Aquaculture Magazine reports:
Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) reported that, in December 2024, Cargill Canada (EWOS) and Mowi Feed in Scotland and Norway were the latest to achieve ASC Feed Certification, proving their strong commitment towards environmental sustainability and social responsibility in their feed operations. This is a proof, said ASC, that the organization continues to drive positive change in responsible seafood farming supply chains through a strong year of uptake of its innovative feed certification program in 2024.
In one hand, EWOS became the first ASC certified feed company in Canada. Their feed mill, operating out of Surrey, British Columbia, produces feed for a variety of species, including trout, salmon, seabass, seabream and meagre, seriola, cobia and tilapia. “Cargill Canada’s ASC feed certification is a key step forward for the supply of responsible feed to farms across North America and the Pacific Rim,” said the ASC.
In the other hand, Mowi Feed has also achieved ASC feed certification for both its facilities in Scotland and Norway. Operating out of Kyleakin on the east coast of the Isle of Skye, Scotland, and Valsneset in central-western Norway, respectively, their state-of-the-art feed mills produce feed for salmon. Both ASC feed certifications for Mowi Feed reflect further progress for responsible salmon farming in the UK and Norway.
Pivotal role in the mission of transforming the industry
ASC drives farmed seafood transformation by leveraging expertise, fostering innovation, and partnering with the supply chain to amplify impact. These recent certifications, alongside all other certifications and commitments achieved since the launch of the ASC Feed Standard, play a pivotal role in this mission of transforming the industry towards greater environmental and social responsibility.
There are now 16 Units of Certification in the ASC Feed program (comprising 22 individual certified feed mill sites) across numerous countries including Canada, Chile, Ecuador, Honduras, Mexico, Norway, Thailand, Vietnam and the UK, displaying the strong global uptake of the ASC feed certification program.
Accessible and achievable
A diverse mix of multinational and regional companies have achieved ASC Feed certification showing that complying with its robust requirements is accessible and achievable. With numerous further feed companies in the initial audit phase, 2025 is already shaping up to be another strong year of ASC Feed Certification uptake.
ASC certified farms have until 31 October 2025 to ensure their feed supply is ASC-conforming – in other words, feed produced by mills that are certified against the ASC Feed Standard. The use of ASC-conforming feed is necessary for ASC certified farms to continue meeting the ASC Farm Standard and retain their certification.
Launched in 2010
Let’s remember that the ASC Feed Standard sets robust requirements for aquafeed production, covering areas such as social and labor rights, health and safety, environmental stewardship, and responsible sourcing of raw materials.
It takes into consideration the impacts created across all key ingredient groups and throughout the ingredient supply chain, in alignment with upcoming European Union (EU) regulation. This includes all major agriculture crops such as wheat, corn and canola, in addition to soy and palm oil, and marine ingredients.
The Aquaculture Stewardship Council was launched in 2010 as an impact-driven NGO. They partnered with the Dutch Sustainable Trade Initiative IDH and WWF Netherlands to make aquaculture more sustainable. They do this by setting strict standards for seafood and farms and deliver high assurance throughout the supply chain.
To drive their third-party certification and labelling program for seafood farming worldwide, they work with the environmental and scientific community and beyond. Together, they develop standards with other NGOs, academics, farmers, retailers and experts. And they keep developing more standards to meet changing market needs and demand, as its innovative feed certification program.
