ADM’s BernAqua becomes Belgium’s first BAP-certified aquafeed producer

BELGIUM – BernAqua, an ADM group company specialising in hatchery and nursery feeds for fish and shrimp, has become Belgium’s first aquafeed producer to achieve Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) certification, reinforcing the growing importance of traceability and responsible sourcing across the global aquaculture supply chain.

The certification was awarded to the company’s feed mill in Olen, Belgium, and recognises compliance with standards covering environmental responsibility, social accountability, food safety and animal welfare. 

The milestone comes as seafood producers, retailers and consumers increasingly seek third-party assurances that aquaculture products are produced sustainably.

BernAqua supplies hatchery and nursery feeds to customers in more than 50 countries and focuses on nutrition solutions for the early life stages of fish and shrimp. 

The company said the certification reflects its commitment to responsible aquaculture production and continuous improvement in feed manufacturing practices.

“We are incredibly proud of this certification, which marks an important step forward in our mission to deliver superior nutrition solutions for the early stages of fish and shrimp life,” said Sam Valgaeren, Plant Manager at Bern Aqua.

“This achievement, as with our organic certification and other accreditations, demonstrates how Bern Aqua is well-positioned to continue driving progress and enhancing our competitive edge in the field of early life nutrition,” Valgaeren added.

Certification strengthens responsible aquaculture supply chains

Feed manufacturers play a critical role in the sustainability of aquaculture, as feed is one of the largest inputs in fish and shrimp production. 

Increasingly, producers are seeking certified feed sources to improve transparency, support responsible sourcing practices, and meet sustainability requirements from seafood buyers.

BernAqua said it prioritises ingredients sourced from certified and sustainably managed suppliers while maintaining traceability throughout its supply chain. 

The company produces aquafeed pellets ranging from 5 microns to 3 millimetres, tailored to the nutritional requirements of different aquatic species during hatchery and nursery stages.

Its production process incorporates technologies such as cold extrusion, which helps preserve the nutritional quality of ingredients while supporting feed performance and animal health.

The Best Aquaculture Practices programme, developed by the Global Seafood Alliance (GSA), is the only third-party aquaculture certification system that covers the entire production chain, including feed mills, hatcheries, farms and processing plants.

“We congratulate ADM’s Bern Aqua facility for becoming the first BAP-certified producer in Belgium, an important milestone for responsible aquaculture in the region,” said Sébastien Metz of the Market Development Team at the Global Seafood Alliance.

“Feed plays a critical role in the aquaculture supply chain, and this achievement reflects their leadership in creating a more responsible future for global seafood production,” Metz added.

According to the Global Seafood Alliance, BAP certification provides assurance that 100% of aquafeed produced at a certified facility meets established standards for responsible aquaculture production.

The achievement further strengthens ADM’s presence in the aquaculture sector, where demand for sustainably produced feed continues to grow alongside increasing global seafood consumption and industry efforts to improve environmental performance across the value chain.

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