Roskilde, Denmark-based biotechnology firm Unibio is seeking business partnerships with fish feed manufacturers and distributors in Saudi Arabia as it commercializes its alternative protein ingredient, Uniprotein, in the country.
The call for partnerships comes after Uniprotein received the green light from the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA), which involved a nearly two-year review process, for the commercialization of Uniprotein for use in feed for fish, shrimp, and crustaceans.
“We are planning to support the distribution of the product in regions like Saudi Arabia through our business model that involves partnering with licensees and also establishing a fully fledged commercial arm and a big customer base,” Unibio Chief Commercial Officer Olivier Hartz told Seafoodsource. “This approach helps us to manage regulatory clearances, such as those in Saudi Arabia.”
Hartz said Uniprotein offers a sustainable alternative to traditional fish feed proteins. Uniprotein is created by converting methane into a highly concentrated protein via microbial fermentation, which makes production more stable and predictable in terms of cost and availability.
“We help fish feed producers avoid market shocks and ensure feed security at scale. Unlike fishmeal, which can vary in quality and availability, Uniprotein is produced under controlled conditions, so it has a consistent, and reliable supply and quality,” Hartz said.
Saudi Arabia is the latest market to approve the use of Uniprotein in animal feed after the E.U., Japan, India, Thailand, Russia, and Chile have all approved its use.
Unibio also believes its market reach is just scratching the surface, especially after the company successfully completed trials of Uniprotein with additional farmed fish species such as seabream, barramundi, sturgeon, and salmon, with Hartz saying the tests, which were focused on assessing digestibility, inclusion rates, and immune benefits, showed “high promising preliminary results.”
“Even unlike many plant-based ingredients, particularly soy protein concentrate, it contains no anti-nutritional factors, so it provides a well-balanced diet that supports faster growth and healthy development in fish,” Hartz said.
Uniprotein is one of several alternative feed ingredients targeting the burgeoning Middle East aquaculture market.
A project in Oman aimed at developing fish feed featuring the aquatic fern azolla as its main ingredient has moved closer to reality after the Zubair Enterprise Development Center, an Omani business management consultancy firm, completed an economic feasibility study on the initiative.
“The Sustainable Tuhlub Project marks a significant leap forward in innovation for the fish feed sector, providing environmentally friendly, high-quality nutrition for farmed fish,” Zubair said in a statement. “By leveraging azolla, the project aims to enhance fish health and quality in aquaculture, reduce reliance on imported feed, and support sustainability goals by utilizing natural, renewable resources.”
