Quite a few articles were published this summer about a school of thought which seems to have become once again fashionable among some intellectuals, scientists and politicians: degrowth. Degrowth doesn’t have a single definition but clearly aims at limiting economic activity in order to fight climate change.
This seems clearly at odds with the dual growth of both global population and productivity. Growth isn’t always more. It can also be better. It triggers innovation and contributes to increased competition and efficiency. Institutions such as the United Nations or the OECD refer to this as “Green growth”.
The Marine Ingredients Industry has been involved for years in a circular process which finds a usage for every part of a resource. Today, the use of trimmings and byproduct from seafood processing represents one third of total world fishmeal production. This figure is already quite impressive! Recycling products that otherwise would have been discarded has enabled the industry to develop and the farming sector to provide consumers all over the world with fish, poultry and pigs fed with nutritive natural marine ingredients. However, there is room for more trimmings and byproducts to be included in Marine Ingredients.
The market has the power to use the consumers’ willingness to champion products which are certified for their sustainability, as an incentive for businesses to grow sustainably. And the 54.5% share of global annual supply of marine ingredients being IFFO RS certified, a 5 point increase over the past year, is a reflection of the high level of adoption of environmental friendly practices and the capacity to make further progress.
Petter Martin Johannessen
Director General
The September 2019 covered the following topics: