Sustainable agriculture

DTU Thesis Project in collaboration with Salling Group, MSc Aquatic Food Production (Nordic Master Program)

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.