What is Cargill doing to find alternative sources of lipids for the manufacture of fish feed?
Cargill is actively developing and scaling alternative lipid sources—primarily algal oils and certain plant-based oils—to reduce reliance on marine fish oils in aquafeed. This addresses sustainability challenges like overfishing, limited supply, and price volatility of fish oil while maintaining essential omega-3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA) for fish health and growth. (link)
Key Initiatives
-Algal Oil Partnerships and Commercial Use:
– Cargill has integrated algal oil (rich in EPA and DHA) into its fish feeds. From April 2022, it began including algae-derived omega-3s in **all fish feed sold in Norway**, replacing a significant portion of fish oil. This was enabled by securing larger volumes of algal oil and supports more stable omega-3 supply (link)
– In Canada, Cargill is collaborating with Cermaq Canada on trials using **Veramaris algal oil** in salmon feed (starting around May 2024). This aims to reduce dependence on marine resources while supporting fish health, product quality, and sustainability goals. Veramaris oil received Canadian regulatory approval in 2024. (link)
– Algal oil is highlighted as a practical, commercially viable alternative to fish oil for omega-3s in aquaculture, with positive results in trials for growth, health, and fillet quality. (link)
Plant-Based Omega-3 Alternative (Latitude:
– Launched in 2018, Latitude*is a traceable, plant-based (canola-derived) source of long-chain omega-3s (including EPA, DPA, and DHA) for aquafeed. It was developed through Cargill’s canola innovation and aquaculture expertise. (link)
– Trials showed it can fully replace fish oil in salmon feed without negative impacts on growth, health, or fillet omega-3 content. It reduces pressure on wild fish stocks and offers supply chain stability. It received USDA deregulation for cultivation in the US. (link)
Broader Context and Complementary Efforts
Cargill’s strategy includes novel ingredients beyond lipids, such as partnerships for insect meat (e.g., with Innovafeed) and single-cell proteins, which help overall feed sustainability but are more protein-focused. They emphasize circular economy approaches (e.g., using fish trimmings) and responsible sourcing of remaining marine ingredients. (link)
These efforts align with industry trends to scale alternatives like algal oils, which provide direct EPA/DHA without overfishing. Cargill continues R&D and commercialization through its Aqua Nutrition business to support growing aquaculture demand. For the latest details, check Cargill’s aquaculture sustainability pages or recent press on specific regions.