USSEC recently held a workshop in Mexico to present and discuss the results of aquaculture feeding demonstrations carried out during fiscal years 2013 and 2014.  The goal of the demonstrations was to evaluate the inclusion of U.S. soy protein concentrate (SPC) in aquaculture feeds.  Consultants Jairo Amezquita and Herbert Quintero organized and conducted this meeting in Mazatlán to talk about these results with representatives of aqua feed mills and aquaculture customers who were cooperators in the project.

Six feeding demonstrations that were carried out with different fish species were presented at the workshop including: red snapper feeding demonstrations with Martec Industries in Costa Rica; paiche with Amazon Products in Peru; rainbow trout with Titikaka Trout Co. in Peru; red snapper with the Feeding Research and Development Center in Mexico; and totoaba with the Autonomous University of Baja California in Mexico.  The workshop allowed participants to share and discuss protocols, procedures and results from the feeding demonstrations and to identify weaknesses and challenges that might be improved in future demonstrations.
This event also included a visit to the hatchery and laboratory facilities of the Feeding Research and Development Center (CIAD), a project cooperator.  After this meeting, several cooperators established agreements to continue the Feeding Demonstrations during FY 2015.