August 9, 2010

Venezuelan scientists turn shrimp waste into feed

Venezuelan researchers from the State Research Foundation Centre for Experimental Agroindustrial Production (CIEP) have found multiple uses of waste extracted from shrimp.

The project, entitled "Biotechnological Processes in the shrimp" was carried out with the objective of achieving sustainable management of the environment and to develop technologies to harness waste from the shrimp industry.

The researchers used both the head and the shell of the shrimp, separating the astaxanthin which is a red coloured pigment. 

During the development of the initiative, the scientists produced fishmeal as a base for the food processing of aquaculture products, said the National Endowment for Science, Technology and Innovation (FONACIT).

The CIEP team is committed to developing methods to implement waste from shrimp and blue crab to produce food for aquacultural purposes. The main objective is to replace imported raw materials with products from domestic firms.