Aller Aqua and marine ingredients producer TripleNine entered a research collaboration in 2019. The aim of the partnership was to identify functional components of marine raw materials with particular attention to its benefit performance in terms of fish health and growth, as well as sustainability.
The companies already finished their trials on fish. The use of functional marine ingredients produced by TripleNine was tested at Aller Aqua’s research facility. Rainbow trout were fed on different diets containing functional marine ingredients from first feeding until they reached fingerling size. The functional ingredients led to positive effects on fish growth performance and health and provided excellent survival rates in the test groups. This fulfills the initial objective of maximizing feed performance through targeted use of the functional properties of marine ingredients.
“We appreciate that TripleNine, a well-known producer of marine ingredients, specializes in value-adding products. The ones we have tested are nutritionally valuable fish feed ingredients but using them as concentrated functional ingredients, their impact increases. Our trials confirm this,” explained R&D director at Aller Aqua, Hanno Slawski.
Kenneth Storbank, chief commercial officer at TripleNine, stated that “we are very happy that the trials confirmed our intentions with 999Vital, which is the name for the product. Ensuring optimal efficiency by concentrating the functional ingredients ensures that we will contribute to heightening both performance and sustainability in the aquaculture sector. We have a good collaboration with Aller Aqua and it is a good way for us to get our products commercially tested and solidly documented.”
In the future, 999Vital will serve as set functional ingredients in Aller Aqua’s starter feeds. Ongoing tests will further evaluate the effects in grow-out and broodstock stages for other possible applications.
Sustainability has been the focus of these studies to further optimize the aquaculture value chain. The partnership took into account the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly goal 12, Responsible Consumption and Production, and goal 14, Life below water that were considered when discussing marine raw materials. The marine ingredients are locally produced, which fits into Aller Aqua’s policy of buying regional raw materials when feasible. Concentrating the functional ingredients in marine raw materials ensures minimum waste and optimum effect from less raw materials. This reduces the aquaculture value chain’s reliance on marine raw materials, as less is needed, and at the same time, less waste ensures a better water environment.
999Vital has been deemed highly successful in terms of both performance and sustainability, and both Aller Aqua and TripleNine have benefitted from the trial cooperation.
