USSEC Korea recently provided individual on-site visits to 8 of 34 target flounder growers on Jeju Island.  These growers belong to the target group classified as “low” in USSEC’s estimation on their level of acceptance to soy.
USSEC’s objective was to raise their acceptance level from “low” to “middle” by using the message that soybean meal prices have been less variable than those of fish meal over the past three years.  Also, the protein digestibility estimate is 90 percent of fish meal for soybean meal and is similar to fish meal for soy protein concentrate.  The flounder growers agreed that more inclusion of soy in fish feed could contribute to stabilizing feed prices and that soy is a good feed ingredient with high protein digestibility to replace fish meal.  USSEC estimated that four of the target growers improved their acceptance level to “middle” from “low.”
With the expectation that the target groups will increase their acceptance to fish feeds containing soy as suggested by USSEC (12 percent for soybean meal and 18 percent for soy protein concentrate in flounder diets), USSEC will keep monitoring their acceptance to soy and will continue following up with the on-site consultations to keep improving understanding of the benefits of soy in terms of sustainable aquaculture, environment, food safety and nutrition.