USSEC continues to support the sustainable growth of aquaculture worldwide as a source of animal protein production to feed a growing population. Morocco has a large potential and provides great opportunity to expand aquaculture activities in this fastest-growing food production sector in the North Africa region. This month, USSEC organized a virtual aquaculture workshop in Morocco, a first of its kind and original event in this market for fish and feed producers. 17 key professionals learned more about the use and sustainability of U.S. soy products in fish feed.

In his opening presentation, Brent Babb, USSEC regional director – Europe / Middle East – North Africa, highlighted USSEC’s role, its contribution to promote the use of U.S. soybean products in Maghreb, and its regional programs for sustainable feed used to support fish farming.

USSEC consultant Mark Newman, fish nutrition and feed manufacturing specialist, presented about feed management, sustainable U.S. soy-based aquafeeds, quality assurance of aquafeeds, and feed formulation basics. Newman stated that the workshop went very well, and that the information presented will help Moroccan fish farmers to be successful, which in turn could lead to increased feed usage with significant inclusion levels of U.S. soy products. He also underscored the need to base fish feed on high quality vegetable proteins sources such as U.S. hipro soybean meal and soy protein concentrates in sustainable soy-based fish feed.

Discussions covered specifications and inclusion rates of soy products in supplying available nutrients in feed for different growth phases of marine fish species and best feed management practices. Questions focused on using plant-based feed ingredients to replace fish meal in aquaculture diets.

Although Morocco’s poultry sector continues to be the primary driver of the country’s soybean meal market, aquaculture offers another attractive opportunity in a market that imports U.S. soybeans, soy hulls, soybean oil, and meal.

USSEC will organize additional events in the future to update recent developments and the use of U.S. soy products in fish feed. As the emerging aquaculture industry continues to grow and progress, so will the importance of sharing U.S. Soy as a highly valuable component of aquafeed.