A team of researchers in the U.K. is moving forward with a project that tests the potential use of hemp seeds as a sustainable protein source for Scottish farmed salmon feeds.
Rare Earth Global, the company behind the initiative and growers of industrial hemp for a range of sustainable products, announced support from the Sustainable Aquaculture Innovation Centre (SAIC) and the U.K. Seafood Innovation Fund (SIF) with the latter contributing £260,000 in funding. Last year, the company received EUR 50,000 from the SIF to research the best ways to incorporate hemp seeds into the diet of the salmon in addition to figuring out which of the over 100 varieties of hemp plant seeds have the best potential for inclusion in aquafeed.
“Locally grown, plant-based ingredients are already more environmentally friendly than any imported soy or fishmeal but our zero-waste approach to growing it also ensures that every part of the hemp plant is used for maximum value,” said Rare Earth Global director and co-founder Suneet Shivaprasad.
In its initial stages, the research studied two types of hemp meal against a variety of factors such as digestibility, fish growth and effect on gut health and found it had a comparable profile to soy and fishmeal, two of the most common protein sources for aquafeeds. Initial results from the research have shown using hemp in aquafeed has the potential to reduce the use of fish meal and soy products. It has also shown the protein derived from sustainable hemp at rates of up to 50 percent, exceeding the minimum requirement of 35 percent.
The next stage of the research involves monitoring how the fish perform after including hemp seed protein in their diet long term and will include a two-month assessment. In addition to the support from the SAIC and the SIF, global producer of Atlantic salmon, Mowi, will support the creation and production of the feed. Farmers in Angus and Aberdeenshire will grow the crops.
“By conducting a two-month feed trial we hope to prove that hemp protein can serve as a direct replacement for soy in terms of digestibility, nutrition and growth,” said Dr. Monica Betancor, associate professor at the University of Stirling’s Institute of Aquaculture. “From what we have seen already, it has only had a positive impact on the salmon involved in our first trials.”
Other aspects of the study will look at the viability of hemp meal protein for commercialization and the optimum consumption that would deliver the best results for the salmon. Another aspect aims to cover the sustainability factors of the process and identifying ways hemp farmers, feed companies and seafood producers can work together to measure and minimize the carbon footprint throughout the process.
“The main goals for this project are to demonstrate that alternative animal feed ingredients are viable, and often a healthier option to current fish feeds. That hemp is more sustainable, and due to its digestive and nutritious traits, will be cost-effective for all stages of the supply chain,” said Rare Earth Global CEO Nathaniel Milner. “We are working to reduce the environmental footprint and increase the economic impact of aquaculture. We wish also to see significant job creation in the U.K. and provide security for farmers here who have serious concerns due to the current geopolitical climate as well as the continued fall out from Brexit.”
After the passing of the U.S. Farm Bill in 2018 that legalized industrial hemp, Kentucky-based nonprofit organization Friends of Hemp previously has asked the FDA for support in trials for animal feeds and has worked to create a market for ingredients like hemp oil, hemp seeds, hemp protein and hemp hearts that can be used in feeds.
