20/02/2015: This Bill Gates-supported startup is about to open the world's largest fly farm in South Africa

February 20, 2015, 12:20 am

≫ Next: ANDRITZ Feed Technologies company profile

≪ Previous: 19/02/2015: Extruded feed for warm water finfish and shrimp

The world's largest fly farm is about to open in South Africa as part of an initiative to produce sustainable feed for chicken and fish, The Business Insider reports.

Industrial farmed chicken and fish eat fish meal, which is bad for the environment because it depletes already fragile fish resources. To create 1 kilogram of high-protein fish meal, for example, it takes 4.5 kilogrammes of smaller pelagic fish such as anchovies and sardines, according to Time Magazine.

http://uk.businessinsider.com/jason-drew-magmeal-farm-in-south-africa-2015-2?r=US#ixzz3S6aWd4u9

The cost of fish meal is also rising with increased demand for fish. Fish meal sold for less than US$500 (UK£325 ) a tonne in the early 2000s, but last year it peaked at US$2400 (UK£1562) a tonne, according to Bloomberg.

But AgriProtein, a South African farming company, has a solution. AgriProtein produces MagMeal — animal feed that is made from fly larvae that feeds on waste. The benefit of MagMeal is two-fold: It offers a sustainable, natural source of protein for farmed animals (there's no shortage of flies), and at the same time, helps to eliminate garbage.

In 2012, AgriProtein received funds from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to support its insect-based protein product and the company's commitment to waste solutions.

“It is not different from what already happens in nature,” Jason Drew, the founder and director of AgriProtein told Business Insider UK. “The anomaly is what we do now — 30% of the fish we take is not consumed by humans, but rather fed to fishes or chickens. I mean, if a chicken was meant to eat fish it would be called a seagull."

AgriProtein, founded in 2009, started building its first industrial-scale factory in May 2014. The plant, which can house more than 8 billion flies and produce 22 tons of larvae every day, is set to open next month, according to Drew.

Common flies are harvested with organic waste, such as food leftovers from supermarkets and restaurants and remains from slaughterhouses. The flies lay their eggs in the waste, and these eggs rapidly turn into larvae, eating the waste as they grow. The BBC calculated that one kilogram of eggs becomes 380 kilogrammes of larvae in just three days.

After a few days, before they become flies, the larvae are collected, washed, and pressurised into MagMeal, which can be delivered to chicken barns and fish farms.

Opening a new fly farm costs about UK£5.2 million (US$8 million), but the investment would be amortised very quickly since the operational costs are low. AgriProtein already has an agreement with Cape Town’s waste disposal agency, helping them to sort out what to do with the garbage of a city of four million.

AgriProtein raised UK£7.15 million (US$11 million) from private backers like Twynam and s.Oliver to help build its latest commercial farm.

A native Yorkshireman, Drew moved to South Africa in 2003. Five years later, he quit his job as manager to dedicate his career to the environment.

Now, Drew calls himself an “environmental capitalist.”

“The industrial revolution is over, and the sustainability revolution has begun," Drew says. "During the industrial revolution you either were environmentalist or a capitalist, and you couldn’t be both. But I am a capitalist and an environmentalist the same time."

He adds: "I am in the business to make millions, but I want to defend the environment. The sustainability revolution can be both: the environmentalists needs to understand that they must follow the market, or otherwise they will fail, and the markets need to understand that if you are a businessman who doesn’t understand the environment you will fail.”

Drew has written two books with one more, "The Environmental Capitalist," set to arrive in April. Drew also spoke about his flies at TEDx and Creative Innovation.

Drew's aim is to feed a growing world population without further depleting the planet’s natural resources. Every day, the world populations grows by 200,000. To meet this growth, combined with an increase demand for protein from the developing world, the world’s annual production of meat will have to increase to 376 million tonnes by 2030, according to the World Health Organization. Fifteen years ago, it was little more than 200 million tonnes.

Although AgriProtein has approval in South Africa, it is still banned in Europe due to a regulation introduced during the mad cow disease epidemic that prohibits the feeding of livestock with processed meat. MagMeal falls into this category.

The new farm, located about 120 kilometres north of Cape Town, will be joined by another South African facility later this year.

“We are in talks to license our technology abroad," Drew says. "We want to bring fly farming to the US, Latin America, Asia, and Australia. In 15 years, we could have 40 to 45 of these farms worldwide.”Read the article HERE.

The Aquaculturists
This blog is maintained by The Aquaculturists staff and is supported by the
magazine International Aquafeed which is published by Perendale Publishers Ltd

For additional daily news from aquaculture around the world: aquaculture-news

↧

ANDRITZ Feed Technologies company profile

February 20, 2015, 12:30 am

≫ Next: 20/02/2015: Entrepreneurs around Micronesia restore both fisheries and local economies

≪ Previous: 20/02/2015: This Bill Gates-supported startup is about to open the world's largest fly farm in South Africa

ANDRITZ Feed Technologies designs and builds key process machines, but also offers complete plant solutions for the global animal feed industries. Their business is based on a competitive approach to matching the requirements of successful livestock feed, aquatic feed and pet food companies.

When designing new technologies or customer specific plant solutions, ANDRITZ Feed Technologies has to take account of the demand for reliable processing, cost efficiency, uniform quality, and high-performance animal feed, considering the shifting availability of feed ingredients, the increasing number of environmental standards and hygiene regulations, and the requirement for traceability in the interests of food safety.

ANDRITZ Feed Technologies is a corporate group with worldwide development, production within process technology and after-sales service to the feed and biofuel industries. With branches in 13 countries employing approx. 800 people and a world-wide network of agents and distributors, they are the leading supplier of competitive system and process solutions for the feed and biofuel industry. They design and develop all feed and biofuel key productions processes and design total solutions fitting the customer's needs, thus ensuring the highest standards for the customer.

Visit the website HERE.

↧

20/02/2015: Entrepreneurs around Micronesia restore both fisheries and local economies

February 20, 2015, 3:20 am

≫ Next: 20/02/2015: Making fish farming appetizing

≪ Previous: ANDRITZ Feed Technologies company profile

The Fish 2.0 business competition held a workshop for entrepreneurs from the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), the Marshall Islands, Palau, Guam and Saipan. The workshop was held in Pohnpei with the support of the Micronesia Conservation Trust, IdEA and the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, Monica Jain of National Geographic reports.

Before we went, some colleagues wondered whether there would be enough businesses from this region to warrant having a workshop at all. The 25 entrepreneurs who attended quickly alleviated these concerns.

Participating businesses ranged from lobster and rabbit fish aquaculture, to rental equipment for local fishermen, to small-scale distributors who bring locally caught seafood to markets and restaurants in the region.

http://voices.nationalgeographic.com/2015/02/17/fish20pohnpei/

The challenges these business leaders face demonstrate how large-scale, foreign fishing offshore, coupled with declining nearshore reef fisheries, creates both the need and opportunity for sustainability-oriented business innovation.

More than 50% of the tuna the world eats comes from the many small islands in the Western Pacific. These fisheries earn hundreds of millions in U.S. dollars each year, but very little of that money returns to local communities: the fishing boats that operate here are usually from other places – China, Japan, and the mainland US, to name a few – and almost all of the tuna they catch is exported without any local processing or value-added operations.

At the same time, nearshore reef fisheries are in decline, creating the ironic situation in which island communities surrounded by some of the most diverse and important fisheries in the world, have a hard time actually finding fish to eat. The pattern is one we see not just in the Pacific, but globally.

It looks like this: as nearshore fisheries decline and supply tightens, one expects prices to rise, but they do not. For example, the price of reef fish in the Micronesian market has remained at $1/pound for the past 20 years in spite of increases in fuel and other costs of fishing.

Local fishermen, struggling to feed their families, catch more and smaller fish to make ends meet, exacerbating the sustainability issues.

At our workshop, we met local entrepreneurs who are trying to break this cycle by designing businesses that help both local fisheries and community economies rebound. These businesses are improving storage, so fish can be kept and sold when demanded, developing value-added products like salted or smoked fish to attract new consumers, reducing waste and improving profits through better handling, employing solar power to improve margins, and creating local aquaculture projects to keep the volumes of fish in the market consistent.

Some examples from our event include:

Paul Ayim of Quality Catch. Quality Catch offers high quality pole and line caught tuna to both local and international markets. The company also offers storage, processing and other services for local fishermen so that they can package and sell their products to regional and international markets.
Ronney and Andriet Tilfas of Hapmak Local Market. Hapmak serves local shoppers and businesses, offering lobster, reef fish, tuna, and mud crab. The business is known for high-quality, freshness, and reliability – and the Tilfas’ work with their fishing suppliers to ensure that their seafood is caught sustainably under existing rules and regulations.
Bernice Ngirkelau and Latii Palacios of Palau Aquatics. Palau Aquatics is a sister-company with the nonprofit, the Palau Women’s Cooperative. Together, they train women in Palau to farm mangrove crabs and provide them with the gear to start their own small farms. The company then picks up harvested crabs from the women and packs and ships them to local and regional restaurants. They have a track record of success, bringing needed income to poor communities and empowering women.

These are just a few examples of businesses and entrepreneurs that are growing in the Pacific and seeking investment to expand operations. By expanding, each of these ventures would provide jobs and additional income to community members, become drivers of sustainability in their communities, and help meet demands of overseas consumers for traceable, sustainably captured and farmed seafood.

It is this kind of change, driven by business leaders that value environmental sustainability and social well-being, that has the potential to bring back nearshore fisheries and local fishing economies — not just in the Pacific but around the world.

We encourage more Pacific Island businesses as well as investors and experts interested in learning more about the region to join Fish 2.0. Please go to www.fish20.org before April to learn more and register!

Read the article HERE.

↧

20/02/2015: Making fish farming appetizing

February 20, 2015, 3:34 am

≫ Next: 20/02/2015: AAP opposes Central Government’s decision allowing MNCs to fish in Indian waters

≪ Previous: 20/02/2015: Entrepreneurs around Micronesia restore both fisheries and local economies

There’s a certain appeal to fish farming, also known as aquaculture. Growing aquatic life in offshore pens, rivers, or big, terrestrial tanks seems not only audacious, but as convenient as, well, shooting fish in a barrel. Already, aquaculture accounts for nearly 50 percent of the worldwide fish supply, and it’s growing faster than any other type of food production, GOOD reports.

Farm-raised seafood will soon jump to 62 percent of global fish served on a plate or bought in a supermarket by 2030, a 500 percent growth rate over 20 years, according to the USDA. At a time when 85 percent of marine life is overexploited and overfished, aquaculture seems like a viable alternative.

http://magazine.good.is/articles/aquaspark-aquaculture

But in the past, environmentalists have been wary to embrace the industry. Farms generally rely on less than desirable practices to grow their fish. Many use heavy amounts of antibiotics, which can pollute surface waters and spur the growth of antibiotic-resistant microbes. Invasive species of fish that escape netted pens bring disease and decimation to native populations. Perhaps strangest of all, fishmeal used on farms is almost always ground, wild-caught fish. Of total fish caught by fisheries worldwide, 37 percent goes toward making fishmeal.

Aqua-Spark, an investment fund focused on sustainable aquaculture, is out to change these practices and chart an environmentally sound future. Co-founded in 2013 by Amy Novogratz, former director of the TED Prize, and successful entrepreneur Mike Velings, the fund spent two years raising US$10 million. Last month, they announced their first two investments, with a goal to grow over US$400 million by 2024. They’ve put a finger on the pulse of an industry that’s not only projected to expand rapidly, but with room to develop sustainably, as well.

GOOD caught up with Amy Novogratz last Friday.

Tell me how Aqua-Spark was founded. What’s the driving philosophy?
Amy Novogratz: I was working with TED, working on Sylvia Earle’s TED Prize wish [Mission Blue], and her wish was around bringing more awareness to the ocean and the need to protect more of it in order to restore it.

As part of her wish, we brought 100 people to the Galápagos for a TED-like conference, and talked through all the challenges the ocean was facing. My business partner and husband [Mike Velings] was on the boat. We were immersed in 10 days of all the issues surrounding the ocean, and also meeting a network of ocean scientists, advocates, and philanthropists. We started thinking about what we wanted to do together, and doing something in the ocean space made a lot of sense. He’s an entrepreneur and was investing already.

When you start looking at the numbers of how much fish we’re eating, how much is out there, what’s being produced, how poorly a lot of it is being produced, it really grabs you. Little by little, we dug more and more into aquaculture, and saw a major opportunity to add value there, and also a business opportunity.

One of Aqua-Spark’s first investments is with Calysta, a US-based biotech company that pioneered a new type of fishmeal. Rather than relying on wild-caught fish to make feed, they use a high protein, fermented microbe. It seems like you’re really starting with fish farming’s Achilles’ heel: a lack of sustainable fishmeal.

In general, our whole approach is to try and build a portfolio of companies that are working together, adding benefits to each other, and striving to make the industry better.

Everyone in this space realizes you’re never actually going to have sustainable aquaculture until you figure out the fish feed. Not only is it completely unsustainable and a little ridiculous to feed wild-caught fish to farmed fish, we’re not even there anymore. When you look at the numbers of fish we need to produce, we’re not going to catch the amount of anchovies or sardines we need to feed [farmed fish].

There needs to be a better solution. Soy has been the best out there so far. In some cases, it probably works. We don’t love soya, especially for carnivorous fish. We’re looking at a lot of different areas—we’re looking at algae, at single cell proteins—but we got really excited with Calysta’s product. It just felt like a huge step in the right direction.

A study in Science last month warned that aquatic life may be on the “precipice of an extinction event.” What is aquaculture doing to help?

A doorway into wanting to start this fund was a desire to take pressure off of the ocean. We’re not anti-fishery, and there’s a lot of innovative stuff happening, trying to manage fisheries better.

But when you look at the global demand for fish, you’re not going to be able to get it from the sea. There’s a lot that’s happening in a way that we don’t approve. There’s a ton of illegal fishing, and a lot of fishing practices that are unsustainable.

For us, we think we have this really good answer, which is aquaculture. We just need to make it better. There’s been so much research and development that says we can farm fish in a way that’s really good for the environment and good for us, and that’s how we should farm it.

What can aquaculture do to reduce poverty?

One of the reasons we started this fund was a conversation with WorldFish, which has been working for decades to use aquaculture both to help reduce poverty and to provide everybody with the best, most affordable, and really healthy fish.

Our investment in Chicoa Fish Farm—it’s one part a really incredible farming operation on its own, but it’s also building a hatchery and a feed mill. They will be able to supply local farmers what they need to start their own farms.

I keep going back to the supply and demand numbers, but there’s a huge deficit of protein we [humans] need, and the population’s growing, growing, growing. Certain species of fish, species that are also really efficient, like tilapia, if you have the right fingerlings [juvenile fish], the right feed source, and a bit of knowledge, you can grow tilapia. We need to support that framework by creating hatcheries and feed mills in areas where there aren’t any, and build a better framework for the industry. It’s a really great business solution to food security issues.

So like you said, demand for seafood is expected to swell in the coming decades, but so are the negative consequences of climate change, such as ocean acidification and rising sea surface temperatures. What is climate change going to mean for aquaculture in the coming decades?

In the sense that we’re going to get even less fish from the sea?

Right.

I mean, even before going there, if things stay as they are, we’re still kind of doomed.

One of the reasons that we made our first investment in sub-Saharan Africa is that’s where the deficit is one of the largest in general. Mozambique has one of the largest coastlines in Africa. You have a population that’s really used to eating fish. So it had a really high consumption of fish per person, but that fish is no longer there. The consumption rate is actually decreasing, but it’s only because the fish aren’t there.

The worry is, if we start to substitute that protein with beef or pork or high-energy, less resource-efficient ways to grow protein, we’re actually in a ton of trouble. So even looking at the best case scenario, we still absolutely need aquaculture. That’s why I think a lot of conservationists and people who, 10 years ago, were saying, “Oh, aquaculture’s bad and dirty,” are now saying, “Ok, we need to work together and get this right.”

Read the article HERE.

↧

20/02/2015: AAP opposes Central Government’s decision allowing MNCs to fish in Indian waters

February 20, 2015, 3:54 am

≫ Next: 20/02/2015: Innovation in aquafeed processing technology

≪ Previous: 20/02/2015: Making fish farming appetizing

Several leaders of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), hailing from the coastal districts of Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Uttara Kannada and also Shimoga, unilaterally condemned the Central Government's decision to permit multinational companies to conduct deep sea fishing in Indian waters, The Times of India reports.

They said this decision will spell disaster for the millions of Indian fishermen and their families who entirely dependent on the ocean for livelihood.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/AAP-opposes-Centres-decision-allowing-MNCs-fish-in-Indian-waters/articleshow/46311700.cms

AAP members Dr Merica Pinto, MR Vasudeva, Rohan Shiri and M Salim said the explanation by the Central Government that Indians are not capable of deep water fishing, due to which fish stock moves away from Indian waters appears to be merely an excuse. They said the Central Government has not considered major risks that MNCs can pose in destroying the livelihood of Indian fishermen and also of causing grave danger to the delicate marine ecology. This raises the question as to whether the BJP, which has the majority in the Central Government, has any vested interests that conflict with those of the people and the environment, they said.

Pointing out that thousands of families are dependent on fishing along the Karnataka's 320 km coastline apart from businessmen and industries, they said instead of providing support, relief and encouragement , the government was considering this retrograde step.

"While [the Central Government] can provide Rs60 billion (US$0.96 billion) loan to an Indian capitalist to invest in Australian coal mines, then what prevents the government in investing in Indian businesses?" they asked. They also questioned what Karnataka state and the Fisheries Development Corporation is doing in this regard?

Noting that while the PM Modi is inviting everyone to "Make in India", AAP members asked whether deep sea fishing is as complex as rocket science? AAP has demanded that the State Government take up the issue strongly with the Central Government and not allow any MNC companies to operate on the coast of Karnataka. They warned of protests in the coming days if this was not done.

Read the article HERE.

↧

20/02/2015: Innovation in aquafeed processing technology

February 20, 2015, 4:13 am

≫ Next: WAS America live feed

≪ Previous: 20/02/2015: AAP opposes Central Government’s decision allowing MNCs to fish in Indian waters

by Clextral

First published in International Aquafeed, January - February 2015

World leading aquafeed technology expert Clextral has played a pioneering role in the innovation and development of twin-screw extrusion for aquafeed since the 1970s. To respond to new challenges and increase the capacity of existing systems, Clextral is introducing two innovations this year: a new preconditioner and a new range of twin-screw extruders with advanced control.

In twin-screw extrusion of fish-feed pellets, preconditioners are recognised by industry experts for their production benefits. The new Clextral Preconditioner+ integrates two horizontal, intermeshing, counter-rotating shafts that provide tangible production benefits: improving the overall process and the quality of the finished food products and enabling energy savings, while providing greater flexibility and more precise control over the operating parameters, whatever the recipe.

The key innovation of Clextral’s Preconditioner that improves heat and mass transfer to the product is the Advanced Filling Control device (AFC) which interacts directly with the material inside the mixing chamber and enables the filling ratio to be adjusted. The AFC system uses an exclusive conveying screw inside the tank and adjusts the flow by enabling a partial and controlled recycling of the material being processed, from the outlet to the entry point, thus intensifying the specific preconditioning functions.

In addition to increasing the filling ratio, the AFC system also generates better product distribution, in particular in the first third of the mixing chamber which is the preferential zone for steam injection. The adjustable water and steam injection ports have been optimally positioned to enhance absorption and product exposure time during the mixing stage.

Extensive experimental trials have been carried out on the Preconditioner+ to verify the processing improvements generated by its AFC system on the twin-screw extrusion process. In this case a standard fish-feed recipe (basic salmon feed) was used, not to gauge optimal performance but to set an objective benchmark compared to traditional preconditioning systems.

http://issuu.com/international_aquafeed/docs/iaf1501_w1/20

The first significant observation was a lowering of the SME (Specific Mechanical Energy) required in the extruder – an average of 3 percent with equal extrusion parameters – mainly due to the increase in preconditioning time, and largely compensating for the additional consumption of the Preconditioner+. As mentioned previously, this efficient pre-cooking reduces the shear and the torque requirements in the extruder, which results in less wear of the screws and barrels.

By focusing exclusively on the Preconditioner+, the experiment also demonstrated that the new filling ratio (up to 75 percent) achieved with AFC made it possible to increase residence time by 60 percent for an equivalent fish-feed flow and therefore to exceed the average of three minutes. At the same time, the combination filling/steam distribution made it possible to increase the product temperature by 3-4°C at the outlet of the Preconditioner+, using comparable steam injection.

It is even possible to achieve a product temperature of over 96°C with optimised steam injection, while limiting energy loss due to the new design. Following the improvements on the pre-cooking stage, a significant increase in starch gelatinisation before product feed into the extruder was witnessed and measured.

Finally, on the finished product after extrusion, granulation and drying, these upstream modifications resulted in an increased hardness of the pellets of at least 10 to 15 percent, an essential quality criterion required for their use in fish farms.

Beyond the process benefits on product quality, it is important to note that this equipment is designed to facilitate industrial applications, in particular because of the increased flexibility provided by the AFC. This variable speed device enables adjustments of the residence time as required to adapt the equipment to different types of recipes and to respond to the needs of multi-product extrusion lines. Moreover, this convenient design allows the system to start up when fully charged, even after prolonged downtime with a full tank, thanks to the new kinematic feature.

In terms of hygiene and food safety, the Preconditioner+ is designed with minimal retention areas to facilitate cleaning. This feature is further enhanced by an integrated ‘quick recipe change-over’ function through the reversible AFC system, used here as a conveying screw that enables the entire tank to be emptied. These improvements in equipment cleaning capabilities and hygienic design are important advantages for food processing applications.
Finally, the intensification of Clextral’s Preconditioner + offers improvement in the overall process, energy savings and enhanced quality of finished products, as well as greater flexibility and better control of operating parameters, whatever the recipe.

A daily task of aquafeed processors is ensuring the perfectly stable quality of the finished product despite daily variation in the characteristics of the raw materials. Clextral’s new EVOLUM + twin-screw extruders offer advanced technology that gives processors new levels of throughput, flexibility, and control while ensuring maximum product quality and process stability.

A major innovation, the Advanced Thermal Control (ATC) is a self-learning, proprietary software solution to ensure absolute precision in temperature control. ATC continuously monitors production and adjusts to changes in parameters (characteristics of raw materials, recipes, throughput, etc.) to ensure process and product consistency. ATC is proven to enhance process stability up to 70 percent, with energy savings averaging 20 percent by eliminating excess heating/cooling to maintain process temperature set points in any circumstances.

The EVOLUM+ range has also been specifically built for more hygienic processing and food safety with ergonomic designs and open profiles that allow full machine access.

Clextral continues to innovate with twin-screw extrusion systems that produce aquatic feed with a precise balance of proteins, oils and carbohydrates, processed for optimum digestibility with reduced waste. Clextral’s systems process a wide selection of recipes and raw materials and accurately control pellet density for specific product attributes, such as sinking and floating properties. With these innovations in preconditioner and extruder technologies, Clextral is helping aquafeed processors meet the process challenges of today and the future.

Read the magazine HERE.

↧

WAS America live feed

February 20, 2015, 10:30 am

≫ Next: 23/02/2015: New seafood traceability standard caters to restaurants, fishmongers and fresh fish counters

≪ Previous: 20/02/2015: Innovation in aquafeed processing technology

Tom Blacker from the International Aquafeed / Aquaculturists team will be on site at WAS Aquaculture America (#WASAmerica), bringing our readers the highlights.

If you are at the show, head on over to stand 242 in the exhibition hall to grab a complimentary copy of International Aquafeed magazine.

WAS America - what is happening right now!

Tweets by @IAFmagazine

↧

23/02/2015: New seafood traceability standard caters to restaurants, fishmongers and fresh fish counters

February 23, 2015, 1:23 am

≫ Next: 23/02/2015: Italy lays claim to inventing fish and chips and bringing it to the UK

≪ Previous: WAS America live feed

The updated MSC Chain of Custody Standardimproves the auditing process for over 2800 organisations.

The world’s leading sustainable seafood certification program has revised its requirements for seafood suppliers, processors and vendors. Following feedback from over 200 stakeholders around the world, the Marine Stewardship Council’s (MSC) Chain of Custody Standard is now more streamlined, clear and accessible.

The updated MSC Chain of Custody Standard includes a new specific set of requirements designed to work better for consumer-facing companies, such as restaurants, fishmongers and caterers. The standard also continues to offer a cost-effective ‘group chain of custody’ option for large organisations or groups of smaller businesses that wish to work together to get certified.

All MSC Chain of Custody audits must apply the updated standard from 1 September 2015. Certified organisations that have scheduled an audit before September 2015 should contact their certification body to verify when they will transition to the updated standard.

The MSC Chain of Custody Standard ensures that only seafood from wild-capture fisheries certified to the MSC Fisheries Standard for environmentally sustainable fishing can carry the MSC ecolabel and claim. It is also used to ensure the integrity of the supply chain for responsibly farmed seafood certified to the Aquaculture Stewardship Council’s (ASC) standard. Any organisation wishing to be part of the supply chain for MSC and/or ASC certified seafood must comply with the MSC Chain of Custody Standard in order for the end product to be sold with the MSC or ASC label or claim.

Over 2800 organisations in more than 75 countries currently hold a Chain of Custody certificate. These organisations are responsible for handling over 28,000 MSC and 1700 ASC ecolabelled products in around 100 countries.

David Agnew, Standards Director at the MSC said: “The MSC Chain of Custody Standard ensures that consumers can have absolute confidence in claims about the sustainability and sourcing of the seafood they are buying. This is absolutely essential to engaging consumers in protecting our oceans for the future.

“Whilst DNA sampling of seafood demonstrates that the MSC Chain of Custody Standard works, we recognise that industry does not stand still and that our program requires regular improvement. The updates announced today are the result of a year-long consultation with industry representatives. They mean that the MSC scheme is more straightforward and applicable to different companies along the supply chain. Additionally, a separate version of the standard now gives greater access to businesses at the end of the supply chain, allowing them to meet growing consumer demands for sustainable and traceable seafood products.”

Meeting industry needs

Organisations may now choose to be certified against one of three versions of the MSC Chain of Custody Standard, depending on the nature of their business:

Default: For single or multi-site organisations trading certified seafood
Group: For organisations with a central office function and many locations trading certified seafood such as co-operatives or franchises
Consumer-facing: For retailers, restaurants, caterers and fish mongers or fresh fish counters of any size selling or serving certified seafood directly to final consumers.

The new version of the standard for consumer-facing organisations was developed with extensive stakeholder input and piloted with six previously uncertified companies. Their feedback suggests that the new version of the standard is significantly more accessible and fit-for-purpose than the previous MSC Chain of Custody requirements.

http://www.msc.org/get-certified/supply-chain

Scott Taylor, Category Manager at Baxter Storey, a UK-based contract caterer which took part in the pilot, said: “For Baxter Storey the opportunity to continue to strengthen our understanding of sustainable sourcing is key. Working with the MSC to pilot this updated standard for consumer facing organisations has given our teams the opportunity to influence the development of a strong traceability system for seafood, so that it really works for them.

"We found that the updated standard is straightforward, logical and meshes well with our current systems. We have a strong focus on training so it is great that the updated standard places significant focus on this. Site level staff found it simple to implement and really see the value in conveying the sustainability message that MSC offers to our clients and customers.”

Other key changes to the MSC Chain of Custody Standard include:

Clearer requirements for identification and traceability of certified products
More specific requirements for companies to confirm the certified status of products upon receipt, and to ensure they only purchase from certified suppliers
Greater emphasis on competency of staff in meeting the MSC Chain of Custody Standard, and more emphasis on interviews during audit, in addition to checking training records
Revised requirements for ‘under-assessment product’ (formerly ‘UMAF’) – now only fisheries, farms, or organisations that are named members of the fishery/ farm will be eligible to buy and store under-assessment product
MSC Chain of Custody Standard: Group requirements have been restructured and streamlined so they align better with the Default version of the standard
A more equitable and consistent approach for timing of surveillance audits has been introduced. Most companies will now be on annual surveillance audits, with very specific categories of organisations qualifying for a reduced 18-month frequency
A small percentage of surveillance audits (minimum 1% of clients for each certification body) will now be carried out as unannounced audits. These will be determined based on risk or randomly selected, and will replace a normal surveillance audit so there is no additional cost.

Anyone wishing to find out more about the updated standard can join a stakeholder webinar on Friday 27 March 2015. Please email standards@msc.org to register.

Further details of the updated requirements can be found HERE.

Read more about how the MSC ensures the traceability of ecolabelled seafood HERE.

↧

23/02/2015: Italy lays claim to inventing fish and chips and bringing it to the UK

February 23, 2015, 2:05 am

≫ Next: 23/02/2015: Laine Welch: Alaska permit prices dropping; crab, shrimp shells find way into workout gear

≪ Previous: 23/02/2015: New seafood traceability standard caters to restaurants, fishmongers and fresh fish counters

For years it has been the undisputed national dish of Britain: a plate of fish and chips being the ultimate reward after a cold, soggy day at the seaside.

But, in a strange turn of events, Italy has laid claim to the traditional meal, teaching schoolchildren that Venetian immigrants brought the dish over to the British Isles, The Telegraph reports.

The meal has even been served up to hundreds of thousands of pupils across school canteens in Rome in recent weeks, replacing typical Italian pasta dishes.

Rome city council introduced fish and chips as part of a special ‘EU menu’, which also includes goulash, hot dogs and croque-monsieur.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/italy/11426124/Italy-lays-claim-to-inventing-fish-and-chips-and-bringing-it-to-the-UK.html

For a brief period, the project appeared to be a success.

However, beer-braised chicken – a Belgian speciality – proved too much of a leap from the famously healthy Mediterranean diet and prompted dozens of complaints from parents and teachers.

One mother, Paky Simonelli, described the menu as “shameful” while others said their children returned hungry from school. Parents have even launched an online petition demanding schools drop the new dishes.

The council says it devised the menu – which has been served to around 145,000 pupils at nursery, primary and middle schools in the capital and changes monthly – to teach children about the culinary traditions of European nations.

Fish and chips was one of the most popular meals among the children.

But although it was selected to represent the culinary traditions of Britain, the Italians appear to claim that they may be the true inventors of the dish.

In a description offered to pupils, the council cites Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens and says that Venetian immigrants may have brought the meal to the British Isles.

Andrew Crook, treasurer of the National Federation of Fish Friers, said he had never heard of an Italian link to fish and chips and confirmed that the dish was first served around 1860, with the Malin family of London and the Lee's of Mossley, near Manchester both staking claims to be the first.

“I have never heard anything about the Italians bringing over fish and chips,” he said.

“All the history books say it was either the Malins or the Lees.”

The Italians prefer a slightly healthier variation of the British classic dish with the fish only lightly fried before being baked in the oven.

The Rome-based project has taken recipes from 15 European countries including croque-monsieur from France, Wiener schnitzel from Austria and chicken and chips from Ireland.

Alessandra Cattoi, Rome councillor for schools, said: “This is a small educational project to explain the origins and traditions of some dishes the children already eat, and it gives teachers the opportunity to explore the idea of Europe.

“Like all school meals served in Rome, these are prepared under the guidance of dietitians and are served alongside vegetables and fruit.”

However, Paolo Masini, also a schools councillor at Rome city hall, admitted that schools had returned pasta to school menus in response to complaints from parents.

Read the article HERE.

↧

23/02/2015: Laine Welch: Alaska permit prices dropping; crab, shrimp shells find way into workout gear

February 23, 2015, 2:41 am

≫ Next: BIOMIN company profile

≪ Previous: 23/02/2015: Italy lays claim to inventing fish and chips and bringing it to the UK

Last year was one of the busiest years ever for Alaska brokers who help fishermen buy, sell and trade fishing permits and quota shares, Alaska Dispatch News reports.

“I was really happy to see such a good mix of permits we were selling -- it wasn’t just one thing,” said Olivia Olsen of Alaskan Quota and Permits in Petersburg.

“We had a lot of Dungeness crab permits, charter halibut permits, salmon and shrimp permits, sea cucumbers, and then whatever IFQs we could find.”

Salmon permit sales peak from March through May, and early indicators point to lower salmon prices this year in a plentiful market. A strong US dollar against the yen, euro and other currencies also makes it more expensive for foreign customers to buy Alaska salmon. At the same time, record numbers of cheaper, farmed salmon continue to flood into the US from Norway and Chile.

Combined, those factors are having a downward press on permit prices - notably, at Alaska’s bellwether sockeye fishery at Bristol Bay.

https://www.adn.com/article/20150222/laine-welch-alaska-permit-prices-dropping-crab-shrimp-shells-find-way-workout-gear

Drift permits last fall were fetching a record US$175,000; now they’ve dipped to US$164,000.

“Permit prices have softened in the Bay and actually kind of across the board for any salmon permits,” said Doug Bowen with Alaska Boats and Permits in Homer, adding that there “is concern about the price in the Bay this year.”

“A lot of sockeye is left in the market from the big run in the Bay last year, plus from the Fraser River. And another big sockeye run is forecasted for Bristol Bay this summer. So there are some negative price rumors out there about the exvessel (dock) price in the Bay dipping below a dollar a pound.”

Even if a permit buyer is interested, both brokers said it could be tough going for anyone trying to break into the fishery.

“Some of these guys buying in are having quite a bit of difficulty just lining up a market and finding anyone who will take them on, because the processors at Bristol Bay are bracing for another big year and not really looking to expand their fleets,” Bowen explained.

Elsewhere, Prince William Sound seine permits have dropped below US$200,000 for the first time in several years. Cook Inlet drifts are at US$65,000, down from US$90,000 two years ago. Kodiak seine permit interest is flat at around US$50,000.

Still, both brokers said the mood on the Alaska waterfront is very upbeat.

“I could feel it in the fall with how busy we were,” Olsen said.

“People are looking forward to a good year.”

Bowne added: “We do see a lot of optimism among the fleets,” said Bowen,

“and people are building new boats. That is definitely the biggest vote of confidence that you can make.”

The 40 day Lenten season began early this year - Ash Wednesday was February 18 - giving the traditional boost to seafood sales. The season will end on Easter Sunday, April 5.

Lent, derived from the Old English lencten, meaning spring, is a time of fasting and soul searching for hundreds of millions of Christians around the world that dates back to the fourth century. Many believers give up favorite foods, or devote time to volunteering or charity work.

What the peak holiday selling season from Thanksgiving to Christmas means to retailers, Lent means to the seafood industry. Food Services of America, for example, reports that Ash Wednesday is the busiest day of the year for frozen seafood sales, and the six weeks following is the top-selling season for the entire year. Restaurant trades say weekly sales of seafood increase by 25 percent to 40 percent during Lent.

In many countries, the day before Lent - called Mardi Gras or Shrove Tuesday - has become a last fling before the start of the long fast. For centuries, it was customary to not eat meat during Lent, which is why the festival is called carnival, Latin for farewell to meat.

While nearly all seafood enjoys a surge of interest during Lent, the most traditional items served are the ‘whitefish’ species, such as cod, pollock, flounders, and halibut.

But no matter what the seafood favorite, the six-week Lenten season is good news for Alaska, which provides more than 60 percent of America’s wild caught seafood to our nation’s restaurants and grocery stores.

Stylish workout gear made from crab and shrimp shells is drawing raves from exercise enthusiasts in Vancouver, British Columbia.

“The clothes are breathable, durable and fast-drying. Everything we use is non-toxic so they are environmentally friendly as well,” said Quincy Samycia, co-founder of Strongbody Apparel.

The fashion-forward line is designed for the gym, and its uniqueness comes from its ‘odor crush’ technology.

“The magic ingredient comes from the ocean - it’s a natural biopolymer in crab and shrimp shells called chitosan. When it is combined with the fabric, it inhibits the growth of bacteria on the clothing and that is what makes it odor-free,” explained Megan Conyers.

Conyers and Samycia spent years researching fabrics and making designs to fit their active lifestyle before launching the apparel last year.

Between 500-700 crab and shrimp shells are used to make a few ounces of solution that is then combined into the fabric. Because chitosan’s structure is similar to cellulose, it blends easily with cotton and other fabrics.

“One thing that definitely drew us to this particular solution is that it is environmentally friendly and a byproduct of the fishing industry. All that stuff is just going to go to waste, so why not find a use for it,” Conyers added. Estimates claim that nearly 25 billion tons of chitin from seafood is dumped each year.

Along with being odorless, the chitosan-infused fabric also is super durable - and it is safe for those who may be allergic to shellfish.

The Strongbody line includes workout shorts and leggings, tanks and sports bras, and Samycia’s favorite - the pulse elite tee. He agreed that it’s the chitin technology that has made their clothes stand out in the market of fitness gear.

“People like different. Nobody just wants to go out and get just another T-shirt. There is a strong market for what we are doing, and people are definitely looking to have a unique piece of clothing and they want a story to tell,” he added.

Read the article HERE.

↧

BIOMIN company profile

February 23, 2015, 2:55 am

≫ Next: 23/02/2015: The rise (and rise) of the aquatic ‘chicken’

≪ Previous: 23/02/2015: Laine Welch: Alaska permit prices dropping; crab, shrimp shells find way into workout gear

http://www.biomin.net/en/products/digestarom/

BIOMIN are dedicated to finding innovative, trend-setting solutions that

empower their customers to master existing and future challenges in animal nutrition– the natural way. The application of their scientific know-how and expertise, based on an in-depth understanding of their customer’s needs and concerns, enables them to deliver solutions that support animal health, optimize performance and production efficiency.

Research and development is one of the cornerstones of BIOMIN. Their strong in-house research and development, and global cooperation with leading institutions and organisations form the basis by which innovative solutions are developed for their customers. Through joint projects with renowned universities and research institutes, BIOMIN is constantly in touch with the latest scientific know-how, from which novel feed additives are developed and produced. Their global network of collaborating institutions has grown to over 100.

One of the cornerstones of BIOMIN’s success is the ongoing improvement of their inhouse quality standards. In 1997, BIOMIN introduced the international ISO 9001 standard. The HACCP system, introduced subsequently at BIOMIN’s production sites, provides the quality assurance our customers seek from them. In addition, the feed quality standards QS and GMP+ guarantee the utmost degree of control and quality for their products – from raw material inputs right through to the final product.

Concerns over climate change and the role of greenhouse gases continue to rise. In September 2011, BIOMIN was internationally recognised through the award of ISO 14040 ‘Life Cycle Assessment’ certification. By optimizing feed use and improving animal performance, it is possible to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from livestock operations.

Through innovative production technologies and advanced, scientific know-how,

BIOMIN has pioneered several trend-setting solutions for a range of animal nutrition products, all of which utilise fully natural processes and ingredients. An in-depth understanding of what the customer’s needs and concerns are has enabled BIOMIN to create and deliver solutions in-line with performance and efficiency goals.

23/02/2015: The rise (and rise) of the aquatic ‘chicken’

February 23, 2015, 3:21 am

≫ Next: 24/02/2015: Aqua Fisheries Myanmar 2015

≪ Previous: BIOMIN company profile

by Lian Heinhuis, Analyst Seafood, Food & Agribusiness Research and Advisory, Rabobank International, The Netherlands and Gorjan Nikolik, Rabobank International, Singapore

First published in Internatiional Aquafeed, January - February 2015

http://issuu.com/international_aquafeed/docs/iaf1501_w1/24

Worldwide demand for seafood is growing and wild catch production cannot grow at the same pace, meaning that aquaculture is becoming key for the supply of aquatic protein. As the farming of fish—especially freshwater species—rapidly gains popularity around the world, opportunities increase for both farmers and players active in auxiliary industries.

Farmed freshwater fish species, consisting of different types of carp, catfish and tilapia, accounted for over half of the 66 million tonnes of fish produced in aquaculture in 2012 (see Figure 1).

Although carp is by far the largest subgroup (38 percent of total aquaculture production), it is predominantly consumed locally around the world. Like tilapia, pangasius has an export market and is popular among western consumers; yet its market share is still relatively small. Unlike the other species, tilapia has seen the greatest growth in production and widespread appeal in global marketTilapia is easy to farm and feed and has a neutral flavour that appeals to many, hence it is often compared to chicken.

Global tilapia production volumes have increased from just over 100,000 tonnes in 1980 to 4.5 million tonnes in 2012, and the industry has an estimated total value of US$6.7 billion.1 The export market is currently dominated by China, while the United States (US) is the biggest importer. In the coming years, we expect China to focus more on its domestic market, which will create opportunities for other producers to emerge and increasingly supply growing markets, including the US.

Latin American producers are in a strong position to benefit due to their location, access to feed and natural resources. Having already doubled output between 2007 and 2012, the region is expected to see further growth.

Tilapia is thriving thanks to biology and technology

The whitefish sector has seen incredible growth rates in past years.

Tilapia is one of the main drivers of this growth, with farming having expanded to more than 80 countries and global production volumes having grown by an average of 11 percent per year.

Tilapia is farmed in small backyard farms as well as industrial compounds managed by multinational companies. Production methods range from simple cage systems to complex indoor recirculation facilities. Technology has played an important role in the development of the tilapia industry, and innovations such as the sex-reversal technology that allows farmers to grow only the faster-growing male fish have greatly contributed to better farming practices and output.

In addition, tilapia’s biological characteristics provide further advantages to farmers worldwide: the fish is relatively resilient, has a low-cost diet, needs little dissolved oxygen in the water and reaches marketable size quickly.

The main tilapia-producing country is China, which accounts for a third of all production (1.5 million tonnes annually).

Chinese government programmes on farming—along with support subsidies and programmes focused on advancing technology and genetics—have resulted in a growing tilapia industry. Family-owned farms account for the largest share of production.

Although volumes from China are larger than volumes from any other country, profit margins have been very low, and the industry as a whole has been making a loss.

Subsidies have created competitive prices for the Chinese product, which is sold as frozen fillets in the US (almost half of total Chinese tilapia exports).

However, they also pose a risk, as discontinuity could mean rising costs. Volumes in the global tilapia industry have seen strong growth, and—assuming no major disease outbreak or other negative event occurs—there is potential to double output again to nine million tonnes (live weight equivalent) by 2025 (see Figure 2).

Tilapia is America’s next top seafood item

The US is the most important market for tilapia. With import volumes of more than 228,000 tonnes (over 600,000 tonnes in live weight equivalent), Americans consume more than other major tilapia-eating countries such as Egypt or China (see Figure 3).

Tilapia has risen fast on the charts of seafood popularity and now only trails salmon, shrimp and tuna as the most favoured seafood item in the US.

While originally presented as a low-cost alternative for wild-caught whitefish, the product is now consumed more than cod or pollock, and it dominates the broader whitefish category (see Figure 4). As tilapia is still priced considerably higher than chicken (on average double the price of chicken breast fillet), it is more relevant to compare it with other seafood products.

However, in the longer term, this can also have an impact on the consumption of species in the broader animal protein segment—particularly on chicken—because of its similar neutral taste.

Tilapia is not as popular in Europe as in the US. With frozen tilapia fillet imports of only 19,000 tonnes in 2013 - barely 12 percent of US frozen fillet imports - the fish has not taken off anywhere near like it has across the Atlantic.

Pangasius has established a much stronger position than tilapia in Europe, with frozen fillet imports of 142,000 tonnes in 2013. This can be explained by lower prices and tilapia producers focusing less on this region - so far.

In the years to come, freshwater whitefish consumption will continue to rise in the US. The focus on healthier diets will increase demand of both tilapia and pangasius.

However, these characteristics are currently not exploited in marketing campaigns, with low price remaining the key selling point. European consumption growth will be more challenging, as farmed fish production has received some very negative media attention lately.

Since 2011, the popularity of pangasius has declined somewhat, after bad publicity surrounding alleged poor farming standards in Vietnam.

China’s position faces challenges

Asian producers - particularly China - have dominated the global tilapia industry in the past decades. With a share of nearly 74 percent in the US frozen fillet market and continuing growth (five percent CAGR between 2008 and 2013), China is in a strong position.

However, there are reasons to expect the Chinese product to become less competitive over time, including rising input costs, currency, climate, limited resources and food safety.

Input costs are driven up by rising feed and labour costs. This means that the product will become more expensive to produce. Average labour costs in China more than doubled in the period between 2007 and 2012.

In past years, average retail prices of pellet feed increased from RMB3260/tonne in 2006 to RMB4140/tonne in 2012.4

The currency will not benefit Chinese competitiveness, with the yuan having appreciated by 24 percent since 2005, to CNY6.14 per US$ in 2014.5

China has limited resources of fresh and clean water. Pollution is an important problem, and there is increased competition for water space from other agricultural and aquacultural products such as rice and shrimp.

Food safety issues surrounding the Chinese product have resulted in more negative market perception in the US, allowing non-Chinese products to be sold for US$1/pound more. If this image problem continues, Chinese frozen fillets could also become less popular.

These issues present a scenario of increasingly challenged competitiveness.

Moreover, climate is an issue as tilapia need water temperatures of at least 27°C, and the consistent conditions found in more tropical areas of the world do not exist in China.

As the Chinese industry now heavily relies on subsidies to produce at low cost, changes in policy could have another negative impact.

Combined, this could result in China exporting less tilapia and being forced to develop its domestic market. Tilapia sales in China are now mainly concentrated in the provinces where it is produced and where it competes with traditional food fish such as carp.

Strong regional cultural traditions in the Chinese diet make the country a difficult market to develop. Tilapia in China has the most potential as a fillet, predominantly sold through retailers, especially in the country’s south where people live close to the farms. The live/fresh market is more difficult to enter, as people will first choose to purchase traditional fish.

The other major challenge to Chinese dominance of the farmed whitefish export market is pangasius. Imports of Vietnamese pangasius - at a lower price per kilogramme (about 25 percent less) - are growing faster than those of Chinese tilapia and pangasius exports to the US between 2008 and 2012 were much higher than tilapia volumes from Latin America, showing increasing demand for pangasius.

Vietnam currently produces around one million tonnes of pangasius per year, and the government is supporting the sector and has set a goal to expand it by 20 percent, to 1.2 million tonnes in 2015.

Furthermore, there is a good possibility that other countries, such as Indonesia and India, will start large-scale production of pangasius. The fish is perceived to be very similar to tilapia, although its fillet colour is much whiter. Low prices and increased marketing efforts could lead American consumers to increasingly choose pangasius, although tilapia still has a distinct first-mover advantage and much wider recognition among consumers.

Opportunities lie in other parts of the world

The challenges create room for other producers to become both exporters and more self-sufficient.

Mexico, for instance, is now a big importer of tilapia, as it produces 70,000 tonnes, while consuming 130,000 tonnes. The remaining 60,000 tonnes are imported from China. Mexico has good production facilities and capabilities of its own, but farmers there have found it difficult to compete with Chinese prices, which have been about 30 percent lower than Mexican tilapia prices.

In Africa, we can also expect further investment in fish farming industries in order to meet local demand. Ghana is a good example of this: the country has witnessed growth rates that have averaged 39 percent annually over the past five years. This comes from a very low base, with production volumes of 26,000 tonnes in 2012. Local demand has been increasing, and there are many initiatives to use small-scale fish farming of tilapia as a way to alleviate poverty.

The key consumer and producer in Africa is Egypt, which is the second-largest producer worldwide, with 768,000 tonnes in 2012, and growing rapidly by 15 percent per year (based on the CAGR between 2008 and 2012).

Other Asian producers such as India, Thailand and Malaysia are also growing (albeit from a low base) and have export potential.

Indonesia is already a sizable exporter to the US, with 11,000 tonnes of exports in 2013 (from 717,000 tonnes total production) and the unique position of being the only Asian country that sells a high-value product, produced at high-quality standards (see Figure 5). The country is also home to the largest production facility of the world’s leading tilapia-producing company, Regal Springs.

Latin America is poised to take a bite out of the market

There are several factors putting Latin American producers in a good position to obtain a bigger share of the international tilapia market: the region has lower feed costs (soymeal prices in Brazil are below prices in China, with an average difference of 11 percent since 2010); labour costs are increasingly competitive compared to China; the region is close to the current key consumer market; the climate is right; and both freshwater and brackish water resources are sufficient.

In 2012, Latin America produced only 453,000 tonnes of tilapia, which makes up about 10 percent of global production. Although this is only a fraction of Asian production, there is good potential for growth. In recent years, the tilapia industry in Latin America has already shown strong growth rates, doubling in size from 2007 to 2012 - and exports to the US are increasing. The Latin American tilapia product is sold fresh in the US, for a premium price (about US$1/pound higher than frozen).

To grow the industry, Latin American auxiliary businesses such as processing, feed and logistics will need further development.

Rabobank projects Latin American tilapia volumes could rise to at least two million tonnes by 2025, with more than half of future production in this region expected to come from Brazil. The country is already the largest Latin American producer and is especially resource-rich. Countries such as Mexico and Colombia are also expected to strongly increase production.

However, in some countries tilapia is facing competition from other species, as is the case in Ecuador. Due to high prices in the shrimp sector (due to a disease in Asia and Mexico), many Ecuadorian farmers have left the tilapia business to pursue shrimp farming, resulting in a decline of exports.

In conclusion

The tilapia industry has shown incredible growth rates. In all production regions, volumes at least doubled in the period from 2007 to 2012.

Of course, biological risks are always present in any type of farming, and climate change or disease outbreaks could seriously harm the industry, setting back production volumes.

Nevertheless, the characteristics of the industry provide cause for optimism. Tilapia is amongst the easiest fish to farm, and - at least to date - no global disease outbreaks have occurred.

Moreover, tilapia requires a relatively low investment in the farm structure. Due to low-cost feed, it has a competitive price point in both developed and developing markets. Tilapia are resilient, they grow fast and are increasingly popular among consumers. The current leading consumer market in the US is far from saturated, and consumption in local markets is also expected to increase.

While China will remain a key producer in the foreseeable future, Latin American producers like Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador and Mexico are well positioned to produce high volumes that could supply both domestic and international markets.

Other Asian producers such as Thailand, Indonesia, India and Malaysia are also expected to strongly increase tilapia output in the coming decades.

Although no fish-farming business is risk-free, the future for tilapia looks bright.

As a source of affordable animal protein, tilapia could (continue to) feed the masses and become a key commodity in the animal protein market. What chicken has been for the poultry industry, tilapia can be for aquaculture.

Low-cost feed, simple farming structures and fast growth contribute to its popularity among farmers, while its neutral taste makes it popular among consumers - characteristics that make it much like its terrestrial equivalent, the chicken.

The aquatic chicken industry will continue to rise, which will bring some interesting new business opportunities for farmers, but also for companies in secondary industries such as feed and processing.

Read the magazine HERE.

↧

24/02/2015: Aqua Fisheries Myanmar 2015

February 24, 2015, 2:32 am

≫ Next: 24/02/2015: Afghanistan's first fish and chips shop opens in Kabul

≪ Previous: 23/02/2015: The rise (and rise) of the aquatic ‘chicken’

2nd edition

14 – 16 October 2015

Myanmar Convention Center (MCC), Yangon, Myanmar

The 1st International Livestock, Aquaculture, Fishery Conference & Exhibition for Myanmar, closed on 11th November 2014 having attracted 75 companies, organizations, and institutes from 17 countries such as the UK, USA, Canada, Germany, Norway, Australia, Singapore, Thailand, Myanmar, Vietnam, Malaysia, China, Taiwan and Hongkong. See the Post Show Report for more details on the 2014 show HERE.

The second edition will be back in 2015, with its mission promoting trade activities between international enterprises and local companies in Myanmar.

The show is organized by Minh Vi Exhibition and Advertisement Services Co, Ltd (VEAS) with the support of the Ministry Of Livestock, Fisheries And Rural Development Fisheries, Myanmar Fisheries Federation at the Myanmar Convention Center (MCC), Yangon, Myanmar on 14 – 16 October 2015.

We welcome local and international companies and organizations in the aquaculture and fisheries industry to join the exhibition and take advantage of this new opportunity!

Should you have any enquiries or assistance, please always feel free to contact Thuy Hoang atsabrina.hoang@veas.com.vn

For the Brochure click HERE.

Post-Show Report for Aqua Fisheries Myanmar 2014 available HERE.

↧

24/02/2015: Afghanistan's first fish and chips shop opens in Kabul

February 24, 2015, 8:09 am

≫ Next: 24/02/2015: How long does fresh fish last in the fridge after you buy it?

≪ Previous: 24/02/2015: Aqua Fisheries Myanmar 2015

An Afghan-Canadian entrepreneur has opened up a traditional British-style chippy in Kabul, The Telegraph reports.

With such a traditional name, you’d expect to find Mr Cod tucked away somewhere in a British town.

This fish and chips shop, however, is the first to ever open in Afghanistan.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/foodanddrinknews/11429322/Afghanistans-first-fish-and-chip-shops-opens-in-Kabul.html

The official launch of Mr Cod

Mr Cod has been opened by Afghan-Canadian entrepreneur Bashir Halimi in Kabul, and is already proving popular with locals, as well as with British expats craving a taste of home.

A British visitor wrote on the shop's Facebook page that the fish was "delicious" and "the batter was just like what we have at home, light and crispy".

Mr Halimi told the BBC he was attempting to attract an upmarket audience, with a view to eventually creating a country-wide chain.

“I believe our consumers are sophisticated enough to be open to new food ideas,” he said.

“I believe there is Chinese food here, Pakistani, Indian: we have traditional food going parallel with non-traditional and Western food.”

The average medium meal at the fish and chips shop costs around 240 Afghanis, or UK£2.73.

Foreign food has become increasingly popular in Afghanistan in the aftermath of the US invasion in 2001, with everything from burgers to pizzas being sold on the streets.

One Afghan, Abdullah Karim, has even set up a hot dog truck. As pork is not halal, however, his sausages are made from beef.

He told Stars and Stripes, the official newspaper of the US Armed Forces, that the hot dogs were extremely popular, though it had taken some time for locals to get used to the name, as dogs are considered unclean in Muslim culture.

Read the article HERE.

↧

24/02/2015: How long does fresh fish last in the fridge after you buy it?

February 24, 2015, 8:19 am

≫ Next: 24/02/2015: Scottish Water admits dumping chemicals in river poisoning 5000 fish

≪ Previous: 24/02/2015: Afghanistan's first fish and chips shop opens in Kabul

It's a simple question, but one many people don't know how to answer: How long does fresh fish last in the refrigerator after you buy it? The Huffington Post asks.

Equally passionate about good seafood as we are afraid of fish that's gone bad, we at HuffPost Taste reached out to the experts to confirm the answer once and for all. After speaking with some fishmongers from around New York City, we found the consensus: Fresh fish lasts in the fridge for two to three days, at most.

The folks over at Brooklyn's Fish Tales say that fish will keep for three days maximum. Of course, they buy fresh fish every morning and urge anyone to buy fish the same day they're going to cook it. If that's impossible, you should keep it on ice in the refrigerator. Never keep it in the freezer, they say.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/02/24/fresh-fish-last_n_6735834.html

According to the fishmongers at The Lobster Place, which also buys fresh seafood every day and suggests you do your shopping as close to the time that you're planning to eat as possible, a whole fish will keep slightly longer than fillets. When you buy a whole fish, less of the area that you're planning to eat is exposed to oxygen. This means it will keep a little longer. They estimate a whole fish will last a maximum of three days, while fillets will last closer to two days.

Certain fish will dry out faster than others, the folks at The Lobster Place say, and some will change color slightly as they age. Discoloration doesn't necessarily indicate that the fish has spoiled, however. Your best method of deciphering whether or not your fish is still fresh is "by giving it the old smell test," the fishmongers say. If it smells off, it probably is.

To prolong the lifespan of seafood, you need to store it correctly. Village Fishmonger has a detailed list of instructions for the proper way to store various kinds of seafood. (The website also has great instructions for prepping and cooking different kinds of seafood.) Village Fishmonger recommends storing fish two ways. The first is to keep the fish in its packaging or to seal it in a bag and rest it on top of ice. The second is to unwrap the fish and place it on top of a layer of plastic that is set over the ice. Either way, the fish should not come in direct contact with the ice.

Storing shellfish requires a different technique. Village Fishmonger suggests keeping clams and oysters covered with a damp paper towel in a container that will allow for drainage in case there's any excess moisture. Fish Tales confirms: store shellfish in a bowl, covered with a paper towel, in the fridge.

The bottom line is that seafood is best eaten when it's as fresh as possible -- but with proper storage, it will last up to three days. Now that you know how long your fish will keep, check out the easy seafood recipes below. Just make sure to use the smell test before you get started.

Read the article HERE.

↧

24/02/2015: Scottish Water admits dumping chemicals in river poisoning 5000 fish

February 24, 2015, 8:37 am

≫ Next: Leiber company profile

≪ Previous: 24/02/2015: How long does fresh fish last in the fridge after you buy it?

Scottish Water has admitted causing a catastrophic pollution incident which killed nearly 5000 fish, STV News reports.

The company admitted polluting several kilometres of a river with aluminium sulphate after an employee left a water valve open.

The government quango was fined £8000 after the court heard it was responsible for killing "huge numbers of fish".

Perth Sheriff Court was told the pollution turned six kilometres of the River Farg in Perthshire "white and milky" and wiped out virtually all of the trout and salmon.

The court was also told the sight of the dead and dying fish also caused distress to passers-by who witnessed it.

Dunfermline-based Scottish Water admitted a charge of killing approximately 4900 fish and other organisms in the River Earn tributary on May 13 and 14 last year.

http://news.stv.tv/tayside/311584-scottish-water-dumped-chemicals-in-river-farg-poisoning-5000-fish/

The company admitted carrying out a controlled activity liable to cause pollution of the water environment, namely by discharging aluminium sulphate into the River Farg.

The company discharged the chemical compound from Glenfarg Water Treatment Works at East Blair Farm in Glenfarg.

Scottish Water admitted it had "interfered and impaired legitimate use of the water environment" of a river which also serves as a tributary for the River Tay.

Fiscal depute Shona McJannett said: "Aluminium sulphate dissolves quickly in water and is harmful to aquatic organisms as it increases the acidity of the water.

"On the May 13, 2013, a Scottish Water employee mistakenly left open a water carrier valve which resulted in water flowing into the aluminium sulphate tank."

She said the tank overflowed, flooded a corridor and was then released into the River Farg over a period of several hours.

Ms McJannett added: "During this period, alarms that should have alerted Scottish Water employees to the problem were sounding, but insufficient checks were made and the alarms cleared without establishing the problem.

"During the course of the discharge, Sepa received complaints from members of the public that the river was looking irregular, white and milky up to 6km downstream of the treatment plant.

"When Sepa officers attended to investigate, they found fish in distress and dead fish. As a result of the incident, huge numbers of fish were killed.

"There was almost a complete removal of all trout and possibly salmon from a 3km stretch of the river downstream of the plant.

"All fry from the preceding spawning season were also lost and populations of relatively pollution-tolerant species such as lamprey, eels and stickleback were also impacted.

"An ecological study conducted by Sepa estimates that approximately 4900 fish were lost to the region. Members of the public were affected by the incident and the visible dead fish."

The court was told the site had suffered power cuts and staff wrongly assumed they were responsible for alarms sounding, rather than the spill which had taken place.

Aluminium sulphate is harmful if swallowed or inhaled.

It is used by Scottish Water to coagulate particles to assist the filtration process.

Read the article HERE.

↧

Leiber company profile

February 24, 2015, 8:46 am

≫ Next: 24/02/2015: Can phytogenics address aquaculture challenges?

≪ Previous: 24/02/2015: Scottish Water admits dumping chemicals in river poisoning 5000 fish

http://www.leibergmbh.de/index.php?sid=948

Leiber has more than 140 employees. Each is a specialist in his or her domain. A well-proven team in a company following a clear strategy for more than 50 years: Working with values.

What makes us unique? We focus on what we know best. Yeast. Production on the highest level of quality. Latest technology. New findings from science and research. The performance of a team of specialists. This is what defines Leiber´s strategic orientation. This is what makes us truly entrepreneurial.

The markets´ requirements are changing - we are able to follow. This is how we became one of the leading manufacturers of specialised yeast products.

Visit the website HERE.

↧

24/02/2015: Can phytogenics address aquaculture challenges?

February 24, 2015, 9:04 am

≫ Next: 26/02/2015: Aquaculture without Frontiers - New board member announced

≪ Previous: Leiber company profile

by Rui Gonçalves, Technical Manager – Aquaculture, Biomin

First published in International Aquafeed January - February 2015

Over the last decade, the aquaculture industry experienced consistent growth mainly in developing countries. Global aquaculture production will clearly continue to grow mainly due to improvements in production technology and increased demand for fish and shrimp products. However, aquaculture faces several important challenges in terms of efficient use of the raw materials, health management and environmental impact.

Challenges in aquafeeds

Reliance upon scarce and costly raw materials, such as fishmeal, and the optimal use of alternative ingredients, likely constitute one of the main concerns in aquaculture. Consumer awareness about environmental sustainability also encourages producers to improve the production performance through sustainable aquaculture practices. However, the use of less costly protein sources and low-nutrient dense diets will most likely lead to lower protein digestibility, higher amino acid imbalance, higher carbohydrate and fibre content.

http://issuu.com/international_aquafeed/docs/iaf1501_w1/28

This can lead to inefficient nutrient use, resulting in increased feed usage and consequently higher production costs. In addition, sub-optimal animal performance leads to greater susceptibility to disease and higher ammonia emissions that increase the ecological footprint. Phytogenic feed additives — consisting of herbs, spices, extracts or other plant-derived compounds — have gained considerable attention as an answer to these challenges. The active ingredients (e.g. phenols and flavonoids) can exert multiple effects in animals, including improvement of feed conversion ratio (FCR), digestibility, growth rate, reduction of nitrogen excretion and improvement of the gut flora and health status.

Reduced dependence on fishmeal versus feed efficiency

The replacement of fishmeal by plant protein, whether for economic or sustainable reasons, can decrease feed efficiency. Plant raw materials are less digestible and negatively impact the gastrointestinal tract. The presence of undigested nitrogenous compounds in the intestine favours the formation of ammonia and biogenic amines by the intestinal microbiota.

These toxic compounds cause an imbalance of the intestinal microbiota, resulting in inflammatory processes and accelerated turnover of the intestinal tissue, leading to poor performance. Phytogenics stimulate the digestive secretions, increase villi length and density and increase mucous production through an increase in the number of globlet cells. Through different strategies phytogenics can improve feed digestibility, especially for proteins and amino acids.

Make money with sustainable solutions

Beyond the clear positive effects on improving feed efficiency, nutrient sparing could be a powerful solution to limit the nitrogen discharge to the environment. Phytogenic feed additives can decrease ammonia emissions through improved protein use, hence decreasing the discharge of nitrogen. The reduction of nutrient excretion also means less available nutrients in the water for opportunistic pathogens to grow. Figure 1 displays a basic example on how digestibility can improve production. Phytogenics can be used as a tool to comply certain sustainability targets, e.g. sustainability certification, than can offer a premium price and allow exports to command higher value markets.

Meanwhile, get rid of AGPs

Low levels of antibiotics in animal feeds, known as antibiotic growth promoters (AGPs), results in antibiotic resistance and the emergence of so-called ‘superbugs.’ In recent years antibiotic growth promoters have been banned from aquaculture production in nearly all countries. Farmers who still use AGPs have limited or no access to high value markets. Phytogenics can act as natural growth promoters improving palatability of diets, stimulating appetite, increasing feed consumption and growth performance. It also induces the transcription rate (increasing the RNA) that leads to an increase in total amino acid available and therefore enhancing the production of proteins in the cells.

Making sustainability profitable

With the current record-high raw feed prices, the pressure to optimise the use of alternative ingredients, and consumer awareness about sustainability, it is imperative to improve the digestibility of commercial diets, to optimise feed utilisation and to reduce nitrogen discharges. Recent research confirms that phytogenic feed additives can improve feed digestibility, especially of proteins and amino acids, thus reducing feed costs and nitrogen output. Therefore, phytogenic feed additives are considered a valuable tool to secure better feed efficiency and maintain a profitable aquaculture business following sustainable guiding principles.

Read the magazine HERE.

↧

26/02/2015: Aquaculture without Frontiers - New board member announced

February 26, 2015, 1:31 am

≫ Next: 26/02/2015: Aller Aqua’s new Egyptian factory begins production

≪ Previous: 24/02/2015: Can phytogenics address aquaculture challenges?

Aquaculture without Frontiers are pleased to announce that Gorjan Nikolik, will be joining their Board of Directors.
Aquaculture without Frontiers Executive Director, Roy Palmer, announcing the new appointment said “We are very pleased that Mr Gorjan Nikolik, Senior Aquaculture Analyst with Rabobank has agreed to join our Board of Directors. His involvement will add enormous value to our aquaculture knowledge and experience. Understanding all of the intricacies of finance and investment is an essential area and we foresee excellent opportunities to assist the various groups we are working with in our aims to alleviate poverty and hunger through capability and capacity activities in sustainable aquaculture.”

http://www.aquaculturewithoutfrontiers.org/

Gorjan Nikolik

Mr Nikolik attended the AwF General Meeting and spoke in the AwF Session on Development, Welfare & Poverty Alleviation at Aquaculture America (AA15) in New Orleans. During these presentations he explained about Rabobank and the various organisations that they have and the roles that they play. Rabobank are the largest Agriculture Bank in the world and are in the top three banks which invest in aquaculture.

During the session, which included speakers from Kenya, Ghana, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Mexico, Netherlands and Australia covering a range of activities within the subject area, Palmer gave an update on all AwF recent activities and outlined the global plan which is evolving based on Aquaculture Learning Centres (ALC) and strong collaboration with local partners.

Kevin Fitzsimmons, a champion of AwF since its inception in 2004, gave an update on projects which are being finalised through the University of Arizona/AwF arrangements in Myanmar, Nepal, Bangladesh, Kenya and Tanzania. During the AA15 Kevin met with Kenyan aquaculture farmers and NGO's and academics from Kenya and we are in various stages of identifying volunteers with specific skills willing to go work with our various hosts of the projects.

Antonio Garza d’Yta presented the information on the Mexican ALC and said that it was excellent to see how the dreams that they had for this project are slowly and surely starting to come to life and that the students at UTMarT are getting much better opportunities to learn and progress in their careers as a result of the collaboration with AwF.

At the end of session Palmer highlighted a number of the new initiatives that are being discussed for AwF including activities with Korea, Mexico and USA and highlighted that the Networks relating to Women, Indigenous and Schools/Students were in various stages of planning and activity. He also advised that AwF will be presenting at University of New England (2 March) and Volunteers for Economic Growth Alliance members meeting (5 March) and will be holding its next session at World Aquaculture in Jeju, Korea on 30 May.

Visit the AwF websiteHERE.

↧

26/02/2015: Aller Aqua’s new Egyptian factory begins production

February 26, 2015, 1:46 am

≫ Next: 26/02/2015: BIORIGIN has a new sales manager for the animal nutrition sector in Asia

≪ Previous: 26/02/2015: Aquaculture without Frontiers - New board member announced

http://aller-aqua.com/cms/front_content.php?idcat=2&id_news=441&changelang=3

Henrik T Halken and Hussien Mansour

ALLER AQUA’s new factory in Egypt has begun its production, and is now supplying Egyptian customers with fish feed, the majority of which is for Tilapia.

With the production from the new factory, ALLER AQUA will be the largest producer of environmentally friendly, extruded fish feed in Egypt.

In 2011 ALLER AQUA established a joint-venture company with the Mansour family, who at the time had been building a market around the first factory throughout the previous 10 years.

The cooperation is an exceptional one, utilizing the best from the local partners with ALLER AQUA’s more than 50 years of experience within fish feed. Furthermore, the company’s focus on development and research benefits the Egyptian market, and not least ALLER AQUA Egypt.

With the new factory ALLER AQUA face up to the challenge and help provide safe, healthy and sustainable food products to Egypt.

Visit the websiteHERE.

↧