Thanks for leading this Fran 👏 An important paper bringing to light the complexities of single cell proteins for aquafeed
🌊🐟 Excited to share our latest research on sustainable aquaculture! Aquaculture is the fastest-growing food sector on the planet, but its rapid expansion raises major sustainability concerns. A significant issue is feeding farmed fish with wild forage fish (e.g., anchovies, herring, and sardines) as fishmeal and fish oil in aquafeeds, and healthy sustainable alternative protein sources are urgently needed! In our recent study, we explored the use of single-cell proteins (SCP) as a sustainable alternative to fishmeal. We tested a microbial SCP derived from methane-utilizing bacteria (Methylococcus capsulatus), offering a 'double whammy' for sustainability by replacing fishmeal and reducing methane emissions. Our findings revealed that high levels of this SCP in feed negatively impacted barramundi fry, causing impaired growth, reduced survival, and significant shifts in the gut microbiome, leading to dysbiosis. Despite these challenges, we believe SCPs have the potential to revolutionize sustainable aquafeed development. Bacterial meals could potentially reduce the demand for marine-sourced fishmeal by an impressive 50%! However, our research highlights the need for a nuanced approach to fishmeal substitution, tailored to each fish species and their production phases to ensure the health and welfare of farmed fish. Read more about our findings and the future of sustainable aquafeeds in our latest paper: https://lnkd.in/gcwCQpaY #Aquaculture #Sustainability #Research #Aquafeeds #SingleCellProteins #FishFarming
Professor at Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina; Internacional Aquaculture Consultant
6moCongratulations!