On April 6, 2026 , Innovafeed, a global leader in insect-based ingredients (black soldier fly – Hermetia illucens), and Onda, the world’s largest independent aquatic contract research organization, announced promising results from two collaborative trials evaluating the performance and functional benefits of insect-based ingredients in aquaculture nutrition.
The trials, conducted at Onda’s world-class aquaculture research facilities in Prince Edward Island, assessed the potential of black soldier fly larvae meal (BSFL) to support fish health and performance in Atlantic salmon diets. Promising in-vitro antibacterial activity Initial in-vitro analyses conducted by Onda demonstrated antibacterial activity associated with Innovafeed’s BSFL (Hilucia™ for Aqua).
The study evaluated the inhibitory effect of its hydrosoluble fraction against several aquatic pathogens commonly responsible for disease outbreaks in aquaculture.
Results showed growth inhibition against four gram-negative bacteria of major relevance for aquaculture health management: Aeromonas salmonicida, Flavobacterium psychrophilum, Vibrio anguillarum, and Photobacterium damselae.
For further technical details on the methodology and results, please refer to their white paper available on Hilucia™ Aquaculture page:https://innovafeed.com/en/hilucia-aquaculture/
These results build on previous studies that have demonstrated antimicrobial activity of black soldier fly larvae against a broader range of aquatic pathogens. The antibacterial potential of Hilucia™ for Aqua is believed to be linked to antimicrobial peptides naturally produced by black soldier fly larvae (Hermetia illucens).
These bioactive molecules are part of the insect’s innate immune system and are known to interact with microbial cell membranes, inhibiting growth or causing pathogen death. Given the growing challenge of bacterial diseases and antimicrobial resistance in aquaculture, these findings highlight the potential of insect-derived ingredients not only as sustainable protein sources but also as functional feed ingredients capable of supporting fish immunity and helping reduce reliance on antibiotics.
Strong growth performance in salmon trials
A second trial at Onda evaluated the use of Innovafeed’s BSFL meal as an appetite and performance booster in grower Atlantic salmon. Throughout the 84-day trial, the Hilucia™for Aqua-fed group grew from around 300 to 800g, and achieved a perfect 100% survival rate. Results showed increased feed intake with a dose-response pattern to Hilucia™ inclusion rate, associated with a strong growth performance, with statistically increased growth rate and improved feed efficiency demonstrating the BSFL meal’s potential to enter grower salmon’s diets while boosting fish farming performance.
The trial also included a seawater stress test, assessing fish resilience during a critical stage of the salmon production cycle. While results are still being analysed, this work reflects the continued efforts of Onda and Innovafeed to demonstrate the functional potential of insect-derived ingredients in aquaculture nutrition.
These results further support the use of insect-derived ingredients as both nutritionally effective and functionally beneficial components of aquaculture feeds.
Advancing innovation in aquaculture nutrition
Dr. Fabio Zanuzzo, Director of Aquatic Research at Onda, said,
“Working with innovative partners like Innovafeed allows us to further develop our testing platforms and explore solutions that can transform aquaculture.
“Our integrated, and tailor-made research approach enables us to fully evaluate and maximize the value of our clients’ products, generating precise and actionable insights for the aquaculture industry.”
Marine Bezagu Phd, Head of Product Development on Aquaculture at Innovafeed said,
“This collaboration has been both highly effective and very promising. The scientific foundation and expertise of Onda’s teams bring significant value to our work, and the results generated provide further evidence of the functional potential of insect-based ingredients for aquaculture nutrition”
Additional trials, including in-vivo studies, will further evaluate the potential of insect-derived functional ingredients to support fish health and disease resilience in commercial aquaculture production.
Onda is a contract research organization specializing in aquaculture research and trials. It offers bespoke bench top and in-tank trials and challenges for a variety of species at both the Souris & Victoria, PEI locations. Innovafeed is a global AgTech pioneer (B Corp™, Next 40, Impact 40, World’s GreenTech Company 2025), specialized in producing insects (Black Soldier Fly – Hermetia illucens) for animal and plant nutrition. It develops cutting-edge technologies that replicate nature’s resource conversion processes at industrial scale.
