Scaling novel ingredients: Offtake agreements as currency with feed producers in UK are absolutely critical

There are a range of new raw materials entering into the aqua feed value chain such as algal, black soldier fly, and bacterial ingredients but barriers remain in terms of getting those inputs to scale, according to a panel at the Blue Food Innovation Summit in London last month. Investors in this space need to be aware that “biology can’t be fooled with money or technology,” said Øyvind Fylling-Jensen, former CEO of NOFIMA. In other words, stakeholders need to consider, as a priority, the value any new ingredient brings in respect of meeting the nutritional and welfare requirements of farmed fish species. Scalability and affordability are other essential considerations as well as ensuring that the raw material can be sourced or produced sustainably, he continued. He does not foresee algal oils, single cell proteins, insect feed or other novel components replacing conventional feed ingredients, but more that they will be used to diversify the basket of existing raw materials. ...