Cargill revamps shrimp portfolio with high-performance focus

ECUADOR – Cargill Ecuador is set to launch a revamped version of its Aquaxcel shrimp portfolio, introducing a high-performance philosophy to meet evolving market demands. 

The new portfolio, which will be available starting in November, is designed to improve production efficiency, lower costs, and enhance profitability for shrimp farmers in Ecuador.

One of the main innovations within the new Aquaxcel lineup is a significant boost in key performance metrics. 

By embracing this new approach, Cargill reports a 15% reduction in feed conversion ratios (FCR) and a 49% increase in weekly growth rates, all while maintaining adaptability to diverse production conditions in Ecuador.

High-performance approach

Cargill’s high-performance philosophy is built around three interconnected pillars: Nutrition, Ingredients, and Manufacturing. Each component has undergone substantial changes to support the company’s commitment to continuous improvement and efficiency.

In Nutrition, Cargill developed precision diets tailored to each shrimp farmer’s specific needs. This allows for highly adaptable nutritional plans that consider farm characteristics, technology levels, seasonal challenges, and production goals. 

The goal is to maximise profitability for shrimp producers by offering flexible yet precise feeding strategies.

The Ingredients component emphasises using functional additives that address common farming challenges such as growth rates, survival, health, and environmental stress. 

Key innovations include better management of oxidative stress, improved osmoregulation, and enhanced sanitary conditions, all of which are geared toward improving efficiency and profitability.

In terms of Manufacturing, Cargill has made strategic investments in refining its production process. 

One key area of focus has been optimising the pre-cooking of ingredients to ensure maximum nutritional value for shrimp. 

Additionally, the feed’s physical specifications have been improved to better align with acoustic feeding systems, further boosting feeding efficiency.

New Aquaxcel portfolio

The new Aquaxcel portfolio comprises five product lines, each designed for high performance and tailored to meet the diverse needs of different farming systems, technological levels, and production goals. 

The Aquaxcel Active line provides a balanced mix of nutrients for optimal shrimp development during the growth stages, while Aquaxcel Advance offers advanced nutrition tailored to the performance and productivity goals of shrimp farmers, featuring highly digestible ingredients for improved outcomes. 

Aquaxcel Rapid goes a step further, providing even more advanced nutrition for faster growth and productivity.

The Aquaxcel Maxima line offers precise nutrition combined with functional ingredients that promote shrimp health and an ion balance that can adapt to different salinity levels for farmers looking to maximise efficiency across the entire production cycle. This makes it ideal for farms with highly technical systems. 

Finally, the Aquaxcel Adapt line takes a holistic approach to addressing environmental and health challenges, with speciality products like Osmo, designed to combat ionic imbalance in low salinity conditions, and Shock, which helps shrimp fight off bacterial diseases such as vibriosis.

As Cargill prepares to roll out this revamped Aquaxcel portfolio in November, the company is positioning itself as a key player in the Ecuadorian shrimp farming industry. 

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