Raw materials in fish feed

Challenges

There is a wide variety of raw materials that can be used in fish feed. These are produced worldwide and are purchased on various raw material markets internationally. The raw materials used in fish feed are also used in other types of feed for pigs, chickens, cattle etc.

A number of businesses are involved in the production of raw materials, as in other industries, and Lerøy aims to ensure that these all comply with our requirements laid down in our Code of Conduct, that they utilise a monitoring system so that all production information can be traced back to them and measured, and that the raw materials are safe for both the fish and the people who eat the fish.

It is also essential to ensure that the raw materials do not contain substances that can harm the marine environment during production at sea. Some raw materials are subject to sustainability certification and some are not. Some raw materials have a larger carbon footprint than others. Some species are caught properly according to prevailing quotas and regulations, while other species are not.

Lerøy's ambitions in this area

• Marine raw materials shall originate from responsibly regulated fisheries, with individual species governed in accordance with the regulations laid down by national and international authorities and quotas specified on the basis of scientific recommendations.
• We do not accept species in our feed that are on the UN’s list of endangered species (the CITES Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) or classified as critically endangered or endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
• All raw materials utilised shall meet the requirements in the ASC standard.
• Lerøy aims to increase the share of MSC certified marine raw materials in feed from year to year.
• Terrestrial raw materials shall originate from land-based production in areas sustainably obtained for such production.
• Raw materials from areas acquired by deforestation shall not be used in the feed
• All raw materials used shall be certified in accordance with a sustainability standard
• The raw materials in feed shall have the lowest possible carbon footprint
• The raw materials shall be competitively priced
• The raw materials shall have a positive impact on fish health and growth
• The raw materials shall be safe for both fish and people, and for marine life
• Feed suppliers and their subcontractors shall comply with our Code of Conduct
• Full traceability for all raw materials all the way back to land/farm/waters

Action taken by Lerøy in the area

• Lerøy has close follow-up and collaboration with its own feed suppliers through regular dialogues and meetings. We have regular quarterly meetings but also a number of different meetings in addition.
• Lerøy has made active choices in relation to raw material choices by implementing new raw materials such as insect meal and microalgae in the feed. We have also chosen to take out various raw materials that we do not want as part of our feed. Examples of this are palm oil, Ethoxyquin, salmon oil, GMO raw materials and flour and bones from land animals. Lerøy carries out R&D focusing on new raw materials for feed.
• Lerøy conducts R&D activities with a focus on new feed raw materials such as kelp and mussel flour.
• Lerøy compiles their own feed specifications.
• Lerøy has together with our feed producers and the independent research institute Sintef, completed a raw material climate risk analysis. We have looked into availability, CO2, pricing, climate risk, water usage etc. This tool is to be continuously updated with new raw materials, to facilitate a factual and holistic decision making tool

How we measure our impact in this area

We measure our impact by means of in-house audits, third-party audits, traceability data, ASC audits and dialogue and partnership.

Target

• To fulfil our ambitions in this area

Results

Lerøy fulfils all their ambitions, with the exception of:

• The share of MSC certified raw materials in feed has seen a decline since 2020, as certain species, such as blue whiting, no longer have MSC certification
• We have a lot of room for improvement in finding alternative raw materials with a smaller carbon footprint

Lerøy has made active decisions:

• To use:
  • Microalgae
  • Camelina oil
  • Insect meal
• To NOT use:
  • Salmon oil
  • Ethoxyquin
  • Palm oil
  • Chitin inhibitors
  • Blood and bonemeal

Efforts going forward

 We will continue to work in this area by means of:

• reducing climate footprint
• Partnerships and organisations
• Increased use of residual raw materials from own fisheries
• Various R&D projects
• Increased competencies
• Efforts to increase certification
• Dialogue with feed companies
• Various NGOs
• other