Do you know aquaculture’s environmental footprint?

Figure 1.  Farmed fish is one of the most eco-efficient and sustainable forms of protein (example from salmon www.globalsalmoninitiative.org).  

Figure 2.  Overview of reported carbon footprint from different animal proteins (adapted from Poore & Nemecek, 2018).  

Data, data, data 

Greenhouse gas emissions and the route to decarbonization is gaining momentum in the seafood industry, especially with the new regulatory framework in the EU CSRD that was brought into force in January 2023 (for first reporting in the financial year 2024).  In addition, the increased availability of sustainability-linked loans and raising of green bonds along with the willingness to invest in companies with sustainability credentials is raising the profile of ESG measurements.  However, any metric in the framework of the sustainability discussion needs to have a baseline of verifiable and reliable data, which can act as a starting point on a decarbonization journey.   It is well demonstrated that despite seafood from aquaculture has a relatively low carbon footprint, there is great variability within species and between species in the aquaculture sector.  This is highlighted in Figure 2 which shows the data from published literature that describes the variation in carbon footprint (Poore & Nemecek 2018).   For example, the footprint of farmed fish in published reports varies from 2.5 to 12 kgCO2e/100g protein, and for crustaceans (farmed) from 5 to 30 kgCO2e/100g protein.  So knowing your own data, on a company level is critical in establishing a reliable baseline. 

In the last years, many companies have made commitments towards decarbonization and have signed up to science-based targets (SBTi) to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 in line with the Paris Agreement on climate change.  As a supplier to the animal protein industry, dsm-firmenich understands that its scope 1, and 2 emissions are other companies’ scope 3 emissions. Royal DSM was one of the first companies of its kind to sign up to science-based targets and is making significant progress in achieving its target commitments through investing and implementing the latest technologies and innovations across its business.  For example, Veramaris is a key supplier of Omega 3 DHA and EPA from natural marine algae for use in aquaculture and has committed to a 38% reduction in scope 1 and 2 emissions.  This SBTI list of companies also includes aquafeed and salmon farming companies, and the pressure is on to deliver quantifiable reductions in emissions that are in line with 2030 target commitments. Some examples are given in Table 2. 

Feed raw materials are a key driver of sustainable animal production, and of course, the route to decarbonization is heavily reliant on sourcing feed raw materials with a lower footprint.  Latest estimates demonstrate that the raw materials in feed can contribute up to 80% of the carbon footprint of farmed animal and seafood production.  Today, and into the future, along with price and nutrients, the environmental footprint will be a key decision factor when it comes to feed formulation and the route to decarbonization and overall reduced environmental footprint.  

Table 2.  A selection of salmon and aquafeed companies’ commitments to Science Based Targets Source: www.sciencebasedtargets.org

Avoiding carbon tunnel vision

Despite the importance of carbon footprint, environmental impact can be more broadly explained by a full lifecycle assessment (including 19 environmental factors).  Water use, and water scarcity are also important metrics with increased awareness in the aquaculture industry.  The discussion around biodiversity is gaining momentum with the Science Based Targets for Nature (SBTN) developing methods and resources for SBTs for nature for companies (https://sciencebasedtargets.org/about-us/sbtn).  This is also linked as part of the progress with Sustainable Development Goals.

Owning your footprint with Sustell^TM

Today, there is an increased focus on the environmental footprint of our food production systems, but it is clear that meaningful progress can only happen when companies know their own footprint, based on as much of their primary data as possible.  Sustell ^TM is available for aquaculture species such as salmonids, seabass and seabream, and coming soon with shrimp.  Sustell^TM measures the full life cycle assessment of animal protein production. It is a cloud-based, digital solution from dsm-firmenich which is easy and intuitive to use and can calculate both the feed footprint and the farm footprint in detail.  dsm-firmenich has been working for many years with multiple partners in the Sustell development, such as Blonk Consultants from the Netherlands – an expert center of agri-food footprinting along with expert digital partners.  Sustell ^TM is built on the latest industry databases and internationally recognized LCA methodologies and guidelines for calculating the full environmental footprint and is ISO-assured to ISO 14040/44.   Sustell^TM combines measurement with practical, science-based, proven solutions to unlock the value of sustainability across different aquaculture species and farming systems.  Another important feature of Sustell is the ability to model different interventions and scenarios to the feed and farming process, to help plan pathways to decarbonization or to reach other footprint reduction targets.  Sustell ^TM allows customers to own their own footprint and steer their business successfully under current and future sustainability demands.

We cannot be successful in splendid isolation

Sustell ^TM is a service that is being used across the value chain from ingredient suppliers to retailers. The importance of full LCA footprinting is increasing from pressure along the value chain and Figure 3 gives an overview on the stakeholder mix.  For example, the need to measure and benchmark both standard and novel raw materials, or different species and suppliers within the seafood value chain with the same metrics.  This will only intensify, as companies commit to Science Based Targets and other environmental impact pledges as well as accessing sustainability-linked loans and green bonds for example.  In addition, retail is moving to product labelling initiatives for environmental scoring in keeping with increasing demand from the consumer – as such the use of average industry level, secondary data will not be accurate enough to provide a true representation of a product’s footprint.   Therefore, each company will need to measure its own footprint, using its own primary data as industry averages will no longer be acceptable to stakeholders.  

Conclusion

Blue foods from aquaculture are well recognized as having a low environmental impact and as an important resource to fulfill the protein needs of our growing population.  However, as stakeholders across the value chain make increasing demands on the environmental credentials of companies around the world the importance of knowing and being in control of your own footprint is increasingly relevant.  Not only to evaluate a starting point- or baseline but also to map the decarbonization pathway towards targets and company commitments.   In the fast-developing and complex world of sustainability, Sustell^TM helps customers navigate and advance in a credible and scalable way, making the invisible, visible and unlocking the full value of sustainability.

Figure 3. Stakeholders in the sustainable value chain of aquaculture.