Novel peptide producer on track

ISRAELI based feed additives firm AquiNovo, established in 2015, is looking at how to generate more fish with fewer resources.

CEO Nissim Chen said the company’s non-GMO, non-hormonal additives increase yields while improving conversion of feed to biomass (FCR ratio).

The technology is based on novel short peptides that mediate their effect by binding to specific receptors in the digestive track.

Large scale studies with tilapia demonstrated about 10 to 15 per cent yield increase while improving FCR at about seven per cent, leading to high return on investment for the farmer, said Chen.

Additional benefits include advantageous size distribution (larger numbers of big fish and smaller numbers of small fish) and a potential protective effect under stress conditions.

Increasing farms’ profit can also positively impact food security, in particular in developing countries, and potentially improve the social status of millions of small farm holders and employees.

AquiNovo’s first products target three of the top four farmed fish worldwide: tilapia, salmon and carp.

But the technology is applicable to all fish species and for future products ‘we have the whole finfish market ahead of us’, said Chen.

In its second tier of products, the company plans to target catfish and other high value marine fish, and in the third tier they will investigate ‘hard to farm’ fish.

‘We have demonstrated proof of concept…and demonstrated there is no effect on the fish health.’

AquiNovo has also demonstrated that it can generate low cost peptide production and the firm is now moving towards scaling up and optimisation.

Chen said it plans to sell its peptide to feed and feed additive companies, which will incorporate it into their diets and sell it on to the producers.

The launch of the first tier commercial product in scheduled from 2021 to 2023.