by Stelios Karapanagiotis, R&D Department, Galaxidi Marine Farm & Phelly Vasilaki R&D Department, Irida, Greece
Aquaculture is one of the most fast-growing food sectors and is recognised as one of the most practical and sustainable ways of meeting the increasing demands of the world’s population for safe and nutritious food.
Aquaculture harvested volumes equaled capture fisheries production in 2021 and is estimated to have surpassed it since. In parallel, an increasing number of consumers and especially those of a younger age expect higher standards of production and particularly those around the quality, origin, and sustainability of their food.
Organic Aquaculture
Organic food is considered to be a better option in meeting high quality and sustainability standards and increasing numbers of consumers prefer it. This is reflected in the steady growth of organic food production across the EU and global markets.
The European Union is a leading force in the effort to combat climate change and its consequences. The EU’s Green Deal is a commitment to climate neutrality by 2050, while maintaining sustainable growth. At the heart of the Green Deal is the Farm to Fork Strategy which focuses on building a fair, healthy and environmentally friendly food system. Recognising how organic production systems can have a positive impact on the economy and the environment, including biodiversity, the Commission set ambitious targets hoping to substantially boost European organic production. However, while the objectives for agriculture are specific (at least 25% of the EU’s agricultural land under organic farming by 2030), the goals for organic aquaculture are not well defined, aiming for a more general ‘significant increase’.
In 2021 the European Commission published its strategic guidelines for a more sustainable and competitive EU aquaculture for the period 2021 to 2030, where among other goals it seeks to promote organic aquaculture and other aquaculture systems with low environmental impact.
Characteristics of organic net-pen production
As of January 1st, 2022, Regulation EU 2018/848 has been put into effect, (as an updated version of 2008 regulation 889/2008), setting the rules for organic production and labelling of organic products. In a nutshell, the rules for organic production of fish require the use of organic juveniles from organic broodstock, the use of certified organic feeds and the clear separation of conventional and organic facilities (if they co-exist). Furthermore, there are limits in the number of allopathic and antiparasitic treatments fish can undergo in the duration of their life, there are specific chemicals and disinfectants that can be used in tanks or net-pens, while others, such as anti-fouling paints, are prohibited. Finally, emphasis is given to the locality of fish species and populations.
Organic production bottlenecks
Reports and communication letters from the Federation of European Aquaculture Producers (FEAP) and European Market Observatory for Fisheries and Aquaculture products (EUMOFA) have described several bottlenecks for organic aquaculture.
These are technical issues, such as inconsistencies in the rules, since many were transferred from terrestrial organic production or written by agriculture specialists, or different interpretations on a national level. The barriers include the administrative and certification costs, additional costs incurred by the separation of organic and non-organic units, the higher costs of organic aquafeeds, the limited availability of organic juveniles for some species as well as the restrictions on medical treatments. Furthermore, certain production systems are entirely prohibited, such as RAS or types of polycultures. Also, the organic certification scheme is often in competition with other certification schemes. Moreover, the stringent constraints imposed on organic aquaculture led to a significantly higher price of organic products, one that consumers may not be willing or able to pay, especially in periods of economic constraints.
Bright side
Despite the bottlenecks and barriers described above, there are still bright prospects for organic aquaculture. The same rules that make organic production more challenging are the drivers for a more premium product with added value. Acquiring the organic certification leads to diversification and is a means to gain access to new markets, across the world. Last but not least, a more environmentally friendly production system preserves the local ecosystem and provides a healthier grow-out environment for the farmed fish, thus indirectly enhancing production.
Feeds appropriate for use in organic aquaculture
The new generation of consumers prefer organic products due to their reduced synthetic chemical loads as well as for animal welfare reasons. Arguably, the largest beneficiary of organic production is the environment. Organic certification does not necessarily mean that certified organic aquaculture has zero environmental impact, as no food production system can.
The difference stems primarily from lower chemical outputs and better waste management, encountered generally in organic compared to conventional production. In feeds, certified for organic aquaculture production, the fishmeal and the fish oil from wild-caught sources are replaced with fishmeal and fish oil from fishery by-product. Plant components/ raw materials must be sourced entirely from organic certified agriculture. This leads to a lower environmental impact as a result of reduced fishing pressure on wild stocks, and reduced carbon footprint.
Galaxidi Marine Farm and Irida
The Galaxidi Marine Farm’s involvement with organic production started in 2007, when the organic production management system was first established in one of the fish farms leading to its formal certification three years later (2010) by certification body BioHellas. The following year, one of the hatcheries received the certification as well, establishing Galaxidi Marine Farm as the sole company in Greece, and one of the very few in Europe, capable of producing organic eggs and juveniles. The same facilities are also now certified by the Naturland private standard for organic production. To date, the organic hatchery can produce up to seven million juveniles, while the organic farm’s capacity reaches 1650t.
Irida is recognised as the leading producer of feeds certified for organic aquaculture in the Mediterranean area. The company is certified by both BioHellas and Naturland. Irida’s product range of feeds certified and destined for organic aquaculture covers all sizes and life stages of fish. All raw materials of plant origin used in Irida’s organic fish feeds, originate from organic farming practices, and are formally certified as such. Fishmeal and fish oil originate from sustainable sources and all additives and natural antioxidants used are in full accord with current EU organic production regulations as well as third party certification where additionally required. The volume of sales of certified organic aquaculture feeds in Irida accounts for seven percent of the annual total sales volumes.
R&D activities
Much effort has been made by both companies in this area as exemplified by the participation of both in a number of EU research and other scientific programs which target the development of novel feeds appropriate for organic aquaculture.
For example, the Horizon 2020 project FutureEuAqua (Future growth in sustainable, resilient and climate friendly organic and conventional European aquaculture) coordinated by NOFIMA, aspired to promote the sustainable growth of European aquaculture by addressing a wide range of the sector’s challenges, from climate change to consumer demands. Galaxidi Marine Farm contributed to the research effort by performing the largescale field trials necessary to validate a novel organic feed for European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax), designed and produced by Irida.
Another example is NewTechAqua which is coordinated by the University of Bolognia, (New Technologies, Tools and Strategies for a Sustainable, Resilient and Innovative European Aquaculture) also under the Horizon 2020 umbrella aims to develop and validate novel, technologically advanced and, more importantly, sustainable solutions to address the problems hindering the diversification and expansion of EU’s aquaculture production, including organic production. Galaxidi Marine Farm’s contribution was once more to carry out the large-scale field trials necessary to evaluate the performance of an innovative organic feed for gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata), designed and produced by Irida.
Published in the February 2024 issue of International Aquafeed.
