With three commercial-scale industry trials successfully completed, Nuseed announced its Aquaterra canola oil containing omega-3 fatty acids is a verifiable replacement for fish oil in aquaculture feed.
Conducted in Chile, the trials “indicate inclusion of Aquaterra in feed results in decreased fish mortality and reduced Fish-In Fish-Out (FIFO) and Foraged Fish Dependency Ratios (FFDRo),” Nuseed said in a press release.
The fillets of fish fed on diets containing Aquaterra possessed similar expressions of EPA and DHA as those weaned with fish oil, the company noted, and the sensory analyses of both types of diets were marked as equivalent. Such results signify that Aquaterra meets consumer taste and nutrition expectations, Nuseed added.
For its trials, Nuseed partnered with leading salmon producers and feed suppliers, it said. The processes was “largest study of its type with a new feed ingredient,” taking place over an 18-month period with three million fish across three sites, Nuseed said.
“This study demonstrates Aquaterra is a highly-effective, sustainable complement to fish oil for the aquaculture industry which, until now, has been reliant on limited marine ingredients. It’s the first step in Nuseed addressing global challenges through the power of plants and agriculture,” Nuseed Global General Manager Omega-3 Benita Boettner said.
Aquaterra and control diet groups were measured on the basis of safety, performance, and quality parameters during the trials, which served to confirm the results of independent studies conducted by the Norwegian Institute of Food, Fisheries, and Aquaculture Research (NOFIMA).
The world’s first land-based source of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids, Aquaterra is produced “to deliver the nutritional benefits of microalgae via its proprietary Omega-3 Canola,” according to Nuseed.
“Aquaculture is rapidly expanding as an efficient protein source desired by consumers,” the company said. “However, aquaculture depends on wild fish ingredients to feed farmed fish, and these resources are insufficient to meet the needs of industry growth. Aquaterra ensures the sustainable growth of aquaculture by supplying a renewable and scalable source of omega-3 nutrients while reducing pressure on ocean environments.”
Nuseed said Aquaterra, which is available commercially, has been positioned to quickly scale production. A white paper detailing the results of its commercial trials can be found on AquaterraOmega3.com.
“Technical support is offered to feed producers and fish farmers to facilitate implementation,” the firm noted.
