The fish feed maker said its new €6.1 million R&D station, Skretting AI Guayas, also aims to accelerate the adoption of more sustainable and innovative feeds by the shrimp farming industry, and the company has invested in its species. It aims to expand the nutrition and health knowledge of the population. , eventually applying that intelligence in the field in Ecuador.
Ecuador’s shrimp sector on the rise na
According to Alex Obach, innovation director at Skretting, the Latin American country is fast becoming one of the world’s leading shrimp producers.
A delegation to the Global Shrimp Forum 2022, held in Utrecht last month, said from Contari that in 2021, India will still lead the way, with just over 1 million tonnes of exports equivalent to live shrimp, and Ecuador will follow with a smaller amount. I heard that you were in line for Export less than 1 million tons.
However, industry insiders expect Ecuador to become a leading shrimp exporter by 2022, Obach added.
He noted that shrimp farming in Latin America is very different from production in Asia and tends to be very intensive, family-run, with small ponds and high density.
Ecuador’s shrimp production is more intensive and the ponds are much larger.
A Skretting representative explained that Ecuador has also seen a lot of technologicalization. The overall approach to shrimp farming is very sophisticated, he said.
“We use extruded feed, automated feeding systems, hydrophones at the bottom of the pond to listen to shrimp feeding activity, and sensors to measure temperature and oxygen. [have made a huge difference in the Ecuadorian shrimp industry]”na
As a result, shrimp production per farm has increased significantly, he said.
While shrimp production in Asia tends to rely on pelleted feed, the Ecuadorian shrimp market is dominated by extruded feed, which has also contributed to the growth of the industry, said Obach. “Most of our volume there is extruded. Improves physical quality of extruded pellets. they are more durable. They are more water stable. When using an automatic feeding system, you need to make sure the pellets are resistant. “na
Extrusion also provides greater flexibility in terms of raw material selection, which is very important given current challenges such as raw material price volatility and concerns over availability, Obach said. “In that regard, pelleted feed is a more stringent system. “na
Area research basena
The company’s new research center in Guayaquil incorporates the latest technology, he said. “It is one of the most advanced research institutes in the world. We have a lab and almost 300 experimental units. They are completely controlled environments. ” na
In addition, the center has a series of tanks, allowing multiple studies to be conducted under conditions that mimic commercial production.
The team there studies all stages of shrimp production, from larvae to harvest-sized animals. Simulations and evaluations include health and welfare parameters, growth and feed efficiency studies.
“[At Skretting] We have taken our research to another level. From the typical growth and digestibility studies of the past, we can now actually study salmon genes, for example. For example, you can measure expression and understand what changed when you changed your diet. The effects will extend to the immune system, lipid metabolic pathways. We will begin transferring some of our technology located in Norway to our hub in Ecuador. na
“When it comes to shrimp, nutrition knowledge is not as advanced as salmon, so it takes a little work to catch up. . na
“Looking at the ingredients, it is not yet independent of shrimp meal. It’s not about eliminating , it’s about being more flexible when it comes to choosing ingredients, and we’re testing a lot of new ingredients.”na
Evaluating functional diets to address disease challenges will also be a priority for the new research station. “White spot disease still exists, as does early death syndrome (EMS). We need to continue developing functional feeds. “na
Additionally, exploring the value that technological advancements bring to Ecuador’s shrimp sector will also be on the Center’s radar. “We are looking at techniques to help us see how shrimp feed, measure biomass, and control water quality. “na
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