Researchers Propose New Aquaculture Feed Sustainability Framework
Industry experts are pushing for better environmental data to track the footprint of fish farming ingredients.
Updated on Oct. 27, 2026 in Organic Food
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Industry experts presented a new lifecycle assessment framework for aquaculture feed at the recent IFFO Annual Conference. The proposal aims to better measure sustainability as the industry transitions toward more plant-based ingredients.
Why it matters
Current industry assessments often overlook environmental trade-offs by focusing on limited metrics like the fish-in-fish-out ratio. Comprehensive data is necessary to avoid unintended consequences when substituting feed ingredients.
Researchers compiled 370 unique datasets to evaluate production, finding that plant products accounted for nearly 75 percent of feed by 2020. In contrast, marine ingredients made up approximately 20 percent of total feed composition during that period.
The players
IFFO
This trade organization represents the marine ingredients industry and hosts global conferences to discuss feed sustainability.
Cargill
This major global food and agricultural corporation is actively advocating for more transparent environmental data in feed supply chains.
The details
The proposed framework evaluates ingredients across five stages, including fishing, processing, and transportation. Researchers analyzed changes in production volumes, energy use, and yields to address the limitations of existing sustainability benchmarks.
Timeline
European aquaculture production doubled between 2000 and 2020.
The IFFO Annual Conference took place from 19 to 21 October 2026.
Culture Shift
The industry is moving away from the traditional fish-in-fish-out ratio to embrace more holistic lifecycle assessments. This shift reflects a broader societal movement toward accountability and the rejection of single-metric sustainability benchmarks.
Consumers may eventually see different labeling or sustainability claims on seafood products as the industry adopts these new measurement standards. These changes could influence daily purchasing decisions for those who prioritize environmentally friendly food sources.
The takeaway
Adopting comprehensive lifecycle assessments helps ensure that modern food production actually reduces its environmental impact. Shoppers should look for transparency in supply chains as companies begin to report on a wider range of sustainability indicators.
Further reading
Learn more about sustainable agricultural practices in our Organic Food section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Seafoodsource.
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