SELDOM does the general populace think of animal production as Nature's work of recycling. Animals convert fodder and feed to highly nutritious animal protein that benefits the human consumer. Cows, for instance, are able to 'recycle' silage and other otherwise humanly indigestible plant materials in their rumen. The end result--high protein beef and dairy products.

For too long now, the feed industry has not defended or explained its activities effectively enough to the general public, claims Clayton Gill. In a passionate presentation at the 3^rd ASA (American Soybean Association) South-east Asia-US Agricultural Cooperators Conference in Hanoi, the editor of Feed International magazine touched on the outlook for the global feed industry, and how developments in commercial and integrated aquatic feed, or aquafeed production would be the key drivers of global industrial feed production.

Tipping the world's rural-urban population balance for the first time in 2006, urbanisation and population growth will continue to propel upwards both the volume and value of commercial aquafeed. As a result, an estimated 30 to 40 million tonnes more feed will be required each year until 2010, given a per capita annual feed output of 97 kilogrammes, says Gill, citing data from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization.

At over US$10 billion, aquafeed is the fastest growing feed sector, powered almost exclusively by a robust aquaculture industry in the Asia-Pacific. The region accounts for the bulk of global aquafeed production by volume at over 85 percent, and is second only to North America in total industrial feed production.

Within Asia, China single-handedly accounts for over two-thirds of global aquaculture production. The country's aquaculture production had boomed 300 percent from 1990 to 2005. And thanks to the 'China effect', global aquaculture output has grown an average of 10 to 12 percent annually. In contrast, average annual growth in world meat output from terrestrial animal species was only 2.5 percent in 1995-2005.

Within Asia, China single-handedly accounts for over two-thirds of global aquaculture production, says Gill. The country's aquaculture output had boomed 300 percent from 1990 to 2005. And thanks to the 'China effect', global aquaculture output has grown an average of 10 to 12 percent annually. In contrast, average annual growth in world meat output from terrestrial animal species was only 2.5 percent in 1995-2005.

Worldwide, meat output growth from crustaceans and finfish were up by 14 and 12 percent respectively, compared with 5 percent for poultry and 3 percent for pork. Although aquatic meat accounts for just 10 percent of global meat output proportion, compared with 40 percent for pork, aquaculture will win the lion's share of annual feed tonnage growth, estimated at 8 to 10 percent annually for the next five years. In contrast, feed volume growth from broiler production, second to aquafeed and helped by integration and exports in developing countries, lagged behind at under 3 percent.

While there is hardly any doubt as to the growth potential of aquafeed production, the challenges this presents are equally massive. The controversy surrounding fishmeal as a feed raw material in aquaculture,

antibiotic residues in aquatic meat and the traceability of raw materials loom large for the aquaculturists and aquafeed producers alike. Managing aquaculture's growth sustainably is key to ensuring safe food production that utilises the natural 'recycling' process.

The three-day ASA conference saw participants from the grain commodities and animal production sectors in Asia and the United States congregate in Vietnam's capital, Hanoi. eFeedLink is the official media of this event, which ends Aug 1.