Alltech feed mills achieve national firsts with ASC certification

EUROPE – Alltech Coppens in Germany and Alltech Fennoaqua in Finland have become the first feed mills in their respective countries to achieve certification under the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) Feed Standard, underscoring Alltech’s growing leadership in sustainable aquafeed production.

The certifications, awarded in late October 2025, recognize the Nettetal-based Alltech Coppens and Raisio-based Alltech Fennoaqua facilities for meeting the ASC’s rigorous global requirements on environmental and social responsibility. 

The achievement is being hailed as a significant stride for the European aquaculture sector, where feed represents one of the most critical levers for improving sustainability outcomes.

“Congratulations to both Alltech Coppens and Alltech Fennoaqua for achieving ASC Feed Certification,” said Aisla Jones, feed engagement and U.K. market manager at ASC. 

“This demonstrates a commitment to transparency, accountability and continuous improvement. By embedding responsibility at the very start of the aquaculture supply chain, they are helping drive the change our industry needs.”

Meeting the highest global feed standards

The ASC Feed Standard is the first of its kind to establish binding global criteria for all feed ingredients, ranging from marine sources such as fishmeal and fish oil to terrestrial crops including soy, palm oil, and wheat. 

To obtain certification, feed producers must demonstrate that their ingredients come from responsibly managed fisheries or sustainably cultivated agricultural sources.

As part of the certification process, both Alltech feed mills provided detailed documentation covering their raw materials and suppliers, verified compliance with social safeguards such as fair labour and occupational safety, and implemented measures to reduce energy use, emissions, water consumption and waste.

“This is an important next step on our sustainability journey,” said Ronald Faber, CEO of Alltech Coppens and global aqua lead at Alltech. 

“ASC is one of the world’s most recognized certifications, and we are very proud to have achieved it. The preparation required time, perseverance and strong teamwork. The process was intense but has helped us make our operations more transparent and sustainable — a gain that goes far beyond certification itself.”

Strengthening sustainability across the value chain

The ASC Feed Standard complements the ASC Farm Standard, which governs environmental and social practices at aquaculture farms. 

Together, the two frameworks aim to ensure that sustainability principles extend across the entire value chain, from feed ingredient sourcing to farm-level operations.

Beginning October 31, 2025, all ASC-certified aquaculture farms will be required to use feed from ASC-certified mills, a change that will tighten sustainability criteria across the industry.

“There is demand in the global fish market for products whose sustainable and responsible production can be demonstrated to consumers through standardized certifications such as ASC,” said Susanna Airaksinen, development manager at Alltech Fennoaqua. 

“Thanks to the certification process we have undergone, we will be able to continue supplying feed to all ASC-certified farms even after the new, stricter requirements come into force later in October.”

With both its German and Finnish facilities now ASC-certified, Alltech is reinforcing its commitment to responsible aquafeed production and advancing sustainability standards across Europe’s aquaculture sector. 

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