Canadian aquaculture research company Onda has confirmed it is working with the Canola Council of Canada (CCC) on a new Canola AgriScience Cluster research project examining the use of canola-based feed meal for sustainable aquaculture production. The goal is to expand the market for Canadian canola and provide a sustainable alternative for aquafeeds.
Canola AgriScience Cluster is a five-year research programme funded under Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership with contributions from the CCC, Alberta Canola, SaskOilseeds, Manitoba Canola Growers and the Ontario Canola Growers Association. Under this funding partnership, a total of 17 projects will be carried out in collaboration with public research institutions across Canada.
“As global demand for seafood continues to rise, the need for sustainable practices in aquaculture has become more pressing than ever. By advancing research into alternative feed sources, Onda and the canola sector are helping the industry meet these challenges head-on while working to unlock new markets for Canadian canola,” Onda CEO Myrna Gillis said.
The 18-month research project will evaluate the use of Canadian canola meal in fish feed and its impact on growth, disease resistance and the environment. Objectives of this study are to update nutrient digestibility values and provide new data on its use in aquaculture, as well as a lifecycle analysis on canola meal in salmon feed. The research will involve Onda’s Nutrition, Health, FeedTech and LabTech business units and will culminate in shared research and dissemination of the findings.
“This research will enhance our understanding of canola meal’s nutritional value in aquaculture, helping to build market opportunities and further canola’s value-added contributions to our food and feed systems,” said Chris Manchur, CCC agronomy specialist and research lead.
Canola meal is regarded as a promising plant protein source for fish feed due to its sustainability, market availability, cost-effectiveness and balanced amino acid profile. With the drive towards ingredients with lower environmental impact, there is increasing attention and interest in canola meal in the aquaculture industry. Additionally, the long salmon production cycle of 1.5 to 3 years provides a significant opportunity for the utilisation of canola meal in cost-effective feed formulations.
Onda has worked on numerous studies evaluating feed formulations that include plant-based ingredients in feed. The research collaboration leverages Onda’s expertise in aquaculture health and nutrition and the CCC’s knowledge of canola production and its uses in livestock and animal feed to gain a broader understanding of canola as a key ingredient in high-performance aquaculture feed formulations.
“This project provides an excellent opportunity to evaluate canola meal in a new light,” said Ivan Tankovski, Director of Nutrition for Onda. ”The digestibility and benchtop studies showed promising results, and we are now eagerly anticipating the results from the next trial to complete the picture.”
The findings from this research are expected to contribute to more sustainable aquaculture production methods and support the industry’s commitment to reducing its reliance on marine-based ingredients.
