Background & Aims
The European Commission’s 2021 Strategic Guidelines for Sustainable and Competitive EU Aquaculture highlight the urgent need to transition towards more sustainable feed systems in aquaculture. In response, the Commission has commissioned a comprehensive study—currently ongoing—focusing on aquafeed systems across the EU, with additional comparative insights from the UK, Norway, and global producers. This study supports policy development by identifying good practices, evaluating sustainability challenges, and proposing data-driven solutions to reduce the sector’s dependency on fish meal and fish oil from wild stocks.
The study encompasses five key objectives: (1) mapping the policy and regulatory frameworks and applicable standards for aquafeed; (2) analysing the aquafeed market, including aquafeed products, ingredients and additives, and the respective producers; (3) evaluating traceability and transparency practices across supply chains; (4) exploring trends and readiness levels of emerging and novel feeds, feed ingredients and feed additives; and (5) assessing economic, environmental, and social sustainability dimensions, including the role of certification schemes and circularity in feed production.
Methods
The research follows a mixed-methods approach, combining extensive desk-based analysis with field research. The latter includes survey consultations with stakeholders from across the sector including industry, academia, national authorities, producers and farmers, NGOs, amongst others. Emphasis is placed on the various life stages of the predominant commercial species in EU aquaculture including carp, meagre, sole, seabass, seabream, salmon, trout, shrimp, sturgeon, turbot and bluefin tuna.
Conclusion & Outlook
The aquafeed, aquafeed ingredient and aquafeed additive sector involves long and complex supply chains, which are threatened further by shifting climate and environmental dynamics, global economic shocks and socio-political threats. The draft results of this study, expected by September 2025 (and anticipated final results by January 2026), will provide a detailed overview of the current state of the aquafeed market, which will inform future guidance and investment in sustainable aquafeed strategies, aligning with EU food security and climate objectives.