a low protein Novacq diet that increased prawn biomass by 25% on one farm. “We see the benefits from the last 2 years across survival, biomass productivity and nutrient reduction. This is important to APF, as well as the greater Australian prawn industry, as many farms are trying to become more sustainable and expand operations under the same strict EPA standards currently adopted.”