Sketting signs new deal with China rainbow trout farmer Longyang 

Salmonid feed producer Skretting and Longyang Fresh, China’s largest trout producer, have signed a three-year strategic cooperation agreement that aims to deliver precision nutrition, create supply chain synergies, and advance sustainable aquaculture practices for trout farmed on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

Longyang produces 15,000 tonnes of rainbow trout annually in Longyangxia Reservoir, which lies 2,800 metres (8,500 feet) above sea level on the northeastern edge of the plateau and has a mean temperature of 12°C, ideal for salmonid growth. Longyang accounts for 98.8% of China’s total trout export volume.

Skretting - the Norwegian subsidiary of Dutch feed giant Nutreco - and Longyang already have a productive, long-standing collaboration and have accumulated extensive experience on plateau aquatic ecosystems, trout physiology, and farming efficiency, Skretting said in a press release.

Natural advantages

The unique plateau environment in Qinghai Province - characterised by low temperatures, high dissolved oxygen, and low pathogen pressure - offers natural advantages for trout farming. Leveraging these ecological traits, the two companies will jointly develop a precision nutrition system optimised for high-altitude farming conditions.

Key initiatives include:

• Developing nutrition models adapted to high-altitude water ecosystems, addressing the specific physiological needs of trout in unique environments.
• Utilising global databases to optimise growth performance, health indicators, and feed efficiency, enabling more scientific and efficient farming.
• Implementing raw material traceability systems, reducing the environmental footprint by lowering nitrogen and phosphorus discharge, and minimising environmental impact, promoting greener aquaculture practices.

The companies said these developments will further unlock the ecological and nutritional value of plateau cold-water fish, synergistically driving the industry's value to new heights.

“This strategic upgrade builds on years of successful collaboration and a shared long-term vision. Together, we will develop precision nutrition solutions tailored to high-altitude ecosystems, strengthen supply chain cooperation, and Skretting’s global strengths will be our effective support,” said Longyang chairwoman Miyan Ying.

Triploid trout

Longyang Fresh farms trout in glacial meltwater from the Yellow River’s headwaters, a pollutant-free freshwater environment that naturally eliminates sea-lice risks and enables antibiotic-free farming. The company said the reservoir’s deep, expansive, low-disturbance waters provide ample space for low-density, low-stress growth, while the use of triploid, infertile trout ensures no impact on native ecosystems.

Leveraging Skretting’s global supply chain network and raw material expertise, the two companies will work together to build a more stable, competitive, and sustainable supply chain, enabling a lower-carbon, more efficient industry footprint.

“Longyang Fresh has achieved remarkable results in plateau trout farming,” said Skretting chief executive Maarten Bijl.

“We look forward to integrating our advanced global nutrition technologies and sustainability expertise with the unique conditions of the plateau, co-creating solutions that deliver long-term value for the industry. This partnership reconfirms our market-leading position as a nutritional and functional partner for sustainable farming within the high-value sector, and demonstrates our commitment to increasing Skretting’s presence in China and in the wider Asian region.”