As global aquaculture continues its rapid expansion, meeting both production and sustainability goals means evolving feed and nutrition strategies. A new review by Ai et al. in The Journal of Nutrition (2025) examines how far the field has come – and where critical research gaps remain. (PubMed)
Over recent decades, nutrition research and feed-formulation innovations have driven measurable improvements in feed conversion ratios and have begun to reduce reliance on traditional marine ingredients such as fishmeal and fish oil. Yet the industry still faces pressing constraints: finite marine-derived resources, increasing demand for aquatic animal production (projected to rise by roughly 10 % in the next decade), and mounting pressure to adopt lower-carbon and more sustainable feedinputs.
The review is organised around four key domains: (1) major nutritional and metabolic discoveries; (2) theoretical advances in aquaculture nutrition science; (3) practical operational challenges; and (4) emerging biotechnologies and their implications for future feed systems. (sciencedirect.com)
From the scientific front, key breakthroughs include improved understanding of nutrient‐sensing pathways, lipid metabolism (including endogenous long-chain PUFA synthesis), carbohydrate/glucose metabolism in aquatic species, and the growing significance of gut-microbiota‐nutrition–immune system interactions. These developments open pathways to more precise, biologically‐informed feed formulations, and move the industry toward “molecular nutrition” rather than just ingredient substitution.
On the operational side, the review highlights persistent issues: insufficient species- and life stage-specific data on nutrient requirements, digestibility and bioavailability of emerging feed ingredients (such as insect meals, single-cell proteins, plant-derived sources), variability and losses during feed processing, and the environmental footprint of feeding systems (including nitrogen and phosphorus waste streams).
Perhaps most importantly, the authors point to the potential of modern biotechnologies – omics (genomics, transcriptomics, metabolomics), precision nutrition modelling, microbiome engineering, and integrated feed-/health-/environment systems – to accelerate the shift to truly sustainable aquafeeds. But they also make clear that to realise this future, significant research gaps must be addressed. In particular, scalability, economic viability, feed ingredient variability, and real-world applicability remain major hurdles.
For industry professionals this means: continue gaining incremental feed‐efficiency improvements, but also invest in longer-term strategies that link nutrition, health, and environmental stewardship together. Greater collaboration across feed manufacturers, researchers, and producers will be required if the aquaculture sector is to deliver even more sustainably – and profitably – over the coming decade.
Industry Takeaways:
1. Feed innovation is paying off – but must go further.
Feed conversion ratios have steadily improved and dependence on fishmeal and fish oil is declining. However, future progress depends on scaling sustainable alternatives like insect, algal, and single-cell proteins without compromising growth or product quality.
2. Molecular nutrition is the new frontier.
Research is shifting from “what to feed” to “how nutrients work” at the genetic and cellular levels. Understanding nutrient-sensing pathways and metabolic regulation will help design precision feeds tailored to specific species and life stages.
3. Nutrition and health are interconnected.
Studies show that vitamins, amino acids, and fatty acids play critical roles in immune function and gut microbiome balance – signaling a future where feed is also a proactive health-management tool.
4. Data and processing gaps remain major bottlenecks.
Many species still lack comprehensive nutrient requirement data, and processing losses (heat, extrusion, oxidation) continue to affect nutrient quality. More robust datasets and optimized manufacturing practices are needed for consistent feed performance.
5. Biotechnologies are redefining the feed landscape.
Genomics, transcriptomics, metabolomics, and microbiome engineering are offering powerful tools to refine feed efficiency and sustainability. Early industry adopters of these technologies may gain a significant competitive advantage.