Blue Foods, Green Solutions: ASC’s Contributions at AQUA 24

The AQUA 24 conference, themed “Blue Foods, Green Solutions,” was held in Copenhagen, Denmark, earlier this year, and brought together over 3,600 participants from 80 countries. ASC was well-represented, actively contributing to the event’s success. It provided an excellent platform for ASC to showcase our work, strengthen connections within the research and industry communities, and engage in knowledge exchange with global stakeholders.

During the five-day event, which featured 66 sessions on key sustainability topics, ASC gave four oral presentations. Our experts addressed diverse areas: animal health (Maria Filipa Castanheira), greenhouse gas emissions (Rob Parker), species integration (Fabiola Mustafaj), and antibiotic use (Ola Luthman). In addition, ASC representatives presented a poster (Sam Forsans, Hans van Someren Greve) and led a workshop on the future of aquafeed.

The workshop was the first event in our ongoing “Research Connection Series” which is an initiative designed to engage stakeholders in the aquaculture sector by sharing scientific findings, project scopes, and industry developments. It integrates three core research areas, offering insights into cutting-edge research, identifying knowledge gaps, and fostering connections between researchers and other stakeholders. The series facilitates networking, learning sessions, and knowledge exchange through ongoing in-person and online events. Its goal is to create an interactive space where stakeholders can present ideas, share results, and gather feedback from a broader audience. Ultimately, the Research Connection Series serves as a valuable platform for brokering key research to interested parties.

The workshop, chaired by Research Coordinator Ola Luthman, featured a distinguished panel of experts: Max Troell (Beijer Institute of Ecological Economics), Erik Olav Gracey (Biomar), Lisbeth Jess Plesner (Hede Denmark), and Douglas Martin (MiAlgae). Together, they tackled crucial topics related to the future of sustainable aquafeeds and broader food production challenges.

Key discussions centered on the environmental impacts of shrinking food resources and the increasing competition between food and feed. The panel emphasized the growing divide in access to nutritious foods and the role blue foods could play, either as a resource or a potential issue. Upcycling byproducts was highlighted as a crucial strategy to enhance sustainability in food production, with calls for organizations like ASC to include food-feed competition in sustainability assessments.

Another important theme was the potential for producing aquafeed ingredients locally, using alternative resources such as forestry byproducts. The panelists stressed the importance of transparency, partnerships, and collaboration between various stakeholders, including farmers, ingredient producers, and sustainability-focused organizations. These efforts, they agreed, are critical for driving innovation and ensuring that sustainability commitments are met.

Ultimately, the workshop underscored the need for stronger collaboration, data transparency, and continuous innovation to tackle the complex challenges of sustainable aquafeeds and food production.

The first Research Connection Series event underscored the value of such initiatives, while highlighting the potential for a more detailed and collaborative format. There’s a clear opportunity and need to continue fostering these events, creating more spaces for learning, sharing, and co-creating ideas and knowledge. Building on this momentum will further strengthen connections and innovation within the community.