USSEC continued to work closely with Korean target flounder growers and aquafeed mills to monitor local aquafeed market trends as the Korean government expands its subsidy program encouraging the use of protein meal-based extruded feed.  The national assembly is expected to pass a two-fold budget increase to this program by the end of January.  The increased budget will motivate more flounder and fish growers to switch their feed to protein meal-based extruded feed from conventional fish-based moist pellet feed. 

Flounder growers who have switched to extruded feed and the supplying feed mills have been targeted by USSEC to promote the feeding values of soybean meal and soy protein concentrate as ingredients in aquaculture feed.  USSEC’s strategy in Korea calls attention to the benefits of soybean meal and soy protein concentrate as key ingredients of a sustainable feed supply, reduced feeding costs and providing consistency in quality.  In anticipation of growth in the extruded feed market, USSEC is preparing to conduct a feeding demonstration proving the feasibility of soy protein concentrate as a protein source for flounder.