Skretting Vietnam partners with Entobel to launch first commercial shrimp feed with insect meal

VIETNAM – Skretting Vietnam and insect-protein producer Entobel have launched the country’s first commercial shrimp feed containing insect meal, marking a significant shift toward low-carbon, circular nutrition in one of Asia’s fastest-growing aquaculture markets. 

The partnership aims to reduce dependence on marine ingredients, strengthen feed formulation flexibility, and offer Vietnamese shrimp farmers a more sustainable production pathway.

The collaboration introduces Entobel’s insect protein meal, H-Meal, into Skretting’s commercial shrimp feed lines, one of the earliest large-scale integrations of insect meal in Asia. 

Skretting says the approach allows the company to decouple feed performance from volatility in marine ingredients while lowering environmental impact.

“By integrating insect meal into our shrimp feeds, we are taking another strong step towards building a more sustainable aquaculture value chain,” said Duco Onnes, General Manager of Nutreco Vietnam. 

“This partnership with Entobel allows us to deliver high-performance nutrition to our customers in a way that is better for the environment.”

Insect meals have been independently verified through Life Cycle Assessment to offer a carbon footprint just above 1 kg CO₂/kg, with a trajectory toward below 1 kg. 

The protein source aligns with WWF’s Basket Blueprint and contributes to lower forage fish dependency ratios (FFDR). Using food byproducts as raw materials, insect meal also supports waste reduction and more resilient value chains.

Internal trials by Skretting showed that H-Meal delivers growth performance, feed efficiency, and nutritional value comparable to traditional marine inputs. 

The ingredient’s naturally occurring bioactive components, such as chitin and lauric acid, may also offer added functional benefits in aquaculture diets.

Entobel co-founder Alexandre de Caters said, “We are proud to partner with Skretting to prove that sustainability and performance can go hand in hand. Together, we are showing how circular innovation can reduce ocean pressure and strengthen the food value chain.”

Commercial production of the new shrimp feed began this month, with Skretting exploring opportunities to expand insect-meal integration into additional species and markets. 

The company says the approach is cost-competitive, scalable, and aligned with its global decarbonization objectives, including the ambition to approach an ultra-low carbon footprint of <1 kg CO₂ per kilogram of feed.

Supporting farmers affected by severe flooding

The launch comes as Vietnamese aquaculture farmers confront major losses following devastating floods across Phú Yên and Đắk Lắk. 

The disaster destroyed 82,147 hectares of rice and seasonal crops, damaged 117,067 hectares of perennial crops, swept away more than 3.3 million livestock and poultry, affected 1,157 hectares of aquaculture, and left 102 people dead. Losses are estimated at nearly US$500 million.

Skretting Vietnam deployed teams to affected areas, providing Jade, its early-life nutrition product, alongside essential supplies to help farmers restart their operations. 

Jade contains hydrolyzed proteins, krill meal, highly unsaturated fatty acids, phospholipids, probiotics, and natural immunostimulants designed to support feed intake, resilience, and gut health in nursery systems.

“These visits were deeply moving. They remind us that sustainability is not only about feed and farming practices, but about supporting people when they need it most. Together, we will rebuild stronger,” the company said.

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