Stakeholder collaborative effort F3 – Future of Fish Feed is calling on fish farms worldwide to go “fish-free” in their feed supply chains with the launch of its latest F3 Fish Farm Challenge, a global competition rewarding farms that lead the transition to aquafeeds made without marine animal ingredients. The challenge is designed to enhance feed supply chain resilience, by encouraging the use of new, innovative alternatives that will future-proof fish farming operations.
A total of US$200,000 in cash prizes will be awarded to four top-performing farms that sell the most carnivorous finfish raised on marine-animal–free feeds in one of two contest tracks:
- A two-year contest that rewards farms already producing and selling carnivorous finfish on feeds free of marine-animal ingredients
- A four-year contest that rewards farms embarking on new feed and farming innovations and those raising slower-growing finfish species
Registration for both contest tracks opened on 16 September 2025.
“By incentivising farms to innovate, the F3 Fish Farm Challenge reduces pressure on wild fish stocks while building a more resilient and sustainable farmed seafood system for the future,” F3 judge Kevin Fitzsimmons, professor at the University of Arizona. “Amid growing supply chain uncertainties, this contest offers an opportunity to future-proof farm operations by developing strong, sustainable feed contingency plans.”
The challenge is open to farms producing carnivorous finfish on marine-animal–free feeds. The prize money will be awarded to the registered farm, which may team up with feed companies, ingredient suppliers, or other partners.
To qualify, farmers must use marine-animal–free diets beginning no later than the fingerling stage, though they may start earlier.
