Evaluation of Non‐Conventional Plant‐Based Feed Ingredients ( NPFIs ) for a Sustainable Aquafeed Industry

Abstract

The development of aquafeed is indeed crucial for maintaining sustainability in aquaculture. Conventional plant‐based protein meals, such as soybean meal, canola meal, DDGS, cottonseed, corn meal, and their combinations have been extensively explored in aquafeed used in fed‐aquaculture systems. Nevertheless, endeavors and scholarly interest in incorporating non‐conventional plant‐based feed ingredients (NPFIs) with nutritional value into aquafeeds for sustainable aquaculture production remain ongoing. NPFIs that have yet to be fully explored and authorized might be considered as a novel source of protein, lipids, carbohydrates, and functional biomolecules. There are a diverse number of NPFIs, such as seed meal, leaf meal, seed cake, kernel meal, by‐product meal, and fruit waste meal that exhibit considerable diversity in their nutritional profile, with the crude protein content varying from 2.4% to 76.4% and crude lipid levels ranging from 0.2% to 39.5%. Besides, the presence of various amounts of fatty acids, amino acids, and phytochemicals may positively enhance growth and feed efficiency and promote the overall health of aquatic species, making them considered as valuable aquafeed ingredients. This review, therefore, aims to comprehensively investigate and critically evaluate the utilization of NPFIs as novel feed ingredients for the growth, health, and welfare of farmed aquatic species. A Strengths‐Weaknesses‐Opportunities‐and‐Threats (SWOT) analysis has also been conducted to assess the feasibility of NPFIs for aquafeeds. As a result, this review indicates that the integration of NPFIs into aquafeeds as feedstuffs or feed additives offers great potential in the sustainable development of aquaculture production for all parties involved, particularly small‐scale producers.

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