BioMar and Cefetra Partner to Reduce Aquaculture Feed Emissions from “Crop to Coast”

BioMar, a global aquafeed producer, has announced a new collaboration with Cefetra, a company specialising in agricultural supply chains, to cut emissions associated with key vegetable-based ingredients in aquaculture diets.

The initiative comes at a time when aquaculture continues to expand its role in global food production. According to the latest data, in 2022 aquaculture overtook capture fisheries for the first time, accounting for 51% of the world’s aquatic animal supply. Despite having one of the lowest feed conversion ratios in animal farming, more than 80% of emissions linked to fish farming come from feed and raw material sourcing. Addressing this challenge is considered critical for the sector.

The partnership between BioMar and Cefetra aims to lower emissions at source, promote regenerative farming practices, and strengthen the connection between crop production and fish feed manufacturing. The programme will begin in the United Kingdom, with a focus on vegetable-based ingredients such as wheat, which form an essential component of aquafeed.

Cefetra Ecosystem Services, launched in 2023 in partnership with Soil Capital, provides UK farmers with support to adopt practices that improve soil health and deliver verified carbon removals. Farmers receive financial incentives for implementing these measures, helping to offset the risks of transition while generating measurable environmental benefits that companies such as BioMar can integrate into their sustainability strategies.

James Neilson, Supply Chain Director at Cefetra Ecosystem Services, explained: “Cefetra’s unique position allows us to aggregate demand from hundreds of buyers across industries. This enables us to create long-term solutions that put soil health and carbon removals at the core. With our deep knowledge of the supply chain, we can ensure improvements on the farm translate into real climate benefits for downstream sectors like aquaculture.”

Ivana Russo, Formulations Manager and Sustainability Lead at BioMar UK, added: “At BioMar, we believe that responsible growth in aquaculture starts at the source. By partnering with Cefetra Ecosystem Services, we are reducing emissions where it matters most, while supporting farmers and building more resilient food systems. This collaboration is an important step towards meeting our science-based climate targets and delivering low-carbon feed solutions to our customers.”

The partnership was recently featured in the Executive TV programme Circular Horizons: Farming, Construction, and the Race to Redefine Waste, which highlighted cross-sector efforts to deliver practical environmental improvements.

With this collaboration, BioMar and Cefetra are seeking to demonstrate how agriculture and aquaculture can work together to strengthen supply chains and achieve tangible climate benefits—from the soil to the seafood sector.