Kames Fish Farming has become the first trout farm in the UK to join feed supplier Cargill’s SeaFurther™ Sustainability program, to help farmers achieve carbon-neutral fish. 

The program follows a three-fold approach with the aim of at least 30% reduction in GHG emissions/kg of fish by 2030, in line with science-based targets.

• Supply chain: Collaborating with suppliers and customers to develop emissions reduction initiatives throughout the value chain.
• Materials & production: Identifying raw materials with lower carbon footprints and developing production.
• Feed efficiency: Innovating higher welfare feeds, reducing effluents, and improving modeling capabilities.

The process is already underway, with Cargill and Kames partnering to assess the “hot spots” where efficiency can be improved. The Kames Sustainability Committee continues to drive progress across all aspects of the business and reported a decrease of 24% in our carbon footprint in 2021 from 2020, chiefly by improvements and better transparency in the feed supply chain. “Our aim is to implement emissions reductions in our value chain going forward and, in time, create a fish that not only has an efficient protein ration (FIFO) but has no carbon footprint impact,” the company said.

Kames MD, Neil Manchester, said that “Kames fully adheres to the UN’s 14th Sustainable Development Goal to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development. We recognize our role as providing a solution to the ocean’s recovery while feeding the increasing population and understand the responsibility that farming in the sea entails. Supporting the 13th Sustainable Development Goal on climate action, it is also critical to take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts. Carbon efficiency resulting in reduced emissions will only be fully achieved if we can work together across the whole supply chain, so it’s fantastic that this program and open communication is happening, rapidly and at scale. We are proud to lead the way for reducing emissions from the trout industry through this partnership with Cargill.”