USGBC promotes sustainable DDGS to Indian aquaculture sector

INDIA – The US Grains & Bioproducts Council (USGBC) has expanded its engagement with India’s aquaculture industry, promoting US-origin distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS) as a feed ingredient with nutritional and sustainability benefits for shrimp production.

The Council recently met with seven aquaculture producers across India, the world’s second-largest shrimp exporter, to discuss using DDGS in shrimp diets and how sustainability documentation for US feed grains could support access to international markets.

Several companies subsequently registered with the Council’s Sustainable Grain Exports (SGE) platform, strengthening their links with US feed grains. 

The platform provides sustainability assurances for US-origin grains across international supply chains.

Carlos F. Suárez, Director of Global Sustainability at USGBC, said Indian aquaculture producers are facing growing requirements to demonstrate the sustainability of plant-based feed ingredients.

“The Indian aquaculture industry is facing the same challenges we are seeing across other regions like Southeast Asia and the Americas, in terms of needing to provide sustainability assurances for plant-based ingredients,” Suárez said.

He said such assurances are increasingly important for companies seeking access to markets with sustainability requirements, including the European Union.

DDGS positioned as a sustainable feed ingredient

During the meetings, USGBC highlighted the nutritional advantages of DDGS in shrimp diets and its potential to help reduce the environmental impacts associated with feed manufacturing and aquaculture production.

The Council also introduced producers to the Corn Sustainability Assurance Protocol (CSAP) and Sorghum Sustainability Assurance Protocol (SSAP). 

These programmes provide sustainability information and records that can help international buyers and end-users demonstrate responsible sourcing.

According to USGBC, the participating companies expressed interest in US DDGS because of its consistent quality, competitive pricing and sustainability documentation generated through CSAP.

The Council’s outreach comes as India’s animal feed sector continues to expand. 

USDA forecasts animal feed demand in India to grow by 4% in 2026/27, driven by expected growth of 5-8% in poultry, aquaculture and dairy production. 

The agency also identifies DDGS as an emerging feed ingredient competing with oilseed meals in commercial feed.

Mitra said expanding the Council’s technical and commercial presence in India’s aquaculture sector could help increase future demand for US corn co-products.

“Increasing the Council’s technical and commercial footprint in the Indian aquaculture sector is an important step in increasing demand for US corn co-products in the near future,” Mitra said.

The engagement also provides USGBC with an opportunity to identify potential local partners and end-users for future conferences and networking activities focused on US feed grains.

The Council’s Sustainable Grain Exports platform currently provides a framework for international supply chain stakeholders to access sustainability assurances associated with US-origin grains.

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