Toward Applying a Circularity Framework Against the Use of Aquaculture Feed Ingredients

This review explores feed sustainability and examines how circularity principles might apply to aquaculture under the proposed European Union framework. The framework includes: 1) minimizing the use of food-grade resources as feed, 2) minimizing reliance on land use, 3) maximizing the use of locally sourced ingredients, and 4) optimizing the nutritional characteristics of ingredients. To examine these issues of circularity, there was a focus on the broader challenges affecting feed ingredient utilization, rather than on individual ingredient or ingredient class. This required consideration of how the feed sector currently navigates the complexities of ingredient use and to understand the key drivers behind that commercial process. From this understanding, it becomes evident that ingredient characterization is important. Accordingly, there was a focus on some of the key issues in the characterization process and identify challenges that need to be addressed moving forward. The allocation of resources to food or feed is another pillar of the framework. There was examination of some of the associated issues, with examples from the grains, fishery and salmon aquaculture sectors. One of the key drivers of circularity is the need to improve sustainability of feed ingredient use. Exploration was undertaken of what this means, how to assess it, and what progress has been made in setting standards for consistent sustainability reporting and assessment. A case study was also examined to explore alternative approaches to the use of by-products in the circularity framework, including the development of bioactive ingredients that enhance efficiencies and create options for alternative ingredient use. To conclude a consideration was made of the importance of communication in the circularity story and discuss who holds the responsibility for communicating these messages.