In the 1990s, the design of feeds for aquaculture didn’t take into account the amount of nutrients that the animal can absorb and utilise. Yet, out of the total nutrient supplies ingested by fish, still only a fraction is absorbed.

Based on this finding, the precision nutrition approach is revolutionising feed design and fish farming. We are moving towards producing different feeds for different species and environments based on variable nutrient and energy specifications.

As a result, marine ingredients are being used more strategically, where they leverage greatest value, therefore improving the efficiency of the feeding process, including its environmental footprint. Marine Ingredients are therefore no longer a commodity, and other ingredients are used as bulk ingredients to reach the volumes requested by an ever-growing aquaculture sector.

Using nutrients in a targeted manner throughout life stages of the fish is the new paradigm: it avoids nutrient loss and environmental pollution. It also contributes to fish growth and welfare.

This approach is underpinned by decades of science building evidence about the important role of palatability, omega and amino acids formulation. On top of that, feed formulators now use the latest digital tools to design and assess feed formulations.

These exciting developments will be explored on the sidelines of IFFO’s Members Meeting in Madrid: register for our InFocus workshop, to be held on the 12th May.