- Klimaindsats
Klimaindsats
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Udforsk
Every year, billions of chickens are processed for food - leaving behind mountains of feathers. While most see this as waste, aquaculture nutritionists see something else entirely: opportunity. These feathers, once destined for landfills, are now being transformed into a high-protein, sustainable ingredient known as feather meal.
Feather meal is made from clean, sanitized poultry feathers, a byproduct of poultry processing. In their raw form, they’re indigestible to fish. But thanks to a process called hydrolysis - which uses high pressure and heat - these feathers are broken down into a digestible protein meal ideal for aquaculture. This transformation turns a challenging waste stream into a valuable asset, reducing environmental impact and supporting circular economy goals. Processed feather meal can contain up to 85% crude protein, making it a powerful addition to fish diets especially for carnivorous species like salmon and trout. It’s particularly rich in the amino acid cystine, supporting tissue growth and repair.
By re-purposing poultry feathers, we avoid landfill waste and reduce the need for resource-intensive ingredients.
Feather meal reduce the need for land and water: Compared to plant-based proteins like soy, feather meal requires zero additional agricultural land and no irrigation - it’s a true byproduct. The poultry industry generates over 5 million tons of feathers globally per year - enough to fill more than 60 Olympic-sized swimming pools!
Outside of fish farming, feather meals are also valued in agriculture as a slow-release organic fertilizer, thanks to its high nitrogen content. But in the aquaculture world, its main strength lies in its protein profile and sustainability benefits.
Feather meals aren’t just for fish or fertilizer - researchers are exploring their use in bioplastics, textiles, and even battery electrodes! In the U.S., feather fibers have been tested as insulation material in jackets, offering a cruelty-free alternative to goose down.
Trout and salmon digest feather meal better than many think. These species naturally consume high-protein diets, and when feather meal is used in the right amounts and combinations, they support excellent growth rates. Feather meal contributes to lower phosphorus levels in aquaculture effluent, making it a good fit for environmentally conscious farms. Feather meal is rarely used alone, it works best as part of a balanced formulation strategy, where it complements other ingredients to meet the complete nutritional needs of fish. When used thoughtfully, feather meal helps maintain nutrient balance, supports muscle development, and can even contribute to better flesh quality.
Fun facts:
Feathers are 90% keratin.
2.5 kg of feathers = 1 kg of feather meal and when formulated properly, it contributes to high feed efficiency without compromising growth performance.
Feathers contain the same tough protein found in human hair and nails.
Properly processed feather meal is highly digestible - a big shift from its raw form.
Feathers are stronger than you think: The keratin in feathers is one of the toughest natural proteins. Pound for pound, it’s stronger than steel in tensile strength.
Feathers are ultra-light: Despite their strength, feathers are extremely lightweight. This makes processing and transportation of feather meal more energy efficient per protein unit compared to bulkier ingredients.
By giving feathers a second life in aquaculture feeds, we’re not just feeding fish - we’re feeding the future. Feather meal is a powerful example of how innovative thinking and smart nutrition can turn waste into value, improve feed sustainability, and help build a zero-waste future in fish farming.
Resultater (53)
- R&D
- Nye ingredienser
UdforskUdviklingen i næringsstoffer til akvakulturfoder
Fisk og skaldyr er meget tilpasningsdygtige og har brug for omkring 40 essentielle næringsstoffer, som kan komme fra forskellige råmaterialer, herunder marine ingredienser, animalske produkter, korn og nye kilder. Denne tilpasningsevne er afgørende for branchens vækst og vil give mulighed for forskellige foderformuleringer.
- Genoprettende
- Klimaindsats
UdforskBioMar har opnået rekordlav FFDR
En rekordlav FFDR på 0,37 blev rapporteret i dag i BioMar's bæredygtighedsrapport for 2024. Denne milepæl blev nået gennem innovativ brug af alternative ingredienser og afskæringer, som nu udgør 55 % af de samlede marine ingredienser. De stadigt skiftende markedsforhold for råvarer kan dog gøre det udfordrende at opretholde denne position over tid.
- Nye ingredienser
- Partnerskaber
UdforskBioMar og Agronutris går sammen om næste generations insektmel
Efter mange års R&D arbejde betragtes insektmel nu som en lovende ny ingrediens, der er stærkt på vej til at blive accepteret og en bred portefølje af insektmel til akvakultur er på vej ind på markedet.
- Klimaindsats
- Ernæring
UdforskCircular by nature: The real story of fish meal
Fish meal is widely regarded as one of the most efficient and complete protein sources available for aquafeeds. It provides farmed fish with a rich supply of essential amino acids, high-quality proteins, vitamins and minerals, all of which are critical for rapid growth, metabolic health, and immune system function. For many species, particularly in early life stages, fish meal remains an irreplaceable component of nutritionally balanced feed due to its digestibility and nutrient density.
- Klimaindsats
- Ernæring
UdforskAlgaPrime: Unexpected Algae Heroes
As the global demand for sustainable aquaculture practices continues to rise, so does the need for alternatives to traditional fish meal and fish oil. One of the most promising innovations in this space is AlgaPrime, a revolutionary ingredient that provides a sustainable and nutritious source of omega-3 fatty acids, particularly DHA.
- Produkter
- Ernæring
UdforskVær klar til den kolde tid
Med EFICO Enviro 920 Advance hjælper vi dine fisk med at få fuldt udbytte af vækstpotentialet.
- BioFarm
- Ernæring
UdforskHow to secure an appropriate oxygen supply?
In fish farming, being attentive to oxygen levels and implementing oxygenation are important prerequisites for maintaining economic growth rates.
- Fællesskab
- Partnerskaber
UdforskBioMar støtter “Blue Food, Green Solutions” på Aqua 2024
BioMar baner vejen mod blå mad og grønne løsninger (Blue Food, Green Solutions) ved at være guldsponsor for AQUA 2024-konferencen.
- BioFarm
UdforskStay in control of oxygen fluctuations
In fish farming, large fluctuations in the oxygen content of water have a negative impact on the well-being of the fish and consequently on its growth. High water temperatures or rich vegetation in the water are important alarming factors to observe, especially in summer periods.
- Klimaindsats
- Partnerskaber
UdforskVejen mod et bæredygtigt fiskeopdræt
Their aquaculture journey began with curiosity sparked by an unused pond on his father’s land. With no prior experience in fish farming but a strong background in finance and business, Lauris Apsis saw an opportunity to create something meaningful. Recognizing sustainability as the key to long-term success, Lauris and his Finnish partner, Salmela-Yhtiot Oy founded Blue Circle (Zivs uz Ledus), a Latvian farm dedicated to producing premium Arctic char using cutting-edge recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS).
