LCA in fishfeeds collaboration with company /use of SimaPro Software /AN

Information

Topic title: Investigating the environmental impact(s) of using soy-based feed as opposed to fish feed in the production of salmon.

Aim: To compare the impact of soy-based feed with an alternative feed (marginal if soy based feed is not the marginal) and see the environmental impact it has on the production of 1 kg salmon

Product: It is determined based on available knowledge/data of which fish/seafood products are most likely to use soy-based feed in combination with Salling Group’s product portfolio (whether the product is strategically relevant for Salling Group). Salmon is the product that makes up the biggest share in Salling product portfolio.

Data: Production data for the study would come from one/or more of Salling Group’s producers

Proposed method: LCA or similar (e.g. material flow analysis)

Relevance for Salling Group: We recently launched a policy for sustainable soy that at this moment does not cover seafood due to the lack of sufficient knowledge and data in regards to both quantity estimations but also on which direction we should take our policy in regards to this product category. Our policy also includes promoting alternative protein sources. This study would help answer some of the questions we have in regard to the scope.

Learning objectives:

• Acquire knowledge of the environmental impacts of using soy as ingredient in salmon feed.
• Conduct the research according to nutritional value and feed composition ingredients provided by Salling’s vendors.
• Consider the environmental impacts according to the fish growth stage and the feed conversion.
• Analyzing the conventional and organic soy production for the target specie.
• Apply the SimaPro software for measuring and evaluating the environmental impact(s) of soy-based fish feed and fishmeals.
• Analyzing Life Circle Assessments (LCA) for soy-based feed and fish meals by inventory analysis, impact assessment and results interpretation.
• To assess which of these types of feed has the main environmental impact.
• Set the system boundaries using different inputs and outputs for fishmeal and soy-based fish feed according to literature.
• Improve Salling’s positive impact in environment with sustainable fish suppliers.

ECTS Point: 30

Project Description

Master’s project in AQFood (Nordic MSc)

Title of the project:

Investigating the environmental impacts of using soy-based fish feed as opposed to fishfeed with no or marginal soy content in the production of 900gr fresh salmon.

Background and purpose:

Soy is an important source of protein especially as an ingredient in feed for production animals and fishes. The production of soy, however, can have severe impact on both climate and environment.

Aquaculture sector is growing exponentially due to the wild stock overexploitation and the worldwide fish protein demand. Therefore, it is important to measure its environmental impacts. Such an impact is aquaculture self-pollution which is caused mainly by feeding; the main challenge for a sustainable developing aquaculture. Fish feeding is an activity, so it should be sustainable for salmon to grow up and create value for the final marketable product. As a result, fish farmers should invest in the quantity and quality of feed from fry to growing stage of salmon.

A feed for salmon contains a diversification of ingredients. A usual composition of commercial aquaculture feed consists of plant protein, plant oil, fish protein by co-products, fish oil by co-products and micronutrients. Sustainable fish feed alternatives such as soy protein have in large scale replaced a huge part of fishmeal protein. This occurs because the catch from sea should be decreased and become more sustainable. However, the dramatic cultivation of soy, if it is not sustainably produced for animal feed and fish feed, can damage the environment in terms of generating greenhouse gases and deforestation. In addition, an inappropriate fish dietary, the type of fishfeed as well as overfeeding combined to bad sea-farm conditions can cause water pollution, acidification, and eutrophication.