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AbstractAn R&D Israeli company, which supplies health management products to the aquaculture industry, has developed an innovative, natural anti-bacterial and anti-parasitic feed additive. The use of natural compounds in place of antibiotics and chemicals will lead to a significant reduction in fish diseases and mortality, thereby increasing cultivation productivity. The company is looking for an industrial R&D partner to further develop and test this innovative bio-additive.DetailsAn Israeli company, which supplies health management products to the aquaculture industry, has developed an innovative, natural anti-bacterial and anti-parasitic feed additive. The use of natural compounds in place of antibiotics and chemicals will lead to a significant reduction in fish diseases and mortality, thereby increasing cultivation productivity. The company is looking for an industrial R&D partner to further develop and test this innovative bio-additive.As the world population has increased, so has the demand for seafood products, with a greater percentage of people worldwide consuming seafood in 2009 than the previous 20 years. Furthermore, consumers are increasingly demanding consistent quality and availability of seafood at a reasonable price. All of these factors directly lead to a rapid expansion of aquaculture, as a booming commercial market. Per capita supply from aquaculture had increased from 0.7 kg in 1970 to 7.8 kg in 2008, an average annual growth rate of 6.6%. The total worldwide aquaculture market has grown at an average annual rate (AAGR) of 7.3%, from $65.9 billion in 2003 to $93.7 billion in 2010 ($70 billion excluding plants). Indeed, aquaculture is growing more rapidly than all other food-producing sectors, though it had its limitations. The growth of the aquaculture industry is characterized by a rapid process of intensification and intensive culture systems favor the growth of many disease-causing organisms and spread of disease. Sustainability and development of intensive aquaculture are largely at stake, as significant ecological and pathological problems are increasing, threatening to damage market profitability. The FAO (the UN Food and Agriculture Organization) estimated in its 2008 annual report that aquatic diseases are responsible for severe economic losses in every part of the industry, estimated at well over 7 billion U.S. dollars per year. One of the largest challenges in intensive animal breeding and aquaculture is the microbiological contamination that may appear in the breeding system. This is even more relevant in an aquatic system, due to the higher probability of contamination. The environmental hazards resulting from half a century's intensive use of aggressive and hazardous chemical agents in aquaculture, makes it imperative to consider alternative or complementary approaches allowing prevention and treatment of infectious agents in aquaculture production systems. The Israeli company recognizes this need and has developed new organic formulation, aimed to serve as anti-bacterial and anti-parasitic feed additives, derived from natural compounds. These bio-additives will suppress and prevent the development and propagation of pathogens, without any negative effect on fish health or performance. The developed technology originates from the screening of natural candidates and the identification of the most effective compounds, the integration and development of the required formula using stabilizers ingredients and the performance of in-vitro trials to examine the efficacy of the additive. The company provides cost-effective solutions to the growing aquaculture industry and employs expert and skilled R&D team. The company's team is multi-disciplined and has deep understanding, as well as experience, in various biological and technological areas. Innovative Aspects: The development of the bio-additive presents an innovative approach utilizing new, robust and stable organic compounds, integrated as components in fish feed. Hence, the use of this natural formulation will assure an effective, safe and more stable aquaculture and will provide significant advantages as compared to state-of-the-art aquatic health management methods and products: •Decrease costs in time, labor and materials for treating aquatic animals •Reduction in fish mortality and fish diseases •Improvement in feed conversion rates •Limiting damage to the environment and reducing health risks to customers and to the operational staff •Higher product quality leading to higher pricing and increased profitability of fish farming •Opening new markets that are committed to "organic agriculture" or limiting use of fish with potentially harmful residuals
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