New TEA concept aims to elevate aquaculture standards

The combined focus on profitability and better animal health has increased dramatically in aquaculture in the past few years. More is now understood about metabolism and digestion in different species of fish and shrimp, and this calls for feed producers to further develop their recipes to accommodate industry demands.

As an aquafeed pioneer, we at Aller Aqua have taken another step up the innovation ladder. With the brand-new feed concept, TEA, farmers are offered a more sustainable way to improve stock health as well as farm performance.

“The TEA concept goes beyond our traditional feed formulation,” says Jesper Clausen, Group R&D Director at Aller Aqua, and continues:

“In the past the content of so-called ‘trace elements’ in aquafeed has been limited to the supply of raw materials and standard mineral premixes. This changes fundamentally with the TEA concept. Now we take advantage of the wide variety of essential trace elements in order to improve the health of fish and shrimp and thereby boost farm performance.”

The core of TEA (Trace Elements Adjusted) revolves around a broader range of elements and deeper insights into each element’s pivotal function.

Built on knowledge through studies and trials
TEA comprises a long list of trace elements. These elements typically appear only in minute amounts; hence the name ‘trace elements’. But they all play a key role as catalysts in enzyme building and other biochemical functions.

“Studies have long made it clear that trace elements play a pivotal role in a wide range of biological functions in fish as well as in shrimp,” says Robert Tillner, Group Product Manager at Aller Aqua R&D, who leads the TEA concept project.

“These elements ensure enzyme activation and metabolic function, and they help maintain the immune system. We have studied this carefully and developed a viable concept that includes a wide range of these vital elements. This will be in our feed going forward.”

The TEA concept is the first of its kind by Aller Aqua. But R&D Director Jesper Clausen underscores that this is just the beginning, as more studies and trials are already commencing.

“As always, our feed products are developed through close collaborations and knowledge sharing with farmers, scientists and industry partners. TEA is just the latest example. More trials are commencing and new ideas are already taking shape,” he says.

Innovation benefits both farmers and animal welfare
The carefully balanced dosage of trace elements in Aller Aqua’s feed is first and foremost developed to help farmers improve farm performance.

“From our preliminary work, we already know that TEA will improve digestion as well as immune function in both fish and shrimp,” says Robert Tillner.

“This means better growth, less faeces to clean, and an altogether healthier stock, benefiting the animals and by extension the farmers too.”

He points out the fact that many farmers already enjoy the benefits of species-adjusted feed. Now farmers will likely experience even better results.

Continuously improving through testing
At the Aller Aqua R&D centre, the general awareness of trace elements just underlines the industry’s accelerating focus on animal health and more sustainable production methods.

“I think it is safe to say that ‘normal’ is no longer enough,” says R&D Director Jesper Clausen, and continues:

“With TEA we have taken a big step into the future and established a new baseline. However, there is still a lot of work ahead of us. Real innovation takes time, and only through collaboration across the industry can we achieve all the mentioned things.”  

The R&D team has been busy verifying data from the initial trials, while at the same time initiating several new ones in close collaboration with farmers and research partners. This research will commence in 2026.