The SUSHI (Sustainable Use of a Safe Hemp Ingredient) project has concluded its first year of the five-year USDA-NIFA Sustainable Agriculture Systems Grant (SUSHI) to investigate hemp grain viability as a sustainable feed for aquaculture, focusing on trout.
The first year of the project was spent establishing infrastructure and preparing for digestibility and feeding trials, collecting data to form analyses, and establishing educational pathways to create opportunities for people that have been historically underrepresented in STEM and agricultural work, according to Central State University Research Assistant Professor Brandy Phipps, the project's leader.
“Major goals of the project include investigating the viability of hemp grain as a sustainable feed ingredient for aquaculture; providing education of and outreach to consumers and producers to expand domestic markets for hemp and trout while contributing to the economic stability of underserved communities; and contributing to a more diverse workforce in agriculture by increasing the number of minority individuals trained in aquaculture and agricultural sciences and STEM," Phipps told SeafoodSource.
The grant for USD 10 million (EUR 9.8 million) was issued 1 September ,2021, and will conclude in 2026. The project is a large-scale transdisciplinary project working as a collaboration with six institutions: Central State University, College of Menominee Nation, Kentucky State University, University of Kentucky, University of Arkansas, and Mississippi State University.
The project has delegated trout as the fish for research as it contains one of the highest omega-3 fatty acid profiles. It is also well-established amongst aquaculture systems, Phipps said.
“At the moment, we are focused on collecting as much information as we can about trout. Results from this project absolutely could directly impact similar studies in other closely-related species," she said.
Phipps said the research group is looking forward to upcoming trials testing the digestability of various strains of hemp.
Photo courtesy of Brandy Phipps
