A groundbreaking tool, the result of thirty years of dedicated research, is set to redefine nutrient retention in aquaculture. Developed by researchers from Stirling, Lancaster, Aberdeen, and Cambridge universities, this online platform promises to enhance marine resource efficiency in commercial aquaculture diets. By integrating detailed data on fish species, omega-3 content, and economic factors, it surpasses traditional metrics. This innovation not only supports sustainable practices but also integrates seamlessly with life cycle assessments for a comprehensive sustainability evaluation.

The aquaculture industry has long faced criticism for its reliance on wild fish for feed production, impacting ocean ecosystems. In response, the nFIFO ratio was developed as an advanced metric to evaluate feed efficiency more accurately. It incorporates nutrient retention and prioritizes sustainable marine ingredients, providing insights into individual species' contributions and their omega-3 content. This tool is accessible on desktops and tablets, with mobile functionality planned for release later this year, including benchmarking features for industry comparison.

Pioneering Sustainable Aquaculture Metrics

Researchers have introduced the nFIFO ratio, a sophisticated model that enhances traditional FIFO metrics by considering nutrient retention and encouraging the use of sustainable marine by-products. This approach addresses the global shortage of omega-3 oils crucial for human health and development, ensuring efficient conversion from wild fish to farmed products. The tool provides species-specific data, allowing users to prioritize based on sustainability criteria such as food/feed competition or increased by-product inclusion.

The nFIFO tool revolutionizes aquaculture feed management by accounting for the nutrient retention efficiency of farmed fish fed marine ingredients. Unlike older FIFO versions using global averages, nFIFO represents individual fish species, detailing their marine ingredient yields and omega-3 content. This granularity empowers users to make informed decisions about species prioritization. Furthermore, the tool assigns economic weightings to ingredients, reflecting market volatility due to availability and supply sustainability. This feature aligns with life cycle assessment methodologies, enabling organizations to conduct comprehensive sustainability evaluations across the supply chain. Through these advancements, the tool fosters strategic resource utilization while addressing environmental concerns.

Driving Industry Transformation with Practical Applications

BFP collaborates with companies within the Hatch-supported Crest accelerator to implement life cycle assessments and other sustainability evaluations. These services encompass environmental, socio-economic, nutritional, and fish welfare analyses for seafood enterprises at various stages of the value chain. BFP also offers customized solutions to validate sustainability claims, ensuring transparency and credibility in corporate practices. As part of future updates, the tool will incorporate additional species-specific whole fish and by-product meals and oils, offering deeper insights into marine resource efficiency across diverse farmed species.

With its robust framework, the nFIFO tool facilitates practical applications within the aquaculture sector. Companies can leverage its capabilities to assess their sustainability performance comprehensively. By integrating economic weightings compatible with LCA methodologies, the tool enables organizations to understand trade-offs throughout the supply chain. This capability is pivotal for optimizing resource usage and mitigating environmental impacts. Moreover, BFP's ongoing efforts to expand the tool's scope with new species-specific data ensure its relevance and utility in advancing sustainable aquaculture practices. Through partnerships and continuous enhancement, the tool positions itself as a cornerstone for transformative change in the industry.