Industry update News Feeding and Nutrition
Finnish RAS farmer Finnforal partners with animal feed firm Alltech

Recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) innovator Finnforel Oy is working with animal nutrition company Alltech in a bid to acquire the Raisioaqua fish feed production facility of Finnish food maker Raiso Group.

Raisioaqua facility manufactures environmentally friendly feed for aquaculture and specializes in functional feeding solutions that are suitable for northern conditions.

“Together with Finnforel, we will be enhancing the quality and availability of nutrition for sustainable aquaculture systems. Aqua producers will benefit from the strength of Alltech’s scientific research and commercial expertise globally, including a dedicated aqua nutrition research centre, the Alltech Coppens Aqua Centre in the Netherlands, which specializes in nutrition for recirculating aquaculture systems,” said Dr. Mark Lyons, president and chief executive of Alltech.

Finnforel raises rainbow trout in closed RAS tanks at its facilities in Finland.

The fish are grown from egg to fry at Hatsina, from fry to fingerlings in Huutokoski, and from fingerlings to fish in Varkaus.

The company uses smart systems to regulate feeding, temperature and other system variables.

Alltech’s and Finnforel’s acquisition of the Raisioaqua feed production facility will complete the circular-economy fish-farming chain in Finland and provide a replicable model for others, according to a press release from the two companies.

“Feed developed in accordance with the principles of a sustainable circular economy represents the last link in the chain,” said Jussi Mekkonen, CEO of Finnforel Oy. “We have another new aquaculture facility that will be completed in spring 2023, after which we will be able to produce the eggs used in fish farming. Then, the entire fish-farming chain will be ready to be exported to the world.”