In a major step towards promoting sustainable aquaculture practices, ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Ms Bhairav Renderers, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. This collaboration aims to transfer CMFRI's technology for producing fish feed using Black Soldier Fly Larvae (BSFL), a move expected to help Indian fish farmers enhance productivity while reducing the environmental impact of their operations.
Dr. Grinson George, Director of ICAR-CMFRI, highlighted that the technology transfer marks a significant advancement in the institute's efforts to encourage sustainable aquaculture practices. Senthil Kumar, CEO of Bhairav Renderers, expressed that this partnership will provide fish farmers with an affordable and sustainable alternative to traditional feed, benefiting not just their profits but also the broader ecosystem.
As global seafood demand rises, the aquaculture industry faces mounting pressure to find alternatives to conventional fishmeal, typically derived from wild-caught fish.
Overfishing and environmental concerns surrounding the use of fishmeal have raised alarms about the long-term viability of current feed practices. In response, the BSFL-based feed offers a promising solution, packed with protein, essential amino acids, and fats, key nutrients that make it an excellent feed source for farmed fish.
Bhairav Renderers will begin producing insect protein feed on an industrial scale, starting with the Tamil Nadu market, with plans for gradual expansion.
