Onda advances canola meal research for sustainable aquafeed

CANADA – Canada-based aquaculture research leader Onda has announced a new focus on canola meal as a sustainable feed alternative to address the environmental concerns surrounding fish feed production. 

Partnering with the Canola Council of Canada (CCC), Onda is set to evaluate the potential of Canadian canola-based feed meal to revolutionise sustainable aquaculture production.

The collaboration forms part of the Canola AgriScience Cluster, a five-year research initiative funded under Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership. 

This program, backed by contributions from the CCC, Alberta Canola, SaskOilseeds, Manitoba Canola Growers, and the Ontario Canola Growers Association, will support 17 key projects across Canada’s public research institutions.

With global seafood demand rising, aquaculture has become a vital protein source. However, concerns about the environmental impact of marine-based fish feed ingredients have fueled the search for sustainable, plant-based alternatives.

“As global demand for seafood continues to rise, the need for sustainable aquaculture practices has become more pressing than ever,” said Myrna Gillis, CEO of Onda. “By advancing research into alternative feed sources, Onda and the canola sector are helping the industry meet these challenges head-on while working to unlock new markets for Canadian canola.”

The 18-month research project will explore the use of canola meal in fish feed and its influence on fish growth, disease resistance, and environmental impact. 

Specifically, the study will focus on updating nutrient digestibility values, delivering life cycle analyses of canola meal in salmon feed, and sharing new data on its viability in aquaculture. 

The research will tap into Onda’s Nutrition, Health, FeedTech, and LabTech business units, and the results will be disseminated widely upon completion.

Chris Manchur, CCC Agronomy Specialist and Research Lead, emphasised the importance of the study: “This research will enhance our understanding of canola meal’s nutritional value in aquaculture, helping to build market opportunities and further canola’s value-added contributions to our food and feed systems.”

Canola meal has emerged as a promising plant protein source for aquafeed. It is valued for its sustainability, market availability, cost-effectiveness, and well-balanced amino acid profile. 

The long production cycles of farmed salmon, ranging from 1.5 to 3 years, provide ample opportunity for canola meal to integrate into cost-efficient feed formulations.

Onda’s Director of Nutrition, Ivan Tankovski, expressed optimism about the project’s outcomes: “The digestibility and benchtop studies showed promising results, and we are now eagerly anticipating the results from the next trial to complete the picture.”

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