The global producer of aquaculture feed together with Innovafeed and Auchan also announces landmark partnership to accelerating the commercialization of insect meal
The leader in agricultural supply chains Cefetra and the global producer of aquaculture feed BioMar have formed a new partnership to reduce emissions from key vegetable-based ingredients in aquaculture diets. Their collaboration focuses on cutting emissions at the source, supporting farmers in the transition to regenerative practices and strengthening the link between crop production and fish farming.
The initiative, starting in the UK, targets the carbon footprint of vegetable-based feed ingredients such as wheat, which form an essential part of fish diets. Through Cefetra Ecosystem Services, launched in 2023 in partnership with Soil Capital, UK farmers are supported in adopting practices that improve soil health and deliver verified carbon removals. Farmers are financially rewarded for these improvements, reducing the risks of transition while enabling companies like BioMar to meet climate targets through measurable, on-the-ground results.
According to their explanation, by combining expertise from agriculture and aquaculture, BioMar and Cefetra are addressing this challenge head-on.
“At BioMar, we believe that responsible growth in aquaculture starts at the source. By partnering with Cefetra Ecosystem Services, we are reducing emissions where it matters most, while supporting farmers and building more resilient food systems. This collaboration is an important step towards meeting our science-based climate targets and delivering low-carbon feed solutions to our customers,” said Ivana Russo, Formulations Manager and Sustainability Lead at BioMar UK.
Measurable Environmental Benefits and Stronger Supply Chains
Together, BioMar and Cefetra are demonstrating how agriculture and aquaculture can collaborate to deliver measurable environmental benefits and stronger supply chains, from the soil to the seafood.
James Neilson, Supply Chain Director at Cefetra Ecosystem Services, said: “Cefetra’s unique position allows us to aggregate demand from hundreds of buyers across industries. This enables us to create long-term solutions that put soil health and carbon removals at the core. With our deep knowledge of the supply chain, we can ensure improvements on the farm translate into real climate benefits for downstream sectors like aquaculture.”
The work of BioMar and Cefetra Ecosystem Services was recently highlighted in the Executive TV episode Circular Horizons: Farming, Construction, and the Race to Redefine Waste, showcasing the role of cross-sector partnerships in delivering practical environmental improvements. You can watch the episode here.
As the world’s population grows, the need for efficient and responsible food production continues to rise. In 2022, aquaculture surpassed capture fisheries for the first time, contributing 51% of the total global output of aquatic animals. While aquaculture already has one of the lowest feed conversion ratios in animal farming, more than 80 percent of fish emissions are linked to feed and raw material sourcing. Reducing these emissions and improving supply chain resilience is therefore a shared challenge for the sector.
Milestone Marks a Turning Point for the Insect and the Aquaculture Industries
Some days before the announcement, on the opening day of the Global Shrimp Forum, BioMar, Innovafeed, and Auchan announced a significant industry commitment: the large-scale integration of insect protein into commercial shrimp feed in Ecuador. This milestone marks a turning point for both the insect and aquaculture industries, demonstrating that insect protein is a viable part of the solution in responsible and resilient shrimp farming.
Insect meal is much more than a protein source, it contains functional nutrients like antimicrobial peptides. Recent research from BioMar showed a unique functional benefit in shrimp feeds, making it possible to substitute it with a similarly valued ingredient currently in use.
This discovery offers insect meal a viable market entry position in shrimp feeds at its current market value. From there, it’s possible to scale insect meal and hopefully be market competitive in the protein ingredient segment in the future, but for now, it can play a vital role in the functional ingredient segment in aquafeeds.
As part of this industry-first initiative, Auchan, one of Europe’s leading retailers, will support the rollout by integrating shrimp raised on this next-generation feed into its responsible sourcing strategy and product offering.
This tripartite commitment marks a significant leap toward scaling insect-based solutions as a cornerstone of tomorrow’s food system. It reflects the shared ambition of key players in aquaculture, agrotechnology, and retail to accelerate the shift toward a circular, resilient, and low-impact protein model, reducing dependence on wild-caught fish and conventional agricultural resources, while upholding rigorous sustainability standards and promoting responsible shrimp farming.
