Page 23 - Respond 2020 Magazine

RESPOND
SKRETTING

Skretting is the global leader in providing innovative HOW AQUACULTURE
and sustainable nutritional solutions for the
aquaculture industry. It has production facilities in 19
countries, employs 3,500 people, and manufactures FEEDS CONTRIBUTE
and delivers high quality feeds from hatching to
harvest for more than 60 species. In 2018, Skretting
produced 2.3 million tonnes of aquaculture feeds. Its TO FEEDING THE FUTURE
head office is in Stavanger, Norway.

quaculture is critical to global nutritional
security. Commercial fishing can only meet
Aso much of our seafood requirements. In
most cases, capture fisheries have long lingered
at or above their maximum sustainable yield
– providing a combined 93 million tonnes. At
the same time, climate change is increasingly
contributing to the decline of fish and shellfish
biomass. Therefore the onus is on aquaculture to
supply progressively larger volumes to fill the void.

Fortunately, it has been rising to the challenge. Indeed Photo credit Skretting.
aquaculture is one of the food sector’s greatest success
stories of recent decades, with the human consumption
of farmed fish and shrimp first eclipsing products from
wild fisheries some four years ago. To give some context,
in 1974, aquaculture’s contribution to world seafood
consumption was just 7%. And, according to the Food and
Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the principal endeavour is the reduced dependence on fishmeal
output continues to grow faster than any other major food and fish oil. While these are among the most nutritious and
supply sector. By 2030 it’s expected to provide 60% of the digestible ingredients for aquaculture feeds and species,
seafood that the human race consumes. A key reason for in coming from wild-capture fisheries, they’re also finite Photo credit Skretting.
aquaculture’s incredible momentum is that most of what it resources, with availability and prices that are prone to
produces is destined for human consumption – in all, some dramatic fluctuations. In 2010, through its own focus on this
580 species or aquatic species groups. At the same time, it’s particular challenge, Skretting introduced its MicroBalance
the most efficient protein generator – converting more feed concept. This groundbreaking technology led to the creation
into edible product than other farmed animals. Such progress of aquafeeds independent of marine raw materials but which
has made a massive contribution to the global fish supply, still provide optimised fish growth and health.
which the FAO now estimates at a record 20kg per capita.
Fast forward to today, and Skretting remains at the forefront
Increasing availability of the sector – providing a number of pioneering fish Skretting is also a lead partner in the new FEED-X programme than most other regions over the coming decades, Skretting
Much of aquaculture’s expansion can be attributed to a farmers with feeds that contain no fishmeal or fish oil, while that aims to remove the barriers to sustainably fed, affordable has identified that increased aquaculture productivity at
thriving feed sector – a hotbed of innovation that’s particularly also working with value chain partners to establish their food by 2030 through the sourcing, testing, financing and local levels will help meet the inevitable rising food needs.
adept to overcoming potential boundaries. In this regard, a commercial viability. scaling-up of alternative ingredients into the global feed Last year, as part of its commitment to develop African
industry, starting with aquaculture. To date, most emerging aquaculture, Skretting signed an MOU with non-profit
alternatives have fallen into three areas: algae oils containing research organisation WorldFish that aims to understand
essential long-chain omega-3 fatty acids; proteins based on the structure of the local industry, and then improve its
different insect species; and protein from bacteria. In addition farming practices. Starting with Egypt and then Zambia, the
to delivering nutritional benefits and performance on par with collaborative project is working with fish farmers to develop
traditional ingredients, FEED-X mandates the solutions must best management practices, test new technologies and raise
be available at workable prices for aquaculture operations, harvests and efficiency. Crucially, results will be shared with
and that manufacturing processes cannot lead to negative governments and other policymakers to illustrate the benefits
environmental or social impacts. of improving aquaculture best-practice on a national scale.
Sharing expertise It is through initiatives such as these that Skretting intends
Concurrently, Skretting has been broadening its to support aquaculture’s evolution in what is a new food
geographical horizons. Strategically, as more regions of world, where climate change and other megatrends are
the world engage in responsible aquaculture production, incrementally transforming the planet, including the
Skretting has been on hand to ensure local farmers have disruption of ecosystems and supply chains,” says Skretting
all the necessary support for their production systems to CEO Therese Log Bergjord. “Aquaculture promises to be an
succeed. All of these operations are bound by the company’s increasingly prominent contributor to global food security –
global mission of ‘Feeding the Future’. providing safe, healthy and delicious protein for a population
that’s on course to exceed 9.7 billion by 2050.”
Looking ahead, with the populations of some African
countries forecast to expand at considerably faster rates www.skretting.com

Skretting community development projects in Zambia. Photo credit Skretting.
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