Research: Natural antioxidants in fish feed

Dibaq’s main objective is to include these natural antioxidants in the group’s two business lines: aquaculture and pet feed.

 

"The use of natural antioxidants is of great interest for the animal nutrition sector as there is consumer demand to replace synthetic antioxidants. The main cause is the reassessment of the physical and chemical properties of synthetic food and the approach of animal feed with functional properties," explained the company.

 

The Project entitled ‘Design-based ingredients for natural antioxidants and a study on behaviour in various food matrices (Diana)’, has a budget of around €3.8 million and will be overseen by the Association of Food Biotechnology of Castilla and Leon (Vivartis).

 

However, it is possible that total investments between 2010 and 2014 will increase to €5 million due to "additional costs".

 

Dibaq Diproteg is to contribute €395,000 to the project, which is aimed at evaluating whether there is an improvement in production parameters during the finishing phase and increase the shelf life of fish by including antioxidants in their diet.

 

Long-chain fatty acids in fish which are highly unsaturated have positive health effects, but these also present a major technical obstacle in combating rancidity of the products.

 

The studies will be carried out in sea bream (Sparus aurata), sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) and rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss).

 

Tests will also be carried out with feeds for cats and dogs to evaluate nutritional value and shelf life of the feeds.