ONDA TO ADVANCE RESEARCH ON SUSTAINABLE FEED ALTERNATIVES FOR AQUACULTURE

Onda to advance research on sustainable feed alternatives for aquaculture. Onda, the largest contract research organisation in Canada specialising in aquaculture research, is working with the Canola Council of Canada (CCC) on a new Canola AgriScience Cluster research project examining the use of canola-based feed meal for sustainable aquaculture production, with the goal of expanding the market for Canadian canola and providing a sustainable alternative for aquafeed.

The Canola AgriScience Cluster is a five-year research programme funded under Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership with contributions from the CCC, Alberta Canola, SaskOilseeds, Manitoba Canola Growers and the Ontario Canola Growers Association. Under this funding partnership, a total of 17 projects will be carried out in collaboration with public research institutions across Canada.

Aquaculture has become an essential source of global protein, but concerns about the environmental impact of fish feed ingredients have prompted the industry to seek more sustainable alternatives.

Onda CEO, Myrna Gillis stated:

“As global demand for seafood continues to rise, the need for sustainable practices in aquaculture has become more pressing than ever. By advancing research into alternative feed sources, Onda and the canola sector are helping the industry meet these challenges head-on while working to unlock new markets for Canadian canola.”

The 18-month research project will evaluate the use of Canadian canola meal in fish feed and its impact on growth, disease resistance and the environment. Objectives of this study are to update nutrient digestibility values and provide new data on its use in aquaculture, as well as a life cycle analysis on canola meal in salmon feed. The research will involve Onda’s Nutrition, Health, FeedTech and LabTech business units and will culminate in shared research and dissemination of the findings.

“This research will enhance our understanding of canola meal’s nutritional value in aquaculture, helping to build market opportunities and further canola’s value-added contributions to our food and feed systems,” says Chris Manchur, CCC agronomy specialist and research lead.

Canola meal is a promising plant protein source for fish feed due to its sustainability, market availability, cost-effectiveness and balanced amino acid profile. With the drive towards ingredients with lower environmental impact, there is increasing attention and interest in canola meal in the aquaculture industry. Additionally, the long salmon production cycle of 1.5 to 3 years provides a significant opportunity for the utilisation of canola meal in cost-effective feed formulations.

Onda is no stranger to alternative protein sources, having worked on numerous studies evaluating feed formulations that include plant-based ingredients in feed. The research collaboration leverages Onda’s expertise in aquaculture health and nutrition and the CCC’s knowledge of canola production and its uses in livestock and animal feed to gain a broader understanding of canola as a key ingredient in high-performance aquaculture feed formulations.

“This project provides an excellent opportunity to evaluate canola meal in a new light,” said Ivan Tankovski, Director of Nutrition for Onda. “The digestibility and benchtop studies showed promising results, and we are now eagerly anticipating the results from the next trial to complete the picture.”

The findings from this research are expected to contribute to more sustainable aquaculture production methods and support the industry’s commitment to reducing its reliance on marine-based ingredients.

 About Onda

Onda Research is a contract research organisation specialising in Aquaculture research and trials. Onda offers bespoke bench top and in-tank trials and challenges for a variety of species at both our Souris & Victoria, PEI locations, presenting our clients with custom made solutions to the challenges they are facing with best-in-class industry expertise and experience. Onda holds a variety of certifications including, GLP, GMP, ACQ3 & ACQ2, integrating our customised service offering with the highest quality of work. Quality, consistency, and reliability are traits that we at Onda pride ourselves in each interaction with our clients. From idea to solution, Onda provides expertise, guidance, and navigation during the product licensing process.