Our research group aims to evaluate feed utilization efficiency, welfare, gut physiology and food safety implications when feeding alternative protein sources to species like trout, charr and tilapia. We focus on new feed sources originating from renewable waste sources, in a circular production. Two examples are insects transforming protein of low human interest and microbes forming new protein from carbon and minerals. We also study farming in a live microbial environment, so called biofloc. This research demands advanced analyses and experimental technology capacity, and we have built up an advanced fish laboratory. Our research area is stretching from feed technology, gut biota, gut health, cannulation and metabolism.
Research area contact person: Anders Kiessling
Insects are increasingly considered as sustainable source of protein in fish feed, but what are the consumers' attitudes towards fish fed insects instead of conventional protein sources?
The aim of this project is to develop a standardized germ-free and germ-associated rainbow trout larval model systems as a means to understand the interplay among novel nutraceuticals, defense system and gut microbiota with a focus to improve larval quality.
Nordic co-operation will improve the conditions for developing sustainable, microbial feed ingredients for salmonids produced on various residual products with the help of biotechnology.
The goal is to improve our understanding of the environmental impact and influence of host animal factors on intestinal microbiota and lipid metabolism in salmon.
Project aim is to develop a sustainable protein source of high value for farmed fish, based on filamentous fungi grown on residues from ethanol production.
Aquaponics, integrated systems for production of fish and plants, display an alternative for production of animal protein and health-promoting vegetables. Scaling up aquaponic systems for primary production requires increased knowledge about challenges in the system regarding e.g. nutritional balance with respect to the plants, plant and fish diseases, as well as quality of the product.
SLU together with Örebro University/Grythyttan, is now developing methodology to better understand how to improve farming of fish, not only for more environmentally friendly production with high animal welfare, but also to produce a raw material of the highest gastronomic quality.
Grow-out or conditioning of wild-caught fish in aquaculture can increase profitability of inshore fisheries, which currently suffer economic problems, with little negative side-effects on stock status and aquatic ecosystems. However, knowledge about welfare of wild-born fish held in captivity is crucial.
Today farming or conditioning of wild-caught fish is low in Sweden and Europe in general. There are however a number of advantages in farming of wild fish compared to wild catch, such as a better control of the production chain and increased profitability. This project aims at investigating the potential for farming and conditioning of wild fish in Sweden.
In 2017, EU approved use of insects in fish feed. Wild salmonids and other fish naturally feed on insects throughout their lives. Feeding farmed fish with live insects could be environmentally friendly, and provide for nutrient requirements of the fish. This project will assess the feasibility of feeding whole black soldier fly larvae to rainbow trout.
In a germ-free animal, nutritional (and other) processes can be studied without interference from the microorganisms commonly inhabiting the gut in a conventional environment. The extent to which that process is modified by microbial action can then be examined by introducing a known microflora. Such kind of gnotobiotic tools is now recognized as essential in the advancement of knowledge on various aspects of nutrition and health.
The aim of this PhD project is to gain a better understanding of how feeding of dietary supplements, derived from new and sustainable sources, affect nutrient uptake, metabolism and gene expression and the gut micro flora of rainbow trout.
