Understanding relevant issues is intended to create forward-thinking and commercially replicable solutions that support the growth of aquaculture production and the profitability of producers. By always keeping operational improvement at the forefront of our minds, SAA funds research that puts the dollars back in the pocket of the producer.
Three main pillars of solutions drive SAA to prioritize the producer, so that they may benefit from soy-inclusion in their aquaculture diets.
What products or byproducts are most effective as feed ingredients? How can we improve their nutritional values to make them a more desirable input?
What processes and operational technologies can be implemented, designed, or improved to make soy inclusion in aquaculture more practical and increase aquaculture producers profitability?
What species can most benefit from soy inclusion, or how can we improve nutritional values to make soy an ideal solution for all?
In 2025, SAA’s Aquaculture Industry Advisory Team, a committee of practicing aquaculture nutritionists and aquafeed formulators, has selected the following 6 applied research initiatives that seek to benefit the economic needs of both soybean and aquaculture producers.
This committee reviews submissions with an eye toward selecting those that best examine soy as a protein source that reduces feed expenses while enhancing aqua-livestock performance, all while employing due scientific rigor. The 2025 Request for Proposals identified salmon, trout, hybrid striped bass, largemouth bass, catfish, and shrimp among priority species for research.
At research completion, projects will be summarized and results released for review.
A NOVEL SOYBEAN WAX-FOCUSED TECHNOLOGY TO ELIMINATE THE TOP CONCERN OF THE SALMON RAS INDUSTRY — OFF-FLAVORS
Principal Investigator Yonathan Zohar, Ph.D.
University of Maryland, Baltimore County
The biofilters to maintain RAS water quality inadvertently create conditions for microorganisms that can impart “muddy” flavors to the flesh of farmed seafood. Depuration, or purging fish in clean water, is the primary method of eliminating these compounds — but it is extremely resource-intensive. Soybean wax represents a promising alternative for off-flavor mitigation, as preliminary research has shown high compound removal that could reduce or eliminate the need for depuration.
FARM-SCALE DEMONSTRATION OF HYDROGENATED SOY OIL IN TROUT FEED
Principal Investigator Jesse Trushenski, Ph.D.
Riverence Holdings LLC
Aquaculture is highly reliant on fish oil in aquafeeds, and its replacement has proven difficult for the nutritional requirements of carnivorous fish such as Rainbow Trout for long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA) — but recent high fish oil prices have illustrated a need for development of more affordable additional fats/oils. Documentation of soy oil replacement in aquafeeds has generally shown growth performance is unaffected as long as LC-PUFA requirements were satisfied; however, it has also been shown that modified soy oil, specifically hydrogenated oil, could have positive effects on the omega-3 fatty acid content in fish.
GUAR GUM INCLUSION IN HIGH-SOY DIETS FOR LARGEMOUTH BASS TO OPTIMIZE FISH PERFORMANCE AND PRODUCTION PROFITABILITY IN AN RAS
Principal Investigator Rebecca Lochmann, Ph.D.
University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff
There is increasing interest in culturing soy-fed Largemouth Bass, a high-value aquaculture species, in RAS setups; however, there is also need to economically remove solid waste that reduce water quality from these systems. One way to do this is to increase compactness and size of fecal pellets by adding binders to the aquafeed. Guar gum is selected for this study because of its proven efficacy and low cost among binders, but will be used at a low inclusion level and its effects additionally studied on nutrient digestibility, fish performance, and nutrient retention efficiency.
ADVANCING PRACTICAL PRODUCTION DIETS FOR LARGEMOUTH BASS
Principal Investigator D. Allen Davis, Ph.D.
Co-P.I. Tim Bruce, Ph.D.
Auburn University
This study is expected to build on the body of evidence that carnivorous fish such as Largemouth Bass, with proper aquafeed formulation, do well on soy-based feed. Current research trials have validated up to a 50% diet of soy or advanced soy products can be used in practical diets for juvenile LMB, yet industry preference is for ≥50% protein with ~18% lipids. Previous work has shown positive benefits to soy-based protein up to 50% — in a 40% protein, 8% lipid diet — in practical feed formulations, and that there are no indications these diets inhibit growth or impact fish health.
OPTIMIZING SOY INCLUSION IN LARGEMOUTH BASS FEEDS: BALANCING FISH PERFORMANCE, ECONOMIC VIABILITY, AND ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY
Principal Investigator Moureen Matuha, Ph.D.
Lincoln University of Missouri
Soybean meal is one of the most promising alternatives to fish meal in aquafeed because of its availability, cost, and high protein, but its use for carnivorous species such as Largemouth Bass is limited by reduced intake, impaired growth, and adverse gut health caused by anti-nutritional factors. Optimizing the inclusion levels of soy products such as lecithin (SL) and fermented meal (FSBM) in LMB diets is essential to address their nutritional requirements, performance, and filet quality. This project will feed trial groups with varying levels of SL and FSBM diet inclusion to determine levels that maximize performance with cost efficiency, while minimizing environmental impact.
MAXIMIZING INCLUSION OF SBM AND SPC IN FEEDS TARGETED TOWARD A NOVEL MARINE HERBIVOROUS SPECIES
Principal Investigator Jennica Lowell Hawkins
Ocean Era, Inc.
Outside the U.S., many herbivorous reef fish are highly sought as food-fish, and may offer great market potential inside the U.S. as well. Their adaptation to a complex polysaccharides-based diet (macroalgae such as seaweed) suggests they have a greater propensity to thrive on a soybean-based diet and may be better adapted to tolerate soy’s anti-nutritional factors compared to carnivorous food-fish species. This study will explore the use of soy meal and soy protein concentrate inclusion in feed for a high-value herbivorous tropical reef fish, Nenue — feed trials have shown this fish’s resulting filet has the taste and firmness of the carnivore Snapper.
We update our research priorities with input from stakeholders in the industry, and understanding of current industry trends and pain points. By involving a committee of practicing nutritionists from leading aquaculture feed companies, we are able to connect project outcomes directly with the value chain and provide practical benefits to aquaculture producers. For 2024, we have four key objectives in mind:
We strive to support projects that demonstrate commercial application of soy products in aquaculture, and how the producer can realize more profit by using soy as a solution.
We seek understanding of gastrointestinal barriers to soy inclusion and solutions to limit negative effects of common ANFs such as saponins, lectins, trypsin, tannins, and phytic acid.
We prioritize demonstrating positive impacts on water quality through the use of soy as a feed ingredient.
We support concepts that incentivize the growth of domestic aquaculture and new technologies that improve the practices that producers employ in aquaculture production.
A request for proposal process is implemented to encourage researchers to submit study outlines that meet SAA priorities. The RFP process begins in December of each year, with projects chosen and researchers notified the following March. To request an RFP be sent, please provide your contact information.
