Report

Teaser, summary, work performed and final results

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - SYLFEED (From forest to feed: enable the wood industry to bridge the protein gap)

Teaser

It is estimated that we will need 70% more food from our current supply in 2050. Despite considerable advances in industrial agriculture and livestock production, the system is highly resource-intensive, as animals are not efficient converting feed from crops into edible meat/...

Summary

It is estimated that we will need 70% more food from our current supply in 2050. Despite considerable advances in industrial agriculture and livestock production, the system is highly resource-intensive, as animals are not efficient converting feed from crops into edible meat/ protein.
In order to feed the growing population, aquaculture represents a promising opportunity to supply proteins in Europe, as it is a growing industry, and fishes have a much better feed conversion ratio compared to land-based animals (approximately 1.2kg of proteins required to produce 1kg of fish compared to 6-10 kg of feed to produce 1 kg of beef). In addition, the numerous seas and costal areas in Europe make Europe a continent well-suited for aquaculture production, in particular salmonids.
The continued growth of livestock and aquaculture production is dependent on considerable increases in feed supply and quality/ performance, as 45-60% of livestock production costs are feed costs. This situation represents considerable opportunity in delivering new feed solutions, in terms of both cost and quality, especially in Europe where 70% of proteins for animal feeds are imported.
Soy protein limitation for use in fish feed, future fish meal supply shortages and price volatility are driving the aquaculture industry imperative to incorporate alternative protein sources in feeds.
None of these protein sources being produced in Europe, European Food Security is at stake, and should facilitate the rise and commercialisation of new alternative protein sources.
SYLFEED goal is to demonstrate the creation of a new value chain from “Forest to feed” by implementing the technology developed by Arbiom at demonstration scale to prepare for industrial scale-up. The SYLFEED project aims at reducing the European protein gap by applying Arbiom’s technology to produce protein-rich ingredient comprised of Single Cell Protein (SCP) from wood for aquaculture.
Arbiom is using wood, a non-food, abundant, and renewable resource, and brings it into the food chain to produce SylPro®, a protein rich ingredient intended for feed and food markets.

Work performed

SYLFEED Demonstration project has now completed the first 18 months of project.
From a technical standpoint, this first period was dedicated to small scale optimisation of the process, and development of the product.
The major Milestone (and associated deliverable) for year 1 was achieved in June 2018 (MS4 included in D2.1): SPP produced several kilogramms of SylPro (name of our protein-rich feed ingredient) at small scale, according to ARBIOM protocol (WP2). This first batch was sent to MATIS in order to perform the compositional analysis (WP3).
Based on the compositional analysis, the nutritional performance of SylPro was validated in August 2018 and the consortium reached MS6 on time.
Matis formulated diets for Atlantic Salmon and Tilapia in Autumn 2018, and produced fish feed including SylPro for upcoming atlantic salmon trials in December 2018, reaching MS7 (validation of fish feed production at small scale).
Animal trials on Atlantic salmon have started end of January 2019, and will last 2 months. At the time of writing, the animal trials are running as planned.
In WP4, the valorisation strategy of lignin and C5-rich stream was clarified during year 1, focusing mainly on feed applications for both streams.
In addition, the overall methodology and model to measure the environmental impacts of the process and product were defined (WP6). The model is divided into 3 sub models: Forestry, biorefinery, feed models.
The list of protein sources to be compared with SylPro® has been defined. It includes fish meal, soy protein concentrate, rapeseed meal, SCP from other sources, and insect meal.
Based on collaborative work involving data collection from NSG and Arbiom, Ostfold finalised the LCA model for Arbiom‘s process, and is incrementally improving it.
In the first period of the project, the techno-economic model of Arbiom technology was developped, and is updated on a weekly basis. It provided a relative view of the most impactful operating units of the process, and is used for day to day improvements of the overall process (WP5).
Preparatory work was performed for the building and operation of Arbiom‘s demonsration plant. ARBIOM focused on refining the engineering design, and initiated bidding process for equipment purchase. Prayon worked on the phosphoric acid recycling loop. NSG secured wood and chemicals sourcing (WP1). From this work, perpsectives on industrial operations at larger scale were also drawn.
Communication and dissemination activities started at the very beginning of the project (WP7): MATIS and ARBIOM developped a project identity set, and MATIS created a project website (http://www.sylfeed.eu), that is regularly enriched with news from the consortium and on the project.
In addition, ARBIOM, MATIS, and NSG participated to various conferences to share SYLFEED concept and objectives, and the first results. Notable conferences with a speaking role include Nutreco Feed Tech Challenge, Aqua 2018, Etats Généraux de la Bioéconomie, Blue Growth parallel session, Woodchem, Aquaculture Innovation UK, the Nordic Wood Biorefinery Conference,...
ARBIOM has started to develop relationships with end users in order to ensure successfull market penetration, enabling to share first results from SYLFEED project.
All management procedures related to a proper management of the project were developped during this first year including KPIs, risk assessment, dashboard, monthly management meetings, general assemblies, monthly of bi-monthly work package updates,...(WP8)

Final results

The technology improvements based on the work performed at ARBIOM and PRAYON are one of the most important results of period 1. Indeed, the technology changes improve significantly the economics, and are critical for the entire profitability of the process.
During the second period, results of fish trials will be decisive to demonstrate that our product improves animal growth and digestibility.
Lignin and C5 valorisation will also be determining to make the entire process viable. First results on feed valorisation are promising, and will further be refined as the project continues.
The scale-up of the entire process will provide data to start preparing the setting up of the first commercial plant.
The ultimate goal of SYLFEED is to de-risk the launch of the first commercial plant with Arbiom Wood to Food technology, and demonstrate the effective creation of the value chain from Wood sourcing till fish feed manufacturing.
Based on results generated in P1, and main results expected in P2, these objectives remain and the expected impacts of the project that are coming from the commercial plant deployment in Europe are not modified.
They are listed below:
- Increase of income for farmers and breeders as a result of the exploitation of residues.
- The SYLFEED project will allow fish farmers to get more competitive and sustainable products.
- Savings in terms of water and fertilizers consumption as well as of land use in comparison with the current animal feed production.
- Stronger food chain security
- Proven cost-efficient value chain and economically attractive proteins production at industrial scale facilitating market acceptance and uptake of the developed products

Website & more info

More info: http://www.sylfeed.eu.