Popular global cuisines with seafood-rich recipes, plus the growing world consumption of fish, have placed increased demands on our seafood supply. In fact, only half of the current global demand can be met by fish and seafood from the world’s oceans, with the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration crediting aquaculture as being the world’s fastest-growing form of food production. In turn, the sustainability of global aquaculture relies on efficient, renewable sources of fish feed ingredients. That’s why soy-fed farmed fish meets today’s needs.
When you specify soy-fed farmed fish for your foodservice kitchen, you’re offering a nutritious, sustainable menu choice. Farmed fish have a hatch-to-harvest controlled diet, so aquaculture products are free of mercury content and other environmental contaminants such as PCBs. But that’s just one advantage offered by soy-fed farmed fish.
The U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) provides foodservice operators with health and nutrition information, the latest research, and other information related to soy-fed farmed fish. Meanwhile, here are five advantages that soy-fed farmed fish can bring to your menu.
1. Soy-Fed Farmed Fish Meet the Demand for High-Quality Ingredients. Demand for fish and seafood is expected to jump nearly 50 percent by the year 2050, thanks to more health-conscious consumers and a growing population. In fact, by 2030, an additional 41 million tons of fish per year will be needed to maintain current seafood consumption levels. Your customers expect quality, and soy-fed farmed fish can help you meet those expectations.
2. Soy-Fed Farmed Fish Appeal to Health-Consciousness Consumers. As the numerous health benefits of incorporating fish into a regular diet become better known, consumers are driving up the demand for quality seafood. Today, farmed fish account for a significant portion of all fish consumed worldwide, and aquaculture continues to grow more environmentally friendly with the adoption of new industry standards. Soy-based feeds are rich in proteins and nutrients, including Omega-3 fatty acids. In addition, soy eases the pressure on wild fisheries by replacing up to half the fishmeal in feeds for many marine farmed species, and all of the fishmeal in many freshwater species.
3. Soy-Fed Farmed Fish Reflect Environmental Awareness. Soybeans themselves are an environmentally beneficial crop because they fix nitrates in the soil. When it comes to aquaculture sustainability, soybean meal and soy oil can replace from half to nearly all of the fishmeal and fish oil in foods for many species.
4. Soy-Fed Farmed Fish Provide Year-Round Availability: Farm-raised seafood currently accounts for more than 40 percent of fish and shellfish consumption globally. Despite a growing demand for seafood, the amount of wild fish capture has remained flat since the 1980s. Increasing the availability of soy-fed farm-raised fish conserves natural resources while meeting consumer needs.
5. Soy-Fed Farmed Fish Offer Affordability: U.S. soybeans increase the world’s supply of affordable farm-raised fish. This helps the affordability of aquaculture products.
