The additives used in salmon feed during the farming process include soy proteins, wheat gluten, and corn gluten meal, which are common additives in aquaculture feeds.

Vitamins are also added nutrients in compound feed for aquaculture, highlighting the importance of a balanced diet for farmed salmon.

Fishmeal and fish oil are essential ingredients in aquaculture feeds, with fishmeal being the most expensive ingredient in bulk feeds for aquaculture.

Antibiotics are used as additives in salmon farming to maintain healthy fish stock and prevent disease in dense salmon farming.

The use of additives in salmon farming has raised health concerns, with farmed salmon having higher contamination levels of PCBs than wild salmon, which may increase cancer risk.

Insect-based ingredients, such as mealworms, are being used as nutritional additives in salmon feed, reducing fishmeal usage in aquaculture and providing a more sustainable alternative.

The European Food Safety Agency has deemed mealworms safe for human consumption, highlighting the potential for insect-based ingredients to replace traditional additives.

Regulations governing additives in salmon farming are not well-documented, with no specific standards or regulations mentioned in the available sources.

China, a major player in the aquaculture industry, aims to reduce feed-grade fish catch to below 20% by 2020, indicating a shift towards more sustainable feed sources.

Overall, the use of additives in salmon farming is a complex issue, with both benefits and drawbacks, and further research is needed to fully understand the implications for human health and the environment.

The additives used in salmon feed during the farming process include soy proteins, wheat gluten, and corn gluten meal, which are common additives in aquaculture feeds.

Title:

Content: 262
Views

China Works to Get Wild-Caught Fish Out of its Aquaculture Feed

[By Zhang Chun]

A 2021 Chinese government initiative to stop aquaculture feed being made from only young or low-value fish and to instead start producing “compound feed” – mixed with ingredients harvested from the land – is opening up a greener future for the sector.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture, in a series of trials last year, the sole use of low-value “feed-grade” fish as aquaculture feed was reduced by 77 percent, and by as much as 94 percent in farming of largemouth bass. Experts say the switch to compound feed could see overall use of feed-grade fish slashed by half for farming of certain species.

What is compound feed?

Compound feed normally contains a mixture of animal- and plant-based ingredients, and added nutrients such as vitamins. For aquaculture feeds containing fishmeal and fish oil, common additives include soy proteins, wheat gluten and corn gluten meal.

Feed-grade fish are those in a catch that are small, low in commercial value, or unsuitable for human consumption. They are sent to be processed into fishmeal and fish oil, or fed directly to farmed fish. But a significant proportion of feed-grade fish consists of juveniles of commercially important species. Once caught they can no longer grow into adult fish and breed, or be caught and sold on the market. Their removal damages ocean food chains and ecosystem stability.

The last decade and more has seen increased calls for China to tackle the use of feed-grade fish in aquaculture, but the current round of trials is the first organised by the Ministry of Agriculture. It focuses on species such as the yellow croaker, Japanese sea bass and largemouth bass, which tend to be fed more feed-grade fish. While those species don’t account for much of China’s fed aquaculture output, they do require much more protein than others to put on the same amount of weight. Compound feed cuts down on the use of fish by substituting vegetable alternatives, and is cheaper.

In the long term, sustained reductions in the use of fishmeal and fish oil in feed will be necessary to protect wild fisheries.

Aquaculture driving feed-grade fish catch

Fishers never used to set out to catch feed-grade fish; it was bycatch, with no economic value. Then in the 1980s, global aquaculture took off. “There was a lot of need for fishmeal and oil,” Rashid Sumalia, a fisheries researcher at the University of British Columbia, told China Dialogue. People started going out “purposely to catch them at distance, because there was a market”, he added.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO’s) 2020 global fisheries and aquaculture report, the use of fish for reduction to fishmeal and fish oil peaked in 1994 at 30 million tonnes, and stood at 18 million tonnes by 2018. Another 4 million tonnes were used elsewhere, including directly in feed for aquaculture, livestock and fur animals.

It wasn’t until the mid and late 1990s that aquaculture took off in China. The FAO’s 1998 fisheries and aquaculture report describes how rare it was for fish catches in Asia to go unused or be used as aquaculture feed. But in Asia, particularly in China and Vietnam, aquaculture has expanded rapidly and the region now accounts for almost 90 percent of global output. In China, output tripled between 1998 and 2020, to represent 60 percent of the global total.

Although many of the species farmed in China need little or no feed, fed fish and crustacean aquaculture accounts for half of output and requires millions of tonnes of feed-grade fish from Chinese waters alone. China does not currently have statistics on its feed-grade fish catch or use in fed aquaculture. One study calculated that in 2016 4.6 million tonnes of feed-grade fish were caught, 35 percent of the total recorded catch in China’s waters, and most was used directly as feed.

“The state is certainly aware of the problem,” said Fang Qing, China general manager for the Aquaculture Stewardship Council, adding that the difficulty in banning some harmful types of fishing gear in China is due to the ongoing market for the feed-grade fish it brings in. Since 2018, China has put minimum size limits in place for 15 commercial fish species, and ruled that feed-grade fish catch would drop to below 20% by 2020. There is no data available indicating whether this target was met.

This it isn’t just a Chinese problem. According to a 2017 study by the University of British Columbia, many countries, including the US and Norway, use feed-grade fish directly as feed. But the practice increased significantly in Asia between the 1990s and 2010, with feed-grade fish coming to account for a high percentage of landed catches.

Replacing feed-grade fish

In early 2019, the Ministry of Agriculture announced it would work to make Chinese aquaculture more environmentally friendly, and proposed the use of compound feed instead of purely fish-based feed. In April 2021, several provinces started trials of compound feed as part of more concrete action plans.

Compound feed for aquaculture is usually a mix of fishmeal, fish oil, wheat flour, soybean meal, vegetable oil and other land-grown ingredients. The amount of fishmeal and fish oil needed depends on the type of fish to be fed, and its stage of growth. According to Fang Qing, carnivorous fish such as the yellow croaker need huge quantities of meat protein at certain stages in their growth, and the relationship between particular nutrients and the growth and physiology of the fish can be complex. Hence, producing appropriate compound feed involves a lot of research and development.

To quantify how efficiently a species is farmed, the aquaculture industry uses a ratio called Fish in:Fish out (FIFO). The closer the FIFO is to 1, the more fish meat is produced per unit of input; a score of 1 means an extra kilogram of fish used as feed results in an extra kilogram of fish to harvest.

A study published in 2020 shows a FIFO of almost 1 for salmon and trout, thanks to the use of compound feeds which require less fishmeal and fish oil. If only fish were used to feed those species, the FIFO figure would be similar to that of the yellow croaker – over 6, according to an upcoming paper co-authored by Zhang Wenbo, an assistant professor in the College of Fisheries and Life Science at Shanghai Ocean University. His research into conventional yellow croaker aquaculture in China found that the direct use of feed-grade fish is still the best option for the yellow croaker farmers. But Fang Qing told China Dialogue that a lot of feed-grade fish fed to yellow croaker goes uneaten, and ends up sinking to the seabed or rotting, causing pollution and increasing the risk of disease.

More compound feed use would help reduce FIFO numbers in two ways: by cutting use of feed-grade fish, and by increasing conversion ratios – that is, generating more fish growth per unit of feed.

Zhejiang is taking the lead in both those areas. Since 2016, the province has been shutting fishmeal factories during the closed season and restricting the percentage of feed-grade fish in the overall catch. This, combined with the use of compound feed, saw Zhejiang cut the use of feed-grade fish by 835,000 tonnes across 710,000 mu (474 square kilometres) of aquaculture farms during the 13th FYP period (2016-2020). “Previously, feed-grade fish were the primary feed for largemouth bass in Zhejiang. These last two years that’s almost all been replaced with compound feed.” The FIFO ratio for farmed largemouth bass in Zhejiang could come down to 1.5, half the national average for this species, according to 2016 calculations Zhang Wenbo contributed to.

But cutting back on feed-grade fish use in China won’t be easy. Fishers catch a wide range of fish with a wide range of gear. At the local level there is a lack of fisher associations that can impose rules on the sector, making management tricky. Zhejiang’s success can be ascribed to strong local regulations. “There are no successful [international] examples that China can apply,” said Fang Qing. Alongside legislation to bolster oversight of the feed-grade fish catch, he also suggests developing feeds which will be more palatable to fish, and labelling products according to their use of feed-grade fish or compound feed, so consumers can make an informed choice.

Increasing the efficiency of fish inputs

The use of compound feed isn’t the end of the story. At least for now, fishmeal and fish oil are essential ingredients in those feeds. And while the global supply of fishmeal and fish oil has fallen from its peak in 2000 to a fairly stable level, the demand for aquaculture feeds has been increasing. That requires the development of feeds containing less meal and oil.

Plans announced by Norway to boost salmon farming have led to concerns about the supply of fishmeal and fish oil as well as vegetable ingredients. The country has started researching the use of mesopelagic fish (which inhabit the middle depths of the ocean), algae and farmed insects to meet that need and make feed more efficient. A more complete solution would be to develop entirely vegetarian feeds, with no fishmeal at all. However, as things stand that would only be suitable for a few species.

“Fishmeal is the most expensive of the ingredients found in bulk feeds. Reducing the amount in those feeds is the best way to make them cheaper,” Zhang Wenbo points out. A tonne of fishmeal costs around 10,000 yuan (US$1,500), compared to 1,000–4,000 yuan for bran or soybean meal, he added. “Feed conversion ratios are also affected by the type of aquaculture, the make-up of the feed, and genetic selection – the breeding of strains more suited to compound feeds,” he said. This is more difficult in China, with its wide range of farmed species, than in Norway, where salmon dominates. But progress is still being made, and associated targets have been set in the 14th Five Year Plan (2021–25).

Increasing the efficiency of fishmeal and fish oil use in China will also ease global pressures on the supply and help protect juvenile fish. China is the world’s biggest consumer of fishmeal, with the largest part being used in aquaculture, and the second largest being fed to pigs. But the country only produces 400,000–700,000 tonnes of fishmeal a year – not even close to meeting domestic demand. Fishmeal imports have held steady since 2017, at about 1.4 million tonnes, but jumped to 1.82 million tonnes in 2021, with experts ascribing the change to the recovery in pig farming. The extra fishmeal came from the Americas and elsewhere in Asia.

Zhang Wenbo explains that China’s fishmeal and fish oil imports come from forage fish, caught specifically to be turned into fishmeal, and Peru is the main supplier. Relatively little of China’s fishmeal is made from feed-grade fish. “Imports of by-product processed fishmeal from Vietnam and Thailand have been increasing in recent years,” he said.

Minimizing the feed-grade fish catch

Cutting back on the use of feed-grade fish is good for the sustainable development of both wild fishing and aquaculture. It will also help protect already vulnerable ocean ecosystems. In 1959, fishing vessels in China’s Bohai Sea caught 420 kg of fish per net for every hour they worked. By 1993, that had fallen to 30 kg, and only 8 kg between 1998 and 2011. The above-mentioned research into China’s feed-grade fish catch found that a long-term stable total catch has masked trends including falling biomass and changes in end use.

The losses to biodiversity and ecological services cannot be measured in financial terms, and the fishing industry needs more than simply output. Wang Songlin, president and founder of the Qingdao Marine Conservation Society, believes the industry needs to work towards a balance of ecological, economic and social benefits. He told China Dialogue that even if total catch may still be the same by volume, the underlying destruction to the integrity of ecosystems and the environment should not be ignored.

Management of the sector in China has acquired a new ecological focus. Alongside the use of compound feeds, some provinces are providing fishery stewardship subsidies for the protection of rare and endangered species and for keeping down feed-grade fish catch volumes.

Protecting juvenile fish isn’t just a matter for China – it’s crucial for ocean ecosystems around the world. Rashid Sumalia said: “If you look at the economies and the ecology at the higher level, you don’t want to [catch feed-grade fish] because the losses are too high” to be sustainable. Sumalia acknowledges that many people rely on that fishing for their livelihoods but says: “We need to take it down as far as we can.”

Zhang Chun is a senior researcher at China Dialogue. This article appears courtesy of China Dialogue Ocean and may be found in its original form here

The opinions expressed herein are the author's and not necessarily those of The Maritime Executive.

Vitamins are also added nutrients in compound feed for aquaculture, highlighting the importance of a balanced diet for farmed salmon.

Fishmeal and fish oil are essential ingredients in aquaculture feeds, with fishmeal being the most expensive ingredient in bulk feeds for aquaculture.

Antibiotics are used as additives in salmon farming to maintain healthy fish stock and prevent disease in dense salmon farming.

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Content:
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies. Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

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Anticipating obsolescence: The next step to enhancing the sustainability of aquaculture

With growing concerns about the environmental toll of single species fish farms, a research project has been looking at the feasibility of introducing a more sustainable and potentially more profitable method of fish farming, using three complementary species.

Much as native American people planted squash, maize and climbing beans together to benefit each other, (often called the "three sisters"), farming finned-fish, shellfish and seaweeds together could benefit each other and reduce any environmental effects of fish farming. Small scale integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA), as the system is called, has traditionally been used at a small domestic scale in Asia, providing the farmer with more than one product to sell or use.

The feasibility study conducted by Bangor University and published in Ecological Modelling has identified the locations around the Atlantic coast which would be most suitable for IMTA, based on farming salmon, and Oarweed, a type of kelp seaweed commonly found in temperate Atlantic coasts. The research considered the natural distribution of the three species, whether suitable locations clashed with busy shipping lanes or marine protected areas and whether there was close access to sizeable ports in order to reach markets.

The western coast of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland; Lough Swilly in County Donegal, Ireland, and the western coast of Brittany, northwest France were found to be the best locations to further develop IMTA based aquaculture.

As Conchúr Hughes of Bangor University's School of Ocean Sciences explained, "One of the problems with the type of single species aquaculture practiced in Europe is that excess food and feces can lead to deterioration of local ecology, while density can mean that aquaculture companies need to use antibiotics and other additives to maintain a healthy fish-stock.

"Mussels are filter feeders, they can be responsible for removing up to 54% of salmon waste materials from the , using it as energy to grow, while the oarweed removes soluble nutrients from the water column. Oarweed can then be farmed to use in a variety of products, from food supplements for human consumption or for fish farms, as a fertilizer or as an ingredient in pharmaceuticals.

"Each of these species complements the other and mitigates against problems."

IMTA-based aquaculture

Both salmon and mussels are important food sources in Europe, and while oarweed is not as yet, this is a sector that is expected to experience a rapid increase in demand in the coming years- and can provide an alternative sustainable source of fertilizer and other products.

Seaweed cultivation can also provide environmental benefits. The seaweed in the water acts as a buffer against as it approaches the shore, reducing the energy as it passes through the seaweed, much as trees act as a buffer against strong winds, which can help reduce erosion. It also elevates the pH and oxygenates the water.

More information: Conchúr Hughes et al, Habitat suitability modelling for an integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA) system along Europe's Atlantic coast, Ecological Modelling (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2023.110459

Provided by Bangor University

Citation: Anticipating obsolescence: The next step to enhancing the sustainability of aquaculture (2023, September 27) retrieved 27 September 2023 from https://phys.org/news/2023-09-obsolescence-sustainability-aquaculture.html
This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.

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The pollution risks associated with antibiotics used in sea-farmed salmon.

The use of additives in salmon farming has raised health concerns, with farmed salmon having higher contamination levels of PCBs than wild salmon, which may increase cancer risk.

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Content: Miscellaneous
Publish Date: December 13, 2021 8: 47 GMT
Updated on: December 13, 2021 9: 40 GMT
Study: Eating Too Much ‘ Farm Salmon ’ May Cause Cancer
A medical study published on Monday warned that overeating salmon raised in farm ponds could lead to cancer.
The Daily Newspaper noted.
+ A -A
Source: Erm News
A medical study published on Monday warned that overeating salmon raised in farm ponds could lead to cancer.
The Daily Express newspaper pointed out that "some previous studies found that salmon, jam in ponds, which is widely consumed around the world, doubles the risk of prostate cancer," pointing out that "salmon is a useful food source for health because it contains omega-3 fatty acids."
"While one salmon is caught in open water, like the seas, the other is bred in tight spaces (farms and ponds), which could have implications for human health," the paper said.
Studies have found that PCBs in farm-raised salmon were about 8 times higher than concentrations in wild salmon, adding that PCBs have been banned for commercial use for decades, but their effects can still be found in the environment, which may adversely affect human diet and therefore health.
According to a study by the Environmental Defense Fund, eating salmon raised in farm ponds on a regular basis may increase the risk of cancer after multiple cases of contamination have been detected in the United States and other countries.
"Medical scientific findings, published in the Journal of Medical Sciences, suggest that cheap farmed salmon sold in stores may do more harm than good."
“Risk analysis suggests that consumption of farmed Atlantic salmon may pose health risks that detract from the beneficial effects of fish consumption, ” the study said.
Eating farmed salmon more than once a month may be enough to increase the risk of cancer.
"In multivariate analyses, men with the highest concentrations of PCBs were twice as likely to develop prostate cancer than men with the lowest concentrations."
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What health concerns are there specifically related to additives in farmed salmon feed?

Insect-based ingredients, such as mealworms, are being used as nutritional additives in salmon feed, reducing fishmeal usage in aquaculture and providing a more sustainable alternative.

Title:

Content: World’s Largest Insect Farm to Open in France

Once fully operational, the massive vertical farm will produce 200,000 tonnes of insect-based ingredients a year.

Ÿnsect, one of the world’s largest insect rangers, is betting big on bugs to help push the world in a more sustainable direction.

Founded in 2011, the company is fast approaching its goal of opening the world’s largest insect farm and dramatically scaling up its operations. Located about an hour north of Paris, the state-of-the-art facility will leverage automated systems and vertical farming techniques to raise mealworms (Tenebrio molitor) and enable the production of over 200,000 tonnes of insect-based ingredients per year. The site, estimated to be completed by the end of 2022, will join two other Ÿnsect facilities already operational in France and the Netherlands.

"It’s an automated warehouse, very similar to an Amazon warehouse, where instead of storing stuff, we are storing live insects," Ÿnsect CEO and co-founder Antoine Hubert told Time last year. "There is a climate-control system which is highly complex to maintain temperature and moisture from zero to 30 meters high. All operations are automated. Anything that you do on [an insect] farm is done with robots."

Feed for Fish, Fertilizer for Plants, Burgers for Humans

For the past decade, mealworms cultivated at Ÿnsect’s farms have been turned into powders and oils that have become nutritional additives to pet and farm feeds. Thanks to a ruling last year by the European Food Safety Agency (EFSA) that deemed mealworms safe for human consumption, the company has also begun selling its powders for shakes, cereal bars, pasta, and even alt-meat burgers. In addition, the shed shells of the rapidly growing mealworms are collected and sold as beneficial organic fertilizers to farmers.

According to MealFlour, a project that promotes mealworm farming as a way to battle malnutrition in Guatemala, a serving of mealworm powder is 55% protein, contains all essential amino and fatty acids, and has more iron than sirloin beef. Compared to the production of milk, pork, chicken, and beef, mealworms are also more sustainable and require fewer resources and energy.

While its recent forays into human foodstuffs have garnered attention, Ÿnsect's focus presently remains on helping to feed sustainably the animals that feed the world. For instance, aquaculture, like salmon farming, is a resource-intensive operation that uses both land-based crops (soy) and massive amounts of wild-caught fish to create what's known as fishmeal. With food production projected to have to grow by more than 70% by 2050 to meet demand, the overfishing of oceans to feed aquaculture operations is not a feasible option. Studies, such as a recent trial by NOAA, have shown that supplementing or even replacing fishmeal with insect- and plant-based foods holds promise for eliminating the need for wild-caught sources. According to Hubert, there are other positives as well.

"They [salmon] were reaching the maturity stage faster and eating less so they were avoiding a large quantity of feed," he told Fast Company in 2020. "There was less mortality so the farmers get more fish eventually than before... This also explains why we have a carbon-negative balance, because we are avoiding so many quantities of inputs to feed fish to have the same quantities of fish."

Hubert added to Fast Company that Ÿnsect has contracts worth more than $100 million with fish feed producers. This past year, with the acquisition of U.S.-based mealworm producer Jord, it also began entering new markets, such as the rapidly growing U.S. backyard chicken feed market.

A Record-Breaking Vertical Farm

One look at the animated video of Ÿnsect’s new facility up above and you can see why it’s been touted as an automated marvel. Mealworms will be reared by robots in stacked tubs stretching several stories tall. Unlike other insect food alternatives such as flies or crickets, mealworms do not hop or fly, allowing the company to maximize the space available.

In an effort to make sure the creatures are ethically farmed, Hubert reached out to philosophers from the Sorbonne University to judge their welfare. As he told The Guardian, the students determined that the mealworms had "more in common with mushroom-growing and hothousing vegetables" than with livestock.

"They have no brain in the strict sense of the word," he said. "We know they have a reflex reaction and they communicate and build intelligent structures, but nobody has shown they feel anything. However, what is important is to respect them as living organisms, which we do."

In addition to the new farm in France, Ÿnsect plans to continue to scale its operations with additional facilities, including a major site in the U.S. The biggest hurdle ahead, however, says Hubert, is making insects a normal part of everyday diets.

"I believe that the big challenge is accepting insects as part of the human diet," he told Authority Magazine. "A large part of the world's population eats insects, but we must be able to prove its properties and its benefits for the environment in order to reach more and have more impact!"

View Article Sources
  1. "Ÿnsect Welcomes European Interministerial Delegation to Amiens." Ynsect.

  2. "Why Eat Mealworms?" MealFlour.

  3. "Edible Insects." Food and Agriculture Organization.

  4. van Dijk, Michiel, et al. "A Meta-Analysis of Projected Global Food Demand and Population At Risk of Hunger for the Period 2010–2050." Nature Food, vol. 2, no. 7, 2021, pp. 494-501., doi:10.1038/s43016-021-00322-9

  5. "The Future of Fish Feed May Lie in Insects, Mold, and Algae." National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

The European Food Safety Agency has deemed mealworms safe for human consumption, highlighting the potential for insect-based ingredients to replace traditional additives.

Regulations governing additives in salmon farming are not well-documented, with no specific standards or regulations mentioned in the available sources.

China, a major player in the aquaculture industry, aims to reduce feed-grade fish catch to below 20% by 2020, indicating a shift towards more sustainable feed sources.

Overall, the use of additives in salmon farming is a complex issue, with both benefits and drawbacks, and further research is needed to fully understand the implications for human health and the environment.


The salmon farming industry utilizes various additives in the feed to promote healthy growth and disease prevention in the fish.

These additives can be categorized into common and uncommon ingredients, each serving a specific purpose in the farming process.

Soy proteins, wheat gluten, and corn gluten meal are common additives used in aquaculture feeds, including those for salmon farming.

Fishmeal and fish oil are essential ingredients in aquaculture feeds, but vegetable ingredients are increasingly being used to reduce the reliance on these components.

The use of vegetable ingredients, such as soy proteins and wheat gluten, helps to minimize the environmental impact of salmon farming by reducing the demand for wild-caught fish.

In addition to these common additives, researchers are exploring alternative ingredients, such as mesopelagic fish, algae, and farmed insects, to further reduce the industry's reliance on wild-caught fish.

Mealworms, for example, are being used as nutritional additives in salmon feed, providing a sustainable source of protein and essential amino acids.

Insect-based ingredients, such as mealworm powder, have been shown to reduce fishmeal usage in aquaculture, decrease mortality rates, and increase maturity in salmon.

The European Food Safety Agency has deemed mealworms safe for human consumption, making them a viable alternative to traditional feed ingredients.

However, the use of certain additives in salmon farming has raised health concerns, particularly with regards to the presence of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in farm-raised salmon.

PCBs have been found to be present in farm-raised salmon at levels eight times higher than those in wild salmon, posing a potential cancer risk to humans who consume farmed salmon regularly.

Eating farmed salmon more than once a month may increase the risk of cancer, and high PCB levels in men have been linked to a doubled risk of prostate cancer development.

The use of antibiotics as additives in salmon farming has also been reported, with the purpose of maintaining healthy fish stock and preventing disease in dense farming conditions.

In terms of standards and regulations, China has set targets to reduce feed-grade fish catch in its 14th Five Year Plan, aiming to minimize the environmental impact of the salmon farming industry.

Norway is also researching ways to reduce fishmeal and fish oil in salmon feeds, exploring alternative ingredients and production methods.

China imports approximately 1.4 million tonnes of fishmeal annually, mainly from Peru, highlighting the need for sustainable and regulated feed production practices.

The use of additives in salmon farming is also being addressed through initiatives such as seaweed cultivation, which can provide environmental benefits by removing soluble nutrients from the water column.

Mussels have been found to remove up to 54% of salmon waste materials, demonstrating the potential for innovative solutions to mitigate the environmental impact of salmon farming.

Overall, the use of additives in salmon farming is a complex issue, with both benefits and drawbacks to consider.

While certain additives, such as soy proteins and mealworms, offer sustainable and nutritious alternatives to traditional feed ingredients, others, such as PCBs and antibiotics, pose potential health risks to humans.

As the salmon farming industry continues to evolve, it is essential to prioritize regulated and sustainable feed production practices, minimizing the environmental impact and ensuring the health and safety of consumers.

The salmon farming industry utilizes various additives in the feed to promote healthy growth and disease prevention in the fish.

These additives can be categorized into common and uncommon ingredients, each serving a specific purpose in the farming process.

Title:

Content: 262
Views

China Works to Get Wild-Caught Fish Out of its Aquaculture Feed

[By Zhang Chun]

A 2021 Chinese government initiative to stop aquaculture feed being made from only young or low-value fish and to instead start producing “compound feed” – mixed with ingredients harvested from the land – is opening up a greener future for the sector.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture, in a series of trials last year, the sole use of low-value “feed-grade” fish as aquaculture feed was reduced by 77 percent, and by as much as 94 percent in farming of largemouth bass. Experts say the switch to compound feed could see overall use of feed-grade fish slashed by half for farming of certain species.

What is compound feed?

Compound feed normally contains a mixture of animal- and plant-based ingredients, and added nutrients such as vitamins. For aquaculture feeds containing fishmeal and fish oil, common additives include soy proteins, wheat gluten and corn gluten meal.

Feed-grade fish are those in a catch that are small, low in commercial value, or unsuitable for human consumption. They are sent to be processed into fishmeal and fish oil, or fed directly to farmed fish. But a significant proportion of feed-grade fish consists of juveniles of commercially important species. Once caught they can no longer grow into adult fish and breed, or be caught and sold on the market. Their removal damages ocean food chains and ecosystem stability.

The last decade and more has seen increased calls for China to tackle the use of feed-grade fish in aquaculture, but the current round of trials is the first organised by the Ministry of Agriculture. It focuses on species such as the yellow croaker, Japanese sea bass and largemouth bass, which tend to be fed more feed-grade fish. While those species don’t account for much of China’s fed aquaculture output, they do require much more protein than others to put on the same amount of weight. Compound feed cuts down on the use of fish by substituting vegetable alternatives, and is cheaper.

In the long term, sustained reductions in the use of fishmeal and fish oil in feed will be necessary to protect wild fisheries.

Aquaculture driving feed-grade fish catch

Fishers never used to set out to catch feed-grade fish; it was bycatch, with no economic value. Then in the 1980s, global aquaculture took off. “There was a lot of need for fishmeal and oil,” Rashid Sumalia, a fisheries researcher at the University of British Columbia, told China Dialogue. People started going out “purposely to catch them at distance, because there was a market”, he added.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO’s) 2020 global fisheries and aquaculture report, the use of fish for reduction to fishmeal and fish oil peaked in 1994 at 30 million tonnes, and stood at 18 million tonnes by 2018. Another 4 million tonnes were used elsewhere, including directly in feed for aquaculture, livestock and fur animals.

It wasn’t until the mid and late 1990s that aquaculture took off in China. The FAO’s 1998 fisheries and aquaculture report describes how rare it was for fish catches in Asia to go unused or be used as aquaculture feed. But in Asia, particularly in China and Vietnam, aquaculture has expanded rapidly and the region now accounts for almost 90 percent of global output. In China, output tripled between 1998 and 2020, to represent 60 percent of the global total.

Although many of the species farmed in China need little or no feed, fed fish and crustacean aquaculture accounts for half of output and requires millions of tonnes of feed-grade fish from Chinese waters alone. China does not currently have statistics on its feed-grade fish catch or use in fed aquaculture. One study calculated that in 2016 4.6 million tonnes of feed-grade fish were caught, 35 percent of the total recorded catch in China’s waters, and most was used directly as feed.

“The state is certainly aware of the problem,” said Fang Qing, China general manager for the Aquaculture Stewardship Council, adding that the difficulty in banning some harmful types of fishing gear in China is due to the ongoing market for the feed-grade fish it brings in. Since 2018, China has put minimum size limits in place for 15 commercial fish species, and ruled that feed-grade fish catch would drop to below 20% by 2020. There is no data available indicating whether this target was met.

This it isn’t just a Chinese problem. According to a 2017 study by the University of British Columbia, many countries, including the US and Norway, use feed-grade fish directly as feed. But the practice increased significantly in Asia between the 1990s and 2010, with feed-grade fish coming to account for a high percentage of landed catches.

Replacing feed-grade fish

In early 2019, the Ministry of Agriculture announced it would work to make Chinese aquaculture more environmentally friendly, and proposed the use of compound feed instead of purely fish-based feed. In April 2021, several provinces started trials of compound feed as part of more concrete action plans.

Compound feed for aquaculture is usually a mix of fishmeal, fish oil, wheat flour, soybean meal, vegetable oil and other land-grown ingredients. The amount of fishmeal and fish oil needed depends on the type of fish to be fed, and its stage of growth. According to Fang Qing, carnivorous fish such as the yellow croaker need huge quantities of meat protein at certain stages in their growth, and the relationship between particular nutrients and the growth and physiology of the fish can be complex. Hence, producing appropriate compound feed involves a lot of research and development.

To quantify how efficiently a species is farmed, the aquaculture industry uses a ratio called Fish in:Fish out (FIFO). The closer the FIFO is to 1, the more fish meat is produced per unit of input; a score of 1 means an extra kilogram of fish used as feed results in an extra kilogram of fish to harvest.

A study published in 2020 shows a FIFO of almost 1 for salmon and trout, thanks to the use of compound feeds which require less fishmeal and fish oil. If only fish were used to feed those species, the FIFO figure would be similar to that of the yellow croaker – over 6, according to an upcoming paper co-authored by Zhang Wenbo, an assistant professor in the College of Fisheries and Life Science at Shanghai Ocean University. His research into conventional yellow croaker aquaculture in China found that the direct use of feed-grade fish is still the best option for the yellow croaker farmers. But Fang Qing told China Dialogue that a lot of feed-grade fish fed to yellow croaker goes uneaten, and ends up sinking to the seabed or rotting, causing pollution and increasing the risk of disease.

More compound feed use would help reduce FIFO numbers in two ways: by cutting use of feed-grade fish, and by increasing conversion ratios – that is, generating more fish growth per unit of feed.

Zhejiang is taking the lead in both those areas. Since 2016, the province has been shutting fishmeal factories during the closed season and restricting the percentage of feed-grade fish in the overall catch. This, combined with the use of compound feed, saw Zhejiang cut the use of feed-grade fish by 835,000 tonnes across 710,000 mu (474 square kilometres) of aquaculture farms during the 13th FYP period (2016-2020). “Previously, feed-grade fish were the primary feed for largemouth bass in Zhejiang. These last two years that’s almost all been replaced with compound feed.” The FIFO ratio for farmed largemouth bass in Zhejiang could come down to 1.5, half the national average for this species, according to 2016 calculations Zhang Wenbo contributed to.

But cutting back on feed-grade fish use in China won’t be easy. Fishers catch a wide range of fish with a wide range of gear. At the local level there is a lack of fisher associations that can impose rules on the sector, making management tricky. Zhejiang’s success can be ascribed to strong local regulations. “There are no successful [international] examples that China can apply,” said Fang Qing. Alongside legislation to bolster oversight of the feed-grade fish catch, he also suggests developing feeds which will be more palatable to fish, and labelling products according to their use of feed-grade fish or compound feed, so consumers can make an informed choice.

Increasing the efficiency of fish inputs

The use of compound feed isn’t the end of the story. At least for now, fishmeal and fish oil are essential ingredients in those feeds. And while the global supply of fishmeal and fish oil has fallen from its peak in 2000 to a fairly stable level, the demand for aquaculture feeds has been increasing. That requires the development of feeds containing less meal and oil.

Plans announced by Norway to boost salmon farming have led to concerns about the supply of fishmeal and fish oil as well as vegetable ingredients. The country has started researching the use of mesopelagic fish (which inhabit the middle depths of the ocean), algae and farmed insects to meet that need and make feed more efficient. A more complete solution would be to develop entirely vegetarian feeds, with no fishmeal at all. However, as things stand that would only be suitable for a few species.

“Fishmeal is the most expensive of the ingredients found in bulk feeds. Reducing the amount in those feeds is the best way to make them cheaper,” Zhang Wenbo points out. A tonne of fishmeal costs around 10,000 yuan (US$1,500), compared to 1,000–4,000 yuan for bran or soybean meal, he added. “Feed conversion ratios are also affected by the type of aquaculture, the make-up of the feed, and genetic selection – the breeding of strains more suited to compound feeds,” he said. This is more difficult in China, with its wide range of farmed species, than in Norway, where salmon dominates. But progress is still being made, and associated targets have been set in the 14th Five Year Plan (2021–25).

Increasing the efficiency of fishmeal and fish oil use in China will also ease global pressures on the supply and help protect juvenile fish. China is the world’s biggest consumer of fishmeal, with the largest part being used in aquaculture, and the second largest being fed to pigs. But the country only produces 400,000–700,000 tonnes of fishmeal a year – not even close to meeting domestic demand. Fishmeal imports have held steady since 2017, at about 1.4 million tonnes, but jumped to 1.82 million tonnes in 2021, with experts ascribing the change to the recovery in pig farming. The extra fishmeal came from the Americas and elsewhere in Asia.

Zhang Wenbo explains that China’s fishmeal and fish oil imports come from forage fish, caught specifically to be turned into fishmeal, and Peru is the main supplier. Relatively little of China’s fishmeal is made from feed-grade fish. “Imports of by-product processed fishmeal from Vietnam and Thailand have been increasing in recent years,” he said.

Minimizing the feed-grade fish catch

Cutting back on the use of feed-grade fish is good for the sustainable development of both wild fishing and aquaculture. It will also help protect already vulnerable ocean ecosystems. In 1959, fishing vessels in China’s Bohai Sea caught 420 kg of fish per net for every hour they worked. By 1993, that had fallen to 30 kg, and only 8 kg between 1998 and 2011. The above-mentioned research into China’s feed-grade fish catch found that a long-term stable total catch has masked trends including falling biomass and changes in end use.

The losses to biodiversity and ecological services cannot be measured in financial terms, and the fishing industry needs more than simply output. Wang Songlin, president and founder of the Qingdao Marine Conservation Society, believes the industry needs to work towards a balance of ecological, economic and social benefits. He told China Dialogue that even if total catch may still be the same by volume, the underlying destruction to the integrity of ecosystems and the environment should not be ignored.

Management of the sector in China has acquired a new ecological focus. Alongside the use of compound feeds, some provinces are providing fishery stewardship subsidies for the protection of rare and endangered species and for keeping down feed-grade fish catch volumes.

Protecting juvenile fish isn’t just a matter for China – it’s crucial for ocean ecosystems around the world. Rashid Sumalia said: “If you look at the economies and the ecology at the higher level, you don’t want to [catch feed-grade fish] because the losses are too high” to be sustainable. Sumalia acknowledges that many people rely on that fishing for their livelihoods but says: “We need to take it down as far as we can.”

Zhang Chun is a senior researcher at China Dialogue. This article appears courtesy of China Dialogue Ocean and may be found in its original form here

The opinions expressed herein are the author's and not necessarily those of The Maritime Executive.

Soy proteins, wheat gluten, and corn gluten meal are common additives used in aquaculture feeds, including those for salmon farming.

Fishmeal and fish oil are essential ingredients in aquaculture feeds, but vegetable ingredients are increasingly being used to reduce the reliance on these components.

The use of vegetable ingredients, such as soy proteins and wheat gluten, helps to minimize the environmental impact of salmon farming by reducing the demand for wild-caught fish.

In addition to these common additives, researchers are exploring alternative ingredients, such as mesopelagic fish, algae, and farmed insects, to further reduce the industry's reliance on wild-caught fish.

Mealworms, for example, are being used as nutritional additives in salmon feed, providing a sustainable source of protein and essential amino acids.

Title:

Content: World’s Largest Insect Farm to Open in France

Once fully operational, the massive vertical farm will produce 200,000 tonnes of insect-based ingredients a year.

Ÿnsect, one of the world’s largest insect rangers, is betting big on bugs to help push the world in a more sustainable direction.

Founded in 2011, the company is fast approaching its goal of opening the world’s largest insect farm and dramatically scaling up its operations. Located about an hour north of Paris, the state-of-the-art facility will leverage automated systems and vertical farming techniques to raise mealworms (Tenebrio molitor) and enable the production of over 200,000 tonnes of insect-based ingredients per year. The site, estimated to be completed by the end of 2022, will join two other Ÿnsect facilities already operational in France and the Netherlands.

"It’s an automated warehouse, very similar to an Amazon warehouse, where instead of storing stuff, we are storing live insects," Ÿnsect CEO and co-founder Antoine Hubert told Time last year. "There is a climate-control system which is highly complex to maintain temperature and moisture from zero to 30 meters high. All operations are automated. Anything that you do on [an insect] farm is done with robots."

Feed for Fish, Fertilizer for Plants, Burgers for Humans

For the past decade, mealworms cultivated at Ÿnsect’s farms have been turned into powders and oils that have become nutritional additives to pet and farm feeds. Thanks to a ruling last year by the European Food Safety Agency (EFSA) that deemed mealworms safe for human consumption, the company has also begun selling its powders for shakes, cereal bars, pasta, and even alt-meat burgers. In addition, the shed shells of the rapidly growing mealworms are collected and sold as beneficial organic fertilizers to farmers.

According to MealFlour, a project that promotes mealworm farming as a way to battle malnutrition in Guatemala, a serving of mealworm powder is 55% protein, contains all essential amino and fatty acids, and has more iron than sirloin beef. Compared to the production of milk, pork, chicken, and beef, mealworms are also more sustainable and require fewer resources and energy.

While its recent forays into human foodstuffs have garnered attention, Ÿnsect's focus presently remains on helping to feed sustainably the animals that feed the world. For instance, aquaculture, like salmon farming, is a resource-intensive operation that uses both land-based crops (soy) and massive amounts of wild-caught fish to create what's known as fishmeal. With food production projected to have to grow by more than 70% by 2050 to meet demand, the overfishing of oceans to feed aquaculture operations is not a feasible option. Studies, such as a recent trial by NOAA, have shown that supplementing or even replacing fishmeal with insect- and plant-based foods holds promise for eliminating the need for wild-caught sources. According to Hubert, there are other positives as well.

"They [salmon] were reaching the maturity stage faster and eating less so they were avoiding a large quantity of feed," he told Fast Company in 2020. "There was less mortality so the farmers get more fish eventually than before... This also explains why we have a carbon-negative balance, because we are avoiding so many quantities of inputs to feed fish to have the same quantities of fish."

Hubert added to Fast Company that Ÿnsect has contracts worth more than $100 million with fish feed producers. This past year, with the acquisition of U.S.-based mealworm producer Jord, it also began entering new markets, such as the rapidly growing U.S. backyard chicken feed market.

A Record-Breaking Vertical Farm

One look at the animated video of Ÿnsect’s new facility up above and you can see why it’s been touted as an automated marvel. Mealworms will be reared by robots in stacked tubs stretching several stories tall. Unlike other insect food alternatives such as flies or crickets, mealworms do not hop or fly, allowing the company to maximize the space available.

In an effort to make sure the creatures are ethically farmed, Hubert reached out to philosophers from the Sorbonne University to judge their welfare. As he told The Guardian, the students determined that the mealworms had "more in common with mushroom-growing and hothousing vegetables" than with livestock.

"They have no brain in the strict sense of the word," he said. "We know they have a reflex reaction and they communicate and build intelligent structures, but nobody has shown they feel anything. However, what is important is to respect them as living organisms, which we do."

In addition to the new farm in France, Ÿnsect plans to continue to scale its operations with additional facilities, including a major site in the U.S. The biggest hurdle ahead, however, says Hubert, is making insects a normal part of everyday diets.

"I believe that the big challenge is accepting insects as part of the human diet," he told Authority Magazine. "A large part of the world's population eats insects, but we must be able to prove its properties and its benefits for the environment in order to reach more and have more impact!"

View Article Sources
  1. "Ÿnsect Welcomes European Interministerial Delegation to Amiens." Ynsect.

  2. "Why Eat Mealworms?" MealFlour.

  3. "Edible Insects." Food and Agriculture Organization.

  4. van Dijk, Michiel, et al. "A Meta-Analysis of Projected Global Food Demand and Population At Risk of Hunger for the Period 2010–2050." Nature Food, vol. 2, no. 7, 2021, pp. 494-501., doi:10.1038/s43016-021-00322-9

  5. "The Future of Fish Feed May Lie in Insects, Mold, and Algae." National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Insect-based ingredients, such as mealworm powder, have been shown to reduce fishmeal usage in aquaculture, decrease mortality rates, and increase maturity in salmon.

The European Food Safety Agency has deemed mealworms safe for human consumption, making them a viable alternative to traditional feed ingredients.

However, the use of certain additives in salmon farming has raised health concerns, particularly with regards to the presence of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in farm-raised salmon.

Title:

Content: Miscellaneous
Publish Date: December 13, 2021 8: 47 GMT
Updated on: December 13, 2021 9: 40 GMT
Study: Eating Too Much ‘ Farm Salmon ’ May Cause Cancer
A medical study published on Monday warned that overeating salmon raised in farm ponds could lead to cancer.
The Daily Newspaper noted.
+ A -A
Source: Erm News
A medical study published on Monday warned that overeating salmon raised in farm ponds could lead to cancer.
The Daily Express newspaper pointed out that "some previous studies found that salmon, jam in ponds, which is widely consumed around the world, doubles the risk of prostate cancer," pointing out that "salmon is a useful food source for health because it contains omega-3 fatty acids."
"While one salmon is caught in open water, like the seas, the other is bred in tight spaces (farms and ponds), which could have implications for human health," the paper said.
Studies have found that PCBs in farm-raised salmon were about 8 times higher than concentrations in wild salmon, adding that PCBs have been banned for commercial use for decades, but their effects can still be found in the environment, which may adversely affect human diet and therefore health.
According to a study by the Environmental Defense Fund, eating salmon raised in farm ponds on a regular basis may increase the risk of cancer after multiple cases of contamination have been detected in the United States and other countries.
"Medical scientific findings, published in the Journal of Medical Sciences, suggest that cheap farmed salmon sold in stores may do more harm than good."
“Risk analysis suggests that consumption of farmed Atlantic salmon may pose health risks that detract from the beneficial effects of fish consumption, ” the study said.
Eating farmed salmon more than once a month may be enough to increase the risk of cancer.
"In multivariate analyses, men with the highest concentrations of PCBs were twice as likely to develop prostate cancer than men with the lowest concentrations."
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What health concerns are there specifically related to additives in farmed salmon feed?

PCBs have been found to be present in farm-raised salmon at levels eight times higher than those in wild salmon, posing a potential cancer risk to humans who consume farmed salmon regularly.

What health concerns are there specifically related to additives in farmed salmon feed?

Eating farmed salmon more than once a month may increase the risk of cancer, and high PCB levels in men have been linked to a doubled risk of prostate cancer development.

What health concerns are there specifically related to additives in farmed salmon feed?

The use of antibiotics as additives in salmon farming has also been reported, with the purpose of maintaining healthy fish stock and preventing disease in dense farming conditions.

Title:

Content:
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies. Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

fact-checked

trusted source

proofread

Anticipating obsolescence: The next step to enhancing the sustainability of aquaculture

With growing concerns about the environmental toll of single species fish farms, a research project has been looking at the feasibility of introducing a more sustainable and potentially more profitable method of fish farming, using three complementary species.

Much as native American people planted squash, maize and climbing beans together to benefit each other, (often called the "three sisters"), farming finned-fish, shellfish and seaweeds together could benefit each other and reduce any environmental effects of fish farming. Small scale integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA), as the system is called, has traditionally been used at a small domestic scale in Asia, providing the farmer with more than one product to sell or use.

The feasibility study conducted by Bangor University and published in Ecological Modelling has identified the locations around the Atlantic coast which would be most suitable for IMTA, based on farming salmon, and Oarweed, a type of kelp seaweed commonly found in temperate Atlantic coasts. The research considered the natural distribution of the three species, whether suitable locations clashed with busy shipping lanes or marine protected areas and whether there was close access to sizeable ports in order to reach markets.

The western coast of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland; Lough Swilly in County Donegal, Ireland, and the western coast of Brittany, northwest France were found to be the best locations to further develop IMTA based aquaculture.

As Conchúr Hughes of Bangor University's School of Ocean Sciences explained, "One of the problems with the type of single species aquaculture practiced in Europe is that excess food and feces can lead to deterioration of local ecology, while density can mean that aquaculture companies need to use antibiotics and other additives to maintain a healthy fish-stock.

"Mussels are filter feeders, they can be responsible for removing up to 54% of salmon waste materials from the , using it as energy to grow, while the oarweed removes soluble nutrients from the water column. Oarweed can then be farmed to use in a variety of products, from food supplements for human consumption or for fish farms, as a fertilizer or as an ingredient in pharmaceuticals.

"Each of these species complements the other and mitigates against problems."

IMTA-based aquaculture

Both salmon and mussels are important food sources in Europe, and while oarweed is not as yet, this is a sector that is expected to experience a rapid increase in demand in the coming years- and can provide an alternative sustainable source of fertilizer and other products.

Seaweed cultivation can also provide environmental benefits. The seaweed in the water acts as a buffer against as it approaches the shore, reducing the energy as it passes through the seaweed, much as trees act as a buffer against strong winds, which can help reduce erosion. It also elevates the pH and oxygenates the water.

More information: Conchúr Hughes et al, Habitat suitability modelling for an integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA) system along Europe's Atlantic coast, Ecological Modelling (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2023.110459

Provided by Bangor University

Citation: Anticipating obsolescence: The next step to enhancing the sustainability of aquaculture (2023, September 27) retrieved 27 September 2023 from https://phys.org/news/2023-09-obsolescence-sustainability-aquaculture.html
This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.

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What has the release of Netflix's ecological crisis documentary "Seaspiracy"  exposed?

The pollution risks associated with antibiotics used in sea-farmed salmon.

What health concerns are there specifically related to additives in farmed salmon feed?

In terms of standards and regulations, China has set targets to reduce feed-grade fish catch in its 14th Five Year Plan, aiming to minimize the environmental impact of the salmon farming industry.

What countries or jurisdictions have regulations concerning additives in salmon feed?

Norway is also researching ways to reduce fishmeal and fish oil in salmon feeds, exploring alternative ingredients and production methods.

China imports approximately 1.4 million tonnes of fishmeal annually, mainly from Peru, highlighting the need for sustainable and regulated feed production practices.

The use of additives in salmon farming is also being addressed through initiatives such as seaweed cultivation, which can provide environmental benefits by removing soluble nutrients from the water column.

Mussels have been found to remove up to 54% of salmon waste materials, demonstrating the potential for innovative solutions to mitigate the environmental impact of salmon farming.

Overall, the use of additives in salmon farming is a complex issue, with both benefits and drawbacks to consider.

While certain additives, such as soy proteins and mealworms, offer sustainable and nutritious alternatives to traditional feed ingredients, others, such as PCBs and antibiotics, pose potential health risks to humans.

What health concerns are there specifically related to additives in farmed salmon feed?

What health concerns are there specifically related to additives in farmed salmon feed?

What health concerns are there specifically related to additives in farmed salmon feed?

What health concerns are there specifically related to additives in farmed salmon feed?

As the salmon farming industry continues to evolve, it is essential to prioritize regulated and sustainable feed production practices, minimizing the environmental impact and ensuring the health and safety of consumers.


Vertical gardens or green walls are becoming increasingly popular in environmental design and architecture due to their numerous aesthetic and environmental benefits.

They improve indoor air quality by reducing pollutants, with a 40-60% reduction in pollutants, a 40% reduction in nitrogen dioxide concentration, a 60% reduction in particulate matter concentration, a 10% reduction in fine particulate matter concentration, and a 30% reduction in ozone concentration.

Green walls also regulate temperature and drive energy conservation, reducing indoor temperature by 1.8 ℃.

In addition to their environmental benefits, green walls have a positive impact on mental health and well-being, improving life quality and providing a natural decoration in homes.

The maintenance needs of green walls are relatively low, with some plants such as Dragon Tubeh, Junzi, and Lily bamboo being suitable for low-maintenance green walls [1].

For different climates, plants such as Petunia, Geranium, and Wax Begonia are suitable for warmer climates, while plants such as Daffodil, Daisy, and Marigold are resilient and can thrive in various temperatures.

The cost of installing a green wall can range from $200 to $1200 per square meter, and they can last up to 25 years, making them a sustainable and cost-effective option.

Overall, green walls are a practical and beneficial addition to any home or building, providing numerous environmental, aesthetic, and mental health benefits.

Vertical gardens or green walls are becoming increasingly popular in environmental design and architecture due to their numerous aesthetic and environmental benefits.

They improve indoor air quality by reducing pollutants, with a 40-60% reduction in pollutants, a 40% reduction in nitrogen dioxide concentration, a 60% reduction in particulate matter concentration, a 10% reduction in fine particulate matter concentration, and a 30% reduction in ozone concentration.

Title:

Content: In order to improve the environmental air quality and let children learn with peace of mind, the Taichung Municipal Environmental Protection Bureau has continued to build a clean air green wall in the school. This year, 12 schools in Jianping Elementary School, Juren Elementary School and Chongde Elementary School have received subsidies from the Environmental Protection Department.
According to the Environmental Protection Bureau, through the installation of clean air green walls, indoor air quality can be improved. At present, space such as classroom corridors and flower stands outside the daughter wall in Taichung City can be planted, which can achieve the benefits of dust retention, air pollution absorption and temperature regulation.
In order to strengthen the protection of the school environment for children, the Taichung City Environmental Protection Bureau expanded the subsidy for the construction of a clean air green wall on the campus, and the current subsidy amount to 1.76 million yuan, with an area of 358 square meters.
The Environmental Protection Bureau stressed that currently selected plants that can purify the air and do not need to spend too much money and time to maintain include the Dragon Tubeh, the Junzi and Wu Bamboo, the Turtle, the Cannonflower or the Honeysuckle.
How good is the effect of clean air green wall?
According to international research, vertical clean air green walls can reduce the concentration of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and particulate matter (PM10) by about 40% and 60%. In addition, green walls can also reduce the concentration of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in classrooms by about 10% and the concentration of ozone (O3) by about 30%.
Green wall is the most natural and energy efficient air purification facilities, no need to plug in electricity, self-circulation, to achieve the purpose of air purification, can be called the "most environmentally friendly air purifier".
Chen Hongyi, director of the Environmental Protection Bureau, said that in addition to blocking outdoor pollutants and improving indoor air, the air green wall can also adjust the temperature and drive energy conservation and carbon reduction. Next year, Taichung City is expected to expand the subsidy target, including community activity centers, public kindergartens and environmental night markets.
# Green Wall # Air # Cleanliness # Campus # Environment

Green walls also regulate temperature and drive energy conservation, reducing indoor temperature by 1.8 ℃.

Title:

Content: Chiayi City, Chiayi City, Chiayi City, Chiayi City, Chiayi City, Chiayi City, Chiayi City, Chiayi City, Chiayi City, Chiayi City, Chiayi City, Chiayi City, Chiayi City, Chiayi City, Chiayi City, Chiayi City, Chiayi City, Chiayi City, Chiayi City, Chiayi City, Chiayi City, Chiayi City, Chiayi City, Chiayi County, Chiayi
The school received an environmental subsidy of NT $220,000 two years ago to plant large Dumbo flowers to form a green wall, which helps to cool down the temperature and purify the air, and also to install an automatic sprinkler system to maintain the ecology of the green wall.
According to the Environmental Protection Bureau of Chiayi City Government, since 2019, the Environmental Protection Department has promoted the vertical air green wall project. Since 2019, three schools, including Xingjia, Jiabei Elementary School and Jiabei Elementary School, have installed climbing plants on the school's daughter wall and the balcony of the classroom.
The Environmental Protection Bureau of the Chiayi Municipal Government said that this year, the Environmental Protection Agency expanded the target of subsidies, in addition to the original subsidies of public middle school, public elementary school, public preschool institutions, public welfare groups, public facilities, environmental protection night market, civic activity center and other venues, air green wall subsidies of 3,000 to 6,000 yuan per square meter, single subsidy ceiling of 400,000 yuan.
According to the Municipal Environmental Protection Agency, according to the results of the study, vertical green walls can reduce the concentration of nitrogen dioxide (NO2), suspended particulates (PM10) by about 40% and 60%, but also reduce the concentration of indoor fine suspended particulates (PM2.5) by about 10%, ozone by about 30%, and indoor temperature reduction by about 1.8 ℃.
According to the city's Environmental Protection Bureau, the appropriate plant types are lily bamboo, firecracker red, Yunnan yellow carnation, turtle, Boston kidney fern, hydrangea, African pansy or panthera, and can be selected according to the space planning and installation requirements, so that the space is more beautiful.
# Green Wall # Cooling # EPB # EPD # Planting

In addition to their environmental benefits, green walls have a positive impact on mental health and well-being, improving life quality and providing a natural decoration in homes.

Title:

Content: 6 Easy Ways to Build an Indoor Garden
CHITING CHANG – HOMIFY
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Indoor plants are not only beautiful, they bring natural greenery to your room, they also have the function of purifying toxins in the air.
If you don ’ t have a large garden or balcony space to grow flowers and plants, you can still work on creating a small garden indoors.
Today ’ s idea book will teach you 6 simple ways to build an indoor garden.
After reading these methods, you should no longer be able to use the space limit as an excuse!
1. Palm Trees
If you want to plant a tree indoors, you must choose plants that can survive in low light conditions.
An atmospheric, tropical palm tree is the perfect choice.
If you have concerns about the frequency of watering and the temperature in the room, ask a professional for more details.
2.
Glass bonsai
Terrarium Installations
The Urban Botanist
Easy to handle, small glass potted plants are ideal for small suites or work desks! You can choose large glass containers, such as old light bulbs, fish tanks, candy cans, etc., then put a small stone as the bottom, spread the moss, and then put the soil.
The next step is to put your plants in the soil and then spread the moss.
When finished, you can put on your favorite decorations again, so that the simple glass potted plant is finished.
3.
Fill the walls with plants.
Green walls can be the most natural decoration in the home, and can also remove toxins from the air and improve the quality of life.
Although the idea is simple, building a green wall can be a tricky task, and if you are not confident in your DIY skills, you can consult with homify experts.
4.
Hang the plants on the wall.
Hanging Vintage Garden Tap Planter
ELLA JAMES
If the above green wall is a bit too much, then you can choose to hang plants on the wall.
If you don ’ t like the general method, you can follow the above example and choose the potted plants made of water taps, so that your potted plants can also be used as decorations in your home.
5.
Kitchen Spices
The easiest way to create an indoor garden is to plant the herbs you need.
Put your favorite herbs in the kitchen, in addition to making the kitchen full of green surprises, you can also let the vanilla smell in the air.
6.
Make your living space green
We love the concept of an indoor garden!
Put a wooden table on the plant of the tree, it becomes a unique tree table.
When guests come to visit, do you have the feeling of playing chess and making tea in the old banyan tree?
More Inspiration for Interior Decoration: 17 Simple and Affordable Ways to Make Your Home Better
Do you need someone to help you design or build your home?
Find a professional now!
Find out more about home design!

The maintenance needs of green walls are relatively low, with some plants such as Dragon Tubeh, Junzi, and Lily bamboo being suitable for low-maintenance green walls [1].

For different climates, plants such as Petunia, Geranium, and Wax Begonia are suitable for warmer climates, while plants such as Daffodil, Daisy, and Marigold are resilient and can thrive in various temperatures.

Title:

Content: 10 Easy-to-Care-For Bedding Plants: Choosing the Right Ones for Your Home

When choosing plants for your home, it can be hard to decide which ones will be the best for your environment. Fortunately, there are a few bedding plants that are both easy to care for and aesthetically pleasing - perfect for adding some vibrant color and personality to your home. From shady corners to sunny spots, these plants are sure to thrive in any home. Whether you’re a novice or an experienced gardener, bedding plants are a fantastic way to spruce up your space. Read on to discover the top 10 bedding plants, from beautiful blooms to lush foliage, that offer an easy care solution for any home.

Deploy Folding Table of contents

When it comes to sprucing up your home with beautiful beds and decorations, nothing is as important as choosing the right bedding plants. Having the perfect touch of greenery and flowers can really make a difference in the look and feel of your home. But, with such a wide selection available, it can be hard to decide which plants are easy to care for, and which are the ones that will require constant attention. That’s why we’ve put together this list of the top 10 easy-to-care-for bedding plants that will be perfect for your home.

Low Maintenance Flowering Plants For Your Home

One of the best things about bedding plants is that they are low maintenance and they require very little care. Some of the best low maintenance plants that you can choose for your home include: Petunia, Geranium, Viola, , and . These plants thrive in warmer climates, and they will bloom repeatedly throughout the season if they are given enough light and water. For those who are looking for a little bit more color in their garden, Petunia and Geranium are especially vibrant.

Enjoy All-Year-Round Blooms With These Bedding Plants

If you are looking for a bedding plant that will give you all-year-round blooms, then you will love these four plants: Daffodil, Daisy, Marigold, and . All of these plants are quite resilient and can withstand the cold temperatures of a winter season. They will also return year after year with their beautiful blooms. Plus, they are very easy to care for and require minimal attention.

Adding Color to Your Garden With These Hardy Plants

For those who want to add a lot of color to their garden, then these four plants are perfect: , Salvia, Impatiens, and Wax Begonia. These plants are all quite resilient and can handle a wide range of temperatures. They are also easy to care for and will give your garden a pop of color all year round.

Choose the Perfect Bedding Plant for Your Home

When it comes to choosing the perfect bedding plant for your home, it’s important to consider the climate that you live in. If you live in a colder climate, then you will want to choose plants that can withstand the cold temperatures. On the other hand, if you live in a warmer climate, then you will want to choose plants that thrive in the heat. You should also consider the amount of sunlight and water that the plant will need, as well as the soil type.

Grow Your Dream Garden With These Simple Plants

With these simple bedding plants, you will be able to create a beautiful and vibrant garden that you can enjoy throughout the year. Whether you choose one or a few, you will be sure to have a wonderful addition to your home.

Creating a beautiful garden for your home doesn’t have to be hard. With these easy-to-care-for bedding plants, you can have a beautiful garden with very little effort. All you need to do is choose the right plants for your climate and you will be able to enjoy a breathtaking garden for years to come.

Conclusion

Choosing the right bedding plants can be the difference between having a garden full of color or one with very little life. With this list of ten easy-to-care-for plants, you will be able to add the perfect touch to your home and give your garden a beautiful and vibrant look. Whether you’re looking for low maintenance flowering plants or something that will bloom year-round, there is something here for everyone. So take your pick and create the dream garden you’ve always wanted.

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The cost of installing a green wall can range from $200 to $1200 per square meter, and they can last up to 25 years, making them a sustainable and cost-effective option.

Title:

Content: Prince’s Landscape Pte Ltd Now Provides Singapore Properties with Vertical Green Walls

Prince’s Landscape Pte Ltd is famous for its vertical wall planters, green walls and flower backdrop in Singapore. The company caters to residential and commercial clients as well.

Singapore, 2023-Jan-04 — /EPR Network/ — Prince’s Landscape Pte Ltd, the leading landscaping company in Singapore is offering vertical green walls to commercial and residential properties. Whether it is a retail showroom or a high rise, the vertical green wall is an innovative approach towards introducing nature amidst the concrete jungle.

The company uses quality vertical wall planters, ensuring the healthy growth of the plants. These vertical walls are easy to maintain, assemble, install, disassemble, and reinstall. The technique used by Prince’s Landscape Pte Ltd ensures the user does not have to spend much time tending and taking care of the plants.

Along with green walls, the company also provides clients with exquisite flower backdrops in Singapore to complement the greenery around them. It’s a long-term investment as a green wall can last up to 25 years.

Vertical walls by Prince’s Landscape Pte Ltd come with some unique features:

  • Custom design to suit the client’s needs.
  • Minimal watering of the green wall plants.
  • Ultra-low maintenance ensured.
  • Quick installation due to a modular system.
  • Use of plants that can survive in a tropical climate.

Why choose a vertical green wall?

  • Reduces waste of energy.
  • Improves air quality.
  • Makes the structure sustainable.
  • The space becomes more fire-resistant.
  • Minimizes ambient noise.

The general installation cost for a vertical green wall by Prince’s Landscape Pte Ltd ranges between $200 per square meter and $1200 per square meter, depending on the design, the kind of plants used and the installation process.

About the company:

One of the oldest nurseries in Singapore, Prince’s Landscape Pte Ltd has 50 years of experience in the industry. Started out humbly as a flower shop, Prince’s Landscape Pte Ltd have evolved into a full-fledged landscape design and installation specialist.

Contact Details

Telephone: 65 6763 7000

Fax: 65 6892 2700

WhatsApp: +65 8838 3479

Email: buzz@prince.com.sg

Address: 53 Sungei Tengah Road, Singapore 698998

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Overall, green walls are a practical and beneficial addition to any home or building, providing numerous environmental, aesthetic, and mental health benefits.

Title:

Content: Make your home more stylish!
6 wonderful examples of ornamental plants
Genie Chien
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Do you like gardening? If you like flowers and plants, you can use ornamental plants as materials for interior decoration! Green has a natural beauty and charm, and it is easy to match with furniture and space, which is an indispensable element of interior decoration.
With them, even if it is not a beautiful house, it can make your home look radiant with fresh green.
Let ’ s take a look at the 6 ideas that make a stylish home out of plants!
Example 1: The Little Forest in the House
Do you want to live in a forest?
The designer saw through your mind and specially redesigned this house into a forest landscape.
This home is made of light wood and white, where green plants grow everywhere, creating a beautiful visual feel.
Living here, you can feel the natural atmosphere in all seasons, and your body and mind will feel extremely relaxed and comfortable!
Example 2: Bold use of plants to decorate home space
This open space combines a living room, dining room and kitchen, where designers use plants to make bold décor.
The rows of trees grow against the wall to form a beautiful vision. The indoor movement line is unparalleled, and living here is not only extremely relieving, but also can breathe the green verdant at the same time!
Example 3: Green interior wall
The interior is decorated with a vertically-green botanical garden, from the ceiling to the floor. Not only is it impressive at first glance, but the three-dimensional shape is even more impressive! Facing these greenery every day is the most healing secret of the busy world!
Example 4: A relaxing bathroom with a vacation style
Bathrooms with high humidity are also good for growing plants.
Here, the designer uses white and green to make your bathroom a vacation retreat.
Ivy and ferns are ideal choices, and the space forms a balanced color, so beautiful that people do not want to leave!
Example 5: Small green garden on the shelf
It is also a good idea to combine small ornamental plants with small accessories.
This way, using a rustic vine basket and small utensils, with beautiful green plants, creates a mini botanical garden in the space.
It not only makes the space more efficient, but also adds a lot of fun to life.
Example 6: Smart use of the outdoor garden
This residence has green plants planted on the outdoor balcony, allowing their verdant greenery to penetrate the interior.
Sitting in the living room, you can observe the growth of plants through a large area of glass windows.
In order to make the whole picture look beautiful as a painting, the designer took special care to choose the right plant to make the perfect match, so that the visual beauty is more divided!
If you are looking for inspiration to decorate your home, you must not miss the following articles:
12 Lighting Designs to Light Up the Appearance of Your Home!
Do you need someone to help you design or build your home?
Find a professional now!
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