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.”

ViAqua is developing the first orally administered treatment for shrimp that improves resistance to viral diseases, including White Spot Syndrome Virus (WSSV), and prevents viral epidemics.

Skretting Ecuador has launched Skretting 360+, a package of precision-based innovative tools, incorporating precision nutrition, farm management practices and proactive technical support, all delivered via the Skretting AquaSim app. Skretting 360+ has the capability to benchmark the performance of each cycle and manage feed and harvest predictions customized to every pond.

A US company has announced it is now able to rapidly produce an animal protein from food byproducts. The process is designed to locate next to food processing plants with large volumes of suitable byproducts that can be converted to protein. The protein can be used in diets for salmonoids and other salt water species, and has a higher calorie content than fishmeal.

In a move that would substantially increase ADM’s aquaculture footprint, Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM) announced that it has agreed to terms granting exclusivity in discussions to purchase Neovia. The 100 percent cash deal has an approximate enterprise value of €1.535 billion, subject to customary adjustments. “Neovia is a major global provider of animal nutrition solutions, with significant operations in Western Europe, South and Central America, and Southeast Asia. Combining Neovia’s global presence and product and innovation expertise with our own growing Animal Nutrition footprint and capabilities would be the ideal platform for future growth.”

According to BioMar’s recently released Integrated Sustainability Report, four out of five KPIs for raw materials have reached their 2020 targets three years ahead of schedule. These KPIs included 100% certification of all soy protein, krill and palm oil and 70% of all fishmeal and fish oil. While soy protein remains on track to achieve its 2020 objective, all other ingredients have met or exceeded expectations. BioMar will now increase targets for fishmeal and fish oil to 80% certified material by 2020. “Sustainability in the aquaculture industry begins with the feed and in BioMar we believe it is our responsibility to provide our customers with innovative, high performance feed solutions that also reduce the impact on our environment.”

A new study has found that including citric acid in diets for juvenile turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) can improve the bioavailability of phosphorus (P). \"In summary, dietary inclusion of 3% citric acid markedly improved the bioavailability of P, without compromising intestinal function and health of fish. Citric acid seemed to be a promising feed additive for aqua-feeds to reduce P discharge into environment.\"

Fast-growing tilapia farmer Victory Farms is planning to double the size of its Kenya hatchery in 2019, making it the largest such sub-Saharan facility. The farm is also developing its own feed supply and ingredient inputs. In 2017, Victory Farms sold 170t of tilapia and estimates 1,200t for 2018.

The Midwest Ag-Energy Group in North Dakota is proceeding with plans to produce a fishmeal replacement ingredient from barley. The group will convert barley from North Dakota barley producers into a high protein barley concentrate that would be a replacement for fish meal. \"Barley is a product that really isn\'t in high demand to be grown out in the area of Dakota Spirit, so it\'s a possibility to merry up crop production that works well with the land out in the area with a high-value product that we produce right here in the state.\"

Gold Coin, one of the Asia’s largest feed manufacturers, is said to be on the market for about $500 million. \"People in the know\" told Bloomberg that Peter Zuellig’s holding company, Golden Springs Group, could find a buyer for the Singapore-based business this year. Other options under consideration include partnerships or an initial public offering, according to Bloomberg\'s source. With a milling capacity of approximately 2.5 million tonnes per year, Gold Coin offers products for both livestock and the aquaculture, including young animals and hatchery feed, premixes, concentrates and compound feed.

Hans Erik Bylling, CEO and owner of Aller Aqua, recently returned from Monaco where he participated in the competition EY World Entrepreneur Of the Year 2018 (WEOY). “It is quite an experience to participate with so many skilled business people, all with amazing stories. We have learnt a lot, and we got many new contacts. We have returned to the office in Aller feeling inspired. We are also pleased with the positive publicity, for us as a company, but also for the aquaculture sector as a whole. I hope that the increased focus on aquaculture will open the public’s eyes to the fact that aquaculture is a sustainable way of producing meat.\"

IFFO has announced the appointment of Petter Martin Johannessen as the new Director General. Johannessen was previously Global Business Director for Risk and Management Sourcing at Cargill Aqua Nutrition and before that Supply Chain Director and Global Sourcing and Purchasing lead at EWOS Group. \"IFFO’s in a unique position by representing a diverse cross section of businesses from the aquaculture and animal feed industries. I look forward to continuing Andrew’s legacy, focusing on IFFO’s evidence based approach in communicating the vital importance of marine ingredients and the responsible practices of the industry.\" 

Coppens International, which joined the Alltech family of companies in 2016, has been rebranded as Alltech Coppens. “This rebrand to Alltech Coppens is very much a natural progression. Since 2016, our teams have worked together, combining our respective specialist skills to deliver the very latest innovative aquaculture feeds directly to producers across the globe. This mission shall very much continue under the Alltech Coppens brand.”