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01/31/12
Tropical Reduces Eco-Footprint

For over a decade, we have worked to provide responsibly farmed products. In order to do so, we continuously monitor our practices to identify and address factors that could impact the sustainability of our production systems.

One of the many areas we continuously monitor in our farming operations is our formulated feed. We verify that the nutrients and energy requirements for farmed Tilapia are met while minimizing our impact on the environment.

As mentioned in Issue 16 of our newsletter, by the second quarter of 2011 we were able to reduce our FIFO ratio from 0.16 to 0.13. At the end of 2011, we reached yet another goal by lowering the ratio to a net zero when we modified the source of fishmeal in our Tilapia feed. Now, we exclusively use fishmeal from by-products originated from sustainable fisheries such as the Ecuadorian Tuna Industry, which is highly regulated by the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC).

With this achievement, we are able to produce a more sustainable product by eliminating the pressure on wild stocks caught for fishmeal. The result of a zero FIFO ratio is a net contribution to global fish supplies.

In 2012 we plan to make our tilapia feed even more eco-friendly by reducing the amount of protein in the feed and thus, reducing the nitrogen footprint of our farming systems. We will make these changes to the feed formula all while complying with the ingredient and processing guidelines for feed production.

The nitrogen footprint in aquaculture production refers to the difference between the nitrogen introduced into the farming system and the nitrogen content in the harvested fish. During our most recent BAP audit, our nitrogen footprint was calculated as 0.35 Kg per ton of harvested fish - well below the industry's standard. The average nitrogen waste from aquaculture operations is between 42 and 66 Kg per ton of fish produced (2005, Strain and Hargrave).

As we continue to produce seafood with an outlook for the future, we always keep in mind the animal's nutritional needs and the nutritional characteristics of the final product. We are constantly working to ensure our Tilapia is a dependable healthy source of lean-protein farmed in an eco-friendly manner.

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