Novel protein ingredients in Aquafeed.

Abstract

As the fastest-growing food producer in the world, aquaculture plays a crucial role in ensuring global food and nutritional security. Nearly 70% of the aquaculture production is represented by fed aquaculture, in which the provision of nutritionally balanced formulated aquafeed is compulsory. Fish meal and fish oil derived from wild-captured small-pelagic fish are major components of aquafeed. Unsustainability in wild-captured fish, escalating market demand, uncertainties in future supply and prices are forcing fish nutritionists to evaluate and utilize alternative novel ingredients for aquafeed. By-products of fishery and aquaculture, insect meals, food waste, macroalgae, and a variety of single-cell organisms have been identified as potential ingredients in future aquafeed and it will ensure the sustainability of fed aquaculture. This editorial note discusses the utilization of alternative novel protein ingredients in aquafeed to ensure an economically and environmentally sound future for the aquaculture industry.