Supermarkets chickening out of feather meal for fish
The barriers preventing the use of processed animal proteins such as feather meal in aquaculture feeds in Europe will be discussed by Stirling University professor Brett Glencross at a conference in Amsterdam in March.
Glencross, deputy director of the university's Institute of Aquaculture, has been leading a study aimed at encouraging the use of avian protein in Scottish salmon feed.
The results of early consultative work done by that project show that feed companies are willing to sell feed containing processed animal proteins (PAPs) and that UK consumers are generally supportive of their use if that means cost-effective salmon production, Glencross told Feed Navigator website.
But UK retailers lack enthusiasm for placing PAP-fed salmon on their shelves, he said.
Less reliance on imports
The project Glencross is leading, Exploring the use of avian proteins in salmon feeds, is one of 15 organised by the Scottish Aquaculture Innovation Centre, which aims to match academia's skills with the needs of Scotland's aquaculture industry.
The partners in the project are feed producer BioMar, ingredients-to-bio-fuels group SARIA, supermarket chain Morrisons and the University of Stirling.
The anticipated benefits of the study are greater adoption of avian proteins, less reliance on imported feed products, sustainable use of locally available protein products and a reduced carbon footprint.
Expert panel
Glencross, Professor of Aquaculture Nutrition at Stirling, will be among a panel of experts discussing the attitudes and perceptions that are stopping the take-up of PAPs at the Feed Protein Vision event in Amsterdam on March 6-7.
Trygve Berg Lea, sustainability manager of feed producer, Skretting, will also be on the panel, along with Martin Alm, technical director of the European Fat Processors and Renderers Association.
The event will also look at methane gas-derived protein and wood-sourced biomass for feed, hear from experts on "blue protein" such as seaweed, and consider what part insect meal has to play in the future.
