Page 21 - AWA Vol.42-No.6 issue

FISHERIES AND FISH FARMING

Expert installation and ongoing
support Bioflytech is involved in the development of new
Beyond the technology itself, Vina functional ingredients with a smaller environmental
Cleanfood highlighted the profes- footprint for the European aquaculture sector
sionalism and expertise of the Ace
Aquatec team throughout the instal-
lation process.
Successful implementation of new
aquaculture technology relies not
only on the equipment but also on the
support provided during installation
and commissioning. Vina Cleanfood
informed the experience working
with Ace Aquatec was a positive one
from start to finish.
"We were very impressed with the
installation process," he says. "Ace
Aquatec's engineer was highly ex- Bioflytech is participating, along with 34 leading organizations from 14
perienced, hardworking and profes- countries, in the ambitious European R&D project “DIVERSiFY4Future,”
sional throughout the project. We ap- which aims to diversify and make European aquaculture more sustainable.
preciated the support and expertise Among its objectives is the development of new protein ingredients with
provided during the installation." a lower environmental footprint for animal feed, derived from low-tro-
phic-level sources and waste products, thereby reducing the current de-
For large-scale shrimp producers, pendence on monocultures and products such as soy, fishmeal, and fish oil.
confidence in both technology and As a company specializing in the production of products derived from the
service is essential when introduc- black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens)—dried larvae, meal, fat, and biofertil-
ing new systems into existing oper- izers—some of which are highly effective for the aquaculture sector, Biofly-
ations. The smooth installation pro- tech, based in Palas de Rei, is playing a key role in the project's technical
cess helped ensure the company development. Through the breeding and fattening of this insect, it will pro-
could begin integrating the A-HSU® vide the functional ingredients for the aquaculture feeds that will be used
into its harvesting practices with con- in feeding trials with various species—Atlantic salmon, European seabass,
fidence. gilthead seabream, and rabbitfish.
As shrimp welfare standards contin- During the trials, which will begin this June, the properties and perfor-
ue to gain attention across the glob- mance of the insects will be evaluated in terms of growth, health, immunity,
al seafood supply chain, humane and resilience, as well as under conditions of thermal stress. Furthermore,
shrimp stunning is expected to play the frass generated during the fattening process of the black soldier fly lar-
vae will be used as a substrate for microalgae cultivation, closing the cycle
an increasingly important role in re- of an insect-algae biorefinery.
sponsible aquaculture production. By
investing in Ace Aquatec's humane According to estimates compiled in DIVERSiFY4Future, the incorporation
stunning technology Vina Cleanfood of low trophic level species could generate annual savings of between €4.5
has positioned itself to meet emerg- and €6 million in feed costs for the aquaculture sector by 2040, simply by
ing customer requirements while implementing this feeding model in 75 aquaculture farms. This would also
result in an additional 15,000 tons of annual production and the creation of
supporting the continued develop- approximately 1,500 jobs (both direct and indirect). This is a highly signifi-
ment of best practices in shrimp wel- cant figure for European aquaculture, which imports 80% of the seafood it
fare. consumes and has stagnated production at approximately 1 million tons per
The project highlights how inno- year.
vative shrimp stunning technology, The project, funded by the Horizon Europe program and lasting 42 months,
combined with expert installation is supported by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
and ongoing support, can help pro- (FAO) and is aligned with the European Green Deal, the Farm to Fork Strat-
ducers prepare for the future of sus- egy, the European Algae Initiative and the Sustainable Development Goals
tainable shrimp farming and wel- (SDGs). Circle 21 on enquiry card
fare-focused seafood production.
Circle 20 on enquiry card
Vol. 42 No. 6 19