Соя становится ключевым кормом для быстрорастущей мировой аквакультуры

By Brianna Smith Soybeans have long played an important role in feeding livestock. Today, however, soybeans are increasingly helping feed another growing source of protein: aquaculture. As aquaculture production expands worldwide, soy-based feeds are creating opportunities for soybean farmers while supplying consumers with seafood ranging from catfish to shrimp. Aquaculture, or the farming of aquatic organisms, remains a relatively small industry in the United States compared to poultry, pork, or beef production, but it continues to grow and evolve. The industry includes operations in food fish, shellfish, baitfish, sportfish, and aquaponics. The largest domestic sectors include production of catfish, trout, and largemouth bass. For Erica Curles, Science Communicator with an M.Sc. in Aquaculture, the industry’s potential to help meet growing global demand for seafood is what first drew her to the field. “When I was in high school, I wanted to work on a big world problem, and I really wanted to help feed the world,” Curles said. “I’ve always loved fish, and in my mind, wild fisheries are kind of at capacity. I thought aquaculture is the future.” That passion eventually led Curles to Norway, where she earned a master’s degree in aquaculture with a specialization in fish nutrition at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences. “My research involved feeding a specialty soybean meal to Atlantic salmon to study digestibility,” Curles said. “I fed U.S. soybean meal to salmon in Norway.” Soybean meal is an important ingredient in many aquaculture diets due to its nutritional profile and cost-effectiveness. “Soybean meal is often the main protein source because it’s more economical than a lot of other protein sources while still being a complete protein,” Curles said. “It’s got all the amino acids.” The role soy plays varies by species. In catfish production, the largest segment of U.S. aquaculture by volume, soybean meal serves as the primary protein source in many feed rations. Catfish require less protein than some other species, allowing producers to utilize greater amounts of soybean meal and other plant-based ingredients in their diets. More carnivorous species such as rainbow trout and salmon have higher protein requirements, but soy products continue to play an important role in their nutrition. “Carnivorous fish can handle some soybean meal as well, especially rainbow trout,” Curles said. “They can go up to 20% in their feed, some 25% to 30%, depending on the strain.” Shrimp production presents another opportunity for soybean demand. Although domestic shrimp production remains limited, interest in recirculating shrimp facilities has increased in recent years. “Shrimp can eat up to about 50% soybean meal in their feed,” Curles said. “So they’re a really good customer for soybean meal, and they can grow really well on that.” While domestic aquaculture represents a smaller market for soybeans, international demand tells a different story. “There is a lot of demand for soybean meal in aquaculture in the countries that grow fish like tilapia and carps,” Curles said. “That’s a huge volume demand all over the world.” Beyond traditional soybean meal, specialty soy products — like soy protein concentrate — are also drawing interest within the industry, particularly for high-value species. “There is more of a pull for kind of specialty soybeans in aquaculture markets than there would be in other markets because you’ve got some really high value products like Atlantic salmon or rainbow trout, which have a high price per pound for filets,” Curles said. The long-term outlook suggests aquaculture’s importance will only continue to increase. According to a study published in the Journal of World Aquaculture Society, global aquatic food consumption is projected to reach 47.1 pounds per person by 2031, while aquaculture production is expected to surpass capture fisheries and account for 52% of all aquatic animal production by 2030. Beyond its protein content, soybean meal offers domestic aquaculture producers an ingredient that is economical, consistent, local, and versatile across a variety of species. Combined with growing global demand for seafood, those characteristics position soybeans to remain an important part of aquaculture’s future. This story is part of the Optimize with Soy series supported by Ohio soybean farmers and their checkoff.