Onda, a Canada-based research organization focused on aquaculture, is collaborating with the Canola Council of Canada (CCC) to explore canola meal as an alternative feed source for fish farming.

The innovative initiative is part of the Canola AgriScience Cluster, a five-year project supported by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership. The project aims to enhance industry sustainability by integrating canola meal into aquaculture practices.

Using canola in fish feed is not new. In 2019, Cargill received US approval to cultivate its special canola. The company also launched Latitude, a canola-based omega-3 oil for aquaculture feed in Chile. This canola offers a plant-based alternative to fish oil, a key source of omega-3 fatty acids.

Meanwhile, in January, the Norwegian Food Safety Authority granted approval for a genetically modified canola oil that contains marine omega-3 fatty acids, suitable for inclusion in salmon feed, as Undercurrent News reported.

Over the next 18 months, the Canadian project will evaluate canola meal's effects on fish growth, disease resistance, and environmental performance. It will also provide updated information on how well fish can digest the nutrients in canola meal and conduct a life cycle analysis of its use in salmon feed. Various teams will conduct the research and share their findings later, contributing to a more sustainable approach to fish farming.

"Aquaculture plays a vital role in providing protein worldwide, but there are growing concerns about the environmental impact of fish feed," said Myrna Gillis, CEO of Onda. "Our collaboration aims to address these issues while promoting new opportunities for Canadian canola."

Canola meal is being studied for its potential as a fish feed ingredient due to its availability, cost-effectiveness, and balanced amino acid profile. The project combines Onda's expertise in aquaculture health and nutrition with CCC's knowledge of canola production and its applications in feed.

"This research will offer important insights into how canola meal can be used in aquaculture, supporting its role in sustainable food systems," said Chris Manchur, agronomy specialist and research lead at CCC.