Feed resource utilisation in
aquaculture and agriculture

To play a more important and beneficial role in the future human food supply chain, aquaculture must be able to  conquer the feed resources used for meat production more efficiently than agriculture.  Fortunately, this seems to be achievable with relative ease.

Alternative uses of energy and protein.

Our major sources of primary protein and energy, the cereals (rice, wheat, maize) and pulses (primarily soya beans), can be utilised in a number of different ways. 

Firstly, they may be directly consumed by  humans.  For example, a population of 80 people may produce plants that yield enough protein and energy to feed 100 people, leaving an available excess for 20 other people if all 80 people were  to eat only the plant products.

Alternatively, the  plant crop could be fed to the most efficient terrestrial domestic animals.  The problem is that this will only yield enough animal protein and energy to feed some 15 members of the population. 

In efficient aquaculture,if  the  same plant crop is fed to fish, this  will give enough fish protein and energy for 30 people.  Thus, if only 15 of the population have the purchasing power to pay for all the plant crops and have them transformed into land  animal products, there will be nothing left for the remaining 65 people. 

However, if the same 15 people prefer to consume fish, only half the amount of plant protein needed for the land animals will produce the same  amount of fish.  By the same strategy, enough plant crops remain to feed 50 of the 80 people which, along with the 15 who can afford to eat fish, leaves only 15 people hungry.

Finally, let us suppose that the affluent  15 consume only half of their energy as high-quality fish and the balance of their diet as plant products.  Then, only 25% of the plant crops will be used for fish whilst the remaining 75% can be used for human food.  This results in all 80 people receiving food, with an excess of plants remaining.

By similar means,efficient aquaculture may reduce the pressure on world crop production for animal feeding,making more animal proceeds  and all crops available for direct human consumption.

Science tells us that plants lack some vital nutrients, which are beneficial to humans, and that a diet containing meat and/or fish provides a better balance  than plants alone. Thus, whilst the examples above are illustrative of the  point, our aspiration must be to culture sufficient  plant and animal food for all of the world's population.

based on “Can Intensive Aquaculture be Eco-friendly” 
by AKVAFORSK(Norway) and Biomar AS