UK-based retail giant Tesco has called for an increased use of algae-based feeds in farmed salmon. The news is a big development for the algae industry, the future of aquaculture, and those that are watching how global supply chains must become more sustainable to meet the needs of growing populations.
As the world’s population grows, driving the need for more food, we will have to find ways to to produce more protein without causing additional pressures on global ecosystems. Algae-based omega 3s help to cut down on the use of wild-caught forage fish in feeds for farmed fish and are a crucial ingredient to enabling the growth of aquaculture while reducing pressure on wild fisheries.
With more than 3,400 stores globally, Tesco’s power to influence supply chain standards means their call for more algal oil in feeds will likely influence others to do the same.
A number of ABO members have introduced algae-based salmon feed ingredients in the past few years, and with new production facilities coming online in just the past few months, it seems that the potential for algae to provide big strides in the name of sustainability is beginning to take shape.
Read more at Seafood Source, Feed Navigator and Intrafish.