Louis Dreyfus Company B.V. (LDC) and Guangdong HAID Group Co. Ltd. (HAID) signed a partnership to build a new feed mill in Tianjin, China, to be operated by their joint venture, Tianjin Rongchuan Feed Co. Ltd. The mill will produce high-end aquatic feeds, including prawn feeds, as well as fermented soybean meal.

Norway and China have signed an agreement that will contribute to securing market access in China for Norwegian fishmeal and oil.

Thai Union Group is considering spinning off Thai Union Feedmill, a manufacturer and distributor of animal feed, which generates sales revenue of Bt4 billion to Bt5 billion annually.

Neovia Vietnam launched an aquaculture solution with a three standards model named “Mr. Three Standards” and an online consulting channel on Zalo platform to assist farmers with aquaculture technical issues and update them with the latest industry activities.

Thailand’s Shrimp Health Resources Improvement project (SHRImp), managed by the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership (SFP) in collaboration with IDH, the Sustainable Trade Initiative, has partnered with XpertSea to deploy a collaborative farm solution to help manage production risks at multiple shrimp farms in Thailand.

The Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China announced anti-dumping investigations concerning the import of the essential amino acid and feed additive methionine from Japan, Malaysia and Singapore.

Vietnam and a collective of Dutch companies that includes Nutreco, have joined a three-year project to improve the quality of Vietnamese shrimp aquaculture.

The SEAFDEC/AQD launched a regional database of alternative feed ingredients to serve as a reference on the different feed ingredients that, depending on cost and availability, may be used to produce cheaper feed. The database currently lists over 70 different feed ingredients along with their nutritional composition and optimal inclusion levels.

The company has launched a new diet, MaGro, that aims at helping tuna farmers to avoid the biosecurity risks and sustainability issues associated with baitfish diets. The new diet, that is available in Japan, is a soft extruded feed for bluefin tuna that has been created using patented production technology.

The ICAR-Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture (ICAR-CIBA) has partnered with Aker BioMarine India to test krill meal in shrimp and fish feeds in India.

Simon Seward was named Aker BioMarine’s new VP QRILL Sales in Asia.

Entobel announced that it has raised €1 million in funding. Strategic local investors, as well as Western European investors, took part in this round of funding which will allow Entobel to build its first commercial-scale insect protein factory in Vietnam.

The American Soybean Association in partnership with Kansas State University officially launched the Commercialization of Aquaculture for Sustainable Trade Cambodia project (CAST). The project will connect trade and development by accelerating the production of high-demand fish species for the Cambodian market and developing a lasting aquaculture industry that recognizes the value of soybean protein in feed.

Japanese farm, euglena Co., whose microalgae products have applications ranging from health food and cosmetics to biofuels has become the first in the world to attain certification to the new ASC-MSC Seaweed (Algae) Standard.

Charoen Pokphand Foods (CP Foods) wants all fishmeal suppliers meet the standards to improve sustainability and traceability.

US exports of DDG to Thailand has been stopped due to new fumigation requirements.

The joint-venture between Skretting and West Coast Group and its new aquafeed plant will support the country’s growing need for sustainable shrimp and fish feeds.

The government of Manipur has announced plants to setup a state-run feed mill to produce fish feeds. Manipur requires 52,000 metric tonnes of fish feed to be self sufficient against the 32,000 metric tonnes of fish produced by the state in a year. According to the state fisheries secretary, a mill with a capacity of producing 170 kilograms of fish feed per hour will be installed by March 2019.

India’s largest shrimp feed maker has lost nearly three-fifths of its market value so far this year as shrimp prices fell and raw material costs rose. Shares of Avanti Feeds Ltd. plunged nearly 59 percent in 2018, the worst yearly rout since 2011 listing, according to Bloomberg data. A 20-25 percent drop in shrimp output in addition to higher prices of soymeal and fishmeal are largely responsible for the drop in earnings.

Benchmark Holdings announced that it has successfully prosecuted patent infringement in Thailand. The IP&IT court in Thailand ruled that Marine-Tech International (MTI) infringed two of Benchmark's patents related to artemia and hatching enrichment, and the company must cease using the patented technology. The court also awarded damages to Benchmark, which may be subject to appeal. "We are pleased the IP&IT court in Bangkok has ruled in our favor, vindicating the intellectual property which underpins the value of our innovative solutions and future product pipeline. Robust intellectual property protection will continue to be a core strategic area of focus for the group."