Feed group drives sustainable shrimp farming
THE Sustainable Shrimp Partnership (SSP) held its first Feed Working Group meeting in Machala, Ecuador, on July 4 to discuss how it could help achieve its vision of providing a high quality product while minimising environmental impact.
The meeting was sponsored by the US Soybean Export Council, which is also working to ensure the sustainable sourcing of feed ingredients.
Leading companies from the feed industry were represented, including Agripac, Balnova, BioMar, Inprosa, Skretting and Vitapro.
It was agreed that, as a first activity, the Feed Working Group will review and give comments to the draft of the Feed Standard of the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC).
ASC certification is one of the requirements members need to meet the quality standards promoted by the SSP initiative, alongside zero use of antibiotics and traceability.
The SSP is looking to work with companies in a pre-competitive way on subjects that require joint solutions, as it believes this will drive environmental and sustainable improvements much faster than working alone.
José Antonio Camposano, SSP representative, said: ‘We can improve the productivity, and even the sustainability indexes of shrimp farming through animal nutrition, and at the same time strengthen the shrimp’s immune system.
‘Feed ingredients, therefore, are an integral element as we look to the future sustainability of the industry, and why we have chosen this as one of our first places to start working together.’
Carlos Miranda, general manager of Skretting Ecuador, added: ‘The SSP is the first time in the shrimp industry there is a platform of producers who are looking to support innovations, support environmental improvements, and are willing to work with the supply chain to bring these into production.
‘Ecuador is a good place for this to start, given our recent growth there, but we look forward to seeing SSP take this work further.’
The Sustainable Shrimp Partnership, pioneered in Ecuador, comprises leading companies which are committed to transforming the future of shrimp aquaculture, through greater collaboration and transparency.