From November 14–18, three in-person Alltech Aqua InDepth Asia events were held in India, Bangladesh and Vietnam to explore the future of sustainable aquaculture. The event tour attracted more than 250 attendees from the livestock and animal health industries, including senior managers, nutritionists, farmers, aquaculture experts and government officials.
The experts at Alltech spoke at the events included Dr Philip Lyons, global manager of aquaculture research; Steve Elliott, global manager of Alltech’s Mineral Management platform; Henry Wong, commercial development director for Alltech Asia-Pacific; Dr Yufan Zhang, business development manager for aqua in China and technical manager for Southeast Asia; and John Sweetman, international project manager for aquaculture.
Aquaculture is one of the fastest growing sectors in the food production industry, presenting a significant opportunity for business growth. In the region, consumer demand for fish is on the rise. According to the 2022 Alltech Agri-Food Outlook, aqua feed production in the Asia-Pacific region increased by 3.3% to 37.6 million tonnes tons. India saw an increase of 9% in aquaculture feed tonnage, while Vietnam’s aquafeed tonnage reached 6 million tonnes, with a significant increase of about 41%.
However, aquaculture must continually confront numerous challenges, ranging from diseases and rising raw material prices to environmental pressures. The Alltech Aqua InDepth Asia series of events was launched to help address these challenges and, as a result, better meet producers’ needs. At these events, the speakers discussed how to create solutions that would further benefit the health, welfare and profitability of aqua production, as well as new research advancements and technologies — both digital and nutritional —that could create opportunities for elevated quality and performance.
Backed by over 40 years of research and real customer success, Alltech has a diverse range of solutions and technologies that were discussed during the Alltech Aqua InDepth Asia event series to address industry challenges and support customers in creating sustainable aquaculture practices.
“The era of fish meal replacement is over. Flexible feed formulation is the future. We need to think differently, and instead of replacing ingredients we need to think about how we can add ingredients, in order to formulate fish feed in the most flexible and sustainable way. Through this process we will advance the field of fish nutrition via the application of precision nutrition technologies,” said Dr Philip Lyons, Global Manager Aquaculture Research, Alltech.
Disease is a major threat to a successful aquaculture program. Specialty feed ingredients promote well-balanced microflora in the digestive system, keeping fish healthy. Alltech prebiotic-mannan rich fraction (MRF), trade name Actigen® has shown to improve aquaculture gut health by reducing gut inflammation, improving the gut structure and achieving overall better health.
Alltech’s chelated organic trace mineral, Bioplex®, has demonstrated higher bioavailability than inorganic minerals. This warrants the use of lower dietary inclusion rates via reduced wastage of unassimilated minerals. These technologies have demonstrated many immune and growth benefits in various aquatic species. Organic selenium (Sel-Plex®) supplementation has been proven to promote shrimp and fish growth and immune health.
The aquafeed industry has progressed in developing sustainable fish feeds with the inclusion of plant-based protein alternatives, which increases the mycotoxin risk in aquaculture diets. Detection, prevention and mitigation are critical for an effective mycotoxin strategy to avoid unpredictable losses. Alltech 37+® is a mycotoxin analysis test that allows producers to assess feed samples for over 50 different mycotoxins and receive a custom report to evaluate their current risk level. Alltech’s Mycosorb, a yeast cell wall extract supplementation, has a broader binding capacity to mycotoxins and can negate the effects of mycotoxins in the digestive tract and prevent mycotoxins from being absorbed by the body.
The events also featured an exclusive book launch by John Sweetman, Alltech’s international project manager for aquaculture. “Inside/Out” is a book written for fish farmers, feed millers and anyone interested in aquaculture to get a clear understanding of the structure and function of the skin, gills and guts of an aquaculture species.
More information on Alltech aquaculture nutrition at www.alltech.com/animal-nutrition/aquaculture and www.alltechcoppens.com
Alltech was founded in 1980 by Irish entrepreneur and scientist Dr.Pearse Lyons. It delivers smarter, more sustainable solutions for agriculture. The diverse portfolio of products and services improves the health and performance of plants and animals, resulting in better nutrition for all and a decreased environmental impact. This global leader in the agriculture industry, produces specialty ingredients, premix supplements, feed and biologicals, backed by science and an unparalleled platform of services. Alltech carries forward a legacy of innovation and a unique culture that views challenges through an entrepreneurial lens. As a private, family-owned company, it adapts quickly to customers’ needs and focus on advanced innovation.
