An overview of aquafeed formulation and processing

Abstract

It has been widely accepted that the growing future demand for aquatic products will have to be met by aquaculture. By year 2020, worldwide aquaculture is projected to supply about 120–130 million tonnes of fish to meet the estimated demands (Rana et al. 2009; FAO 2012). Since feed is the single largest operational expense (between 50 and 60 %) in aquaculture, feed cost determines the profitability and sustainability of this agribusiness activity. Although aquaculture supplied more than 63 million metric tonnes of fish to the world’s human food basket in 2011, only two-thirds of this is produced from artificial feeding, and the rest is contributed by non-fed species. However, the percentage contribution by non-fed species is showing a declining trend from more than 50 % in 1980 to the present level of 33.3 %, indicating the significance of the formulated feed in global aquaculture industry and the further increase in demand for formulated feed and ingredients (FAO 2012).