The global food supply is facing vast challenges: uneven food distribution, overnutrition, undernutrition and the global impact of climate change. With a growing population and a rising food demand, how will we ensure a sustainable supply of safe, high quality food to consumers? What role will the seafood sector play?
BioMar Group, founded 60 years ago on the fundamental pillars of innovation and environmental consciousness, is based in Denmark. BioMar’s approach to implementing novel ingredients to advance innovation and sustainability in aquaculture is one of the cases on which is based the white paper “Seafood – Denmark is a Leading Hub for Sustainable Production and Innovation within Fisheries and Aquaculture”. The white paper provides an overview of the solutions that will play an important role in securing a reliable and sustainable food supply for the future.
This white paper dives into the sustainable solutions and innovative technologies within fisheries, aquaculture, and processing. Resource efficiency, waste products, food safety and quality are some of the leading topics, providing examples of collaboration, knowledge sharing, and innovation throughout the entire value chain. The white paper was elaborated by the non-profit public-private Danish food and agricultural cluster Food Nation and was launched at the Seafood Expo Global & Seafood Processing Global 2023.
Surrounded by ocean, the Kingdom of Denmark has an age-old tradition for being a nation of fishers. From small beginnings, the Danish fisheries sector has grown into a thriving hub for wild catch fishing, aquaculture, and processing. Close collaboration and knowledge-sharing throughout the entire value chain and across borders has been a key to success.
With the global population increasing rapidly, production levels in the next 40 years must be higher than they have been in the last 8.000 years. As a result, the demand for protein is growing. Seafood is a great source of protein, produced with low climate impact and provides plentiful nutrients. Therefore, fisheries and aquaculture can make a significant contribution to a sustainable food supply chain for the global demand.
The UN’s sustainable development goals (SDGs) are a guiding light for Danish food production in establishing best practices and identifying innovation targets in collaboration with academia, authorities, and private stakeholders.
The need to protect the environment – both at sea and on land – is a major driver of innovation. As a result, Danish wild caught fisheries have reduced their carbon footprint by more than 60 % since 1990 and are now heading towards the goal of full carbon neutrality by 2050.
“Denmark’s seafood industry has a global reputation for driving fish and shellfish production in a sustainable direction. From offshore fisheries to land-based aquaculture and the seafood processing industry, Danish technology and knowhow continue to lower CO2 emissions and increase efficiency, with no compromises in food quality and safety,” says Jacob Jensen, the Danish Minister for Food, Agriculture and Fisheries.
Results (30)
Aquatic animals are highly adaptable, requiring around 40 essential nutrients that can be sourced from various raw materials, including marine ingredients, animal products, grains, and novel sources. This adaptability is crucial to the industry's growth and will allow for diverse feed formulations
The global aquafeed industry has undergone a significant transformation over the past two decades, shifting from marine-based ingredients to plant-based raw materials. This transition has linked aquafeed production more closely with the environmental and social impacts of agriculture. Sustainable raw material sourcing is critical, given that aquafeed production accounts for up to 80% of the scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions in salmon farming.
Yellowtail kingfish (Seriola lalandi) is a highly valued marine species known for its rapid growth and high market price. Predominantly farmed in sea cages in regions such as Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and Mexico, this species is now being explored for recirculating aquaculture systems in Europe and the USA.
BioMar’s Aquaculture Technology Centre at Hirtshals Denmark opened a new wing dedicated to research and development in the hatchery segment. The LARVIVA Hatchery Hub trial facility was officially opened by BioMar’s CEO Carlos Diaz.
Innovation within circular marine supply chains is reducing BioMar’s carbon footprint. BioMar’s continuous improvement on reducing wild caught fish in our aquafeeds has launched several new partnerships and investments in the circular economy.
Largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) are a crucial freshwater aquaculture species in China, facing challenges like high water temperatures that cause significant economic losses. One promising solution is using functional feeds with natural antioxidants.
Iron (Fe) is a crucial trace mineral involved in various biochemical processes in fish. For Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.), the dietary iron requirement ranges from 60 to 160 mg/kg. However, these requirements were established using purified diets with highly bioavailable iron forms, and may not reflect the needs in practical diets where interactions with antinutrients such as phytate can affect iron bioavailability.
Research coming out of BioMar’s R&D department which was showcased at the Global Seafood Conference in Scotland yesterday, shows that many of the new novel ingredients are delivering more than just good sustainability metrics. They are maintaining strong growth performance as well as showing positive effects on robustness, welfare and health.
There is a promising new feed ingredient from the forests of Norway, sawdust! Sourcing locally is ideal and in Norway only around 8%* of the raw materials in a salmon diet come from Norway.
The Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) is an independent, not-for-profit organization that operates a voluntary, independent third-party certification and labelling programme based on scientifically robust Standards.
The greatest health challenge for the fish farming industry today is infection with the parasite Lepeophtheirus salmonis, better known as the salmon louse.
BioMar first introduced microalgae omega-3 into commercial salmon feeds in 2016 after three years of R&D and planning.