Status of the shrimp industry
Over the past three decades, the global shrimp industry has experienced remarkable growth. Production volumes have increased fivefold, from 30 metric tons per hectare to 150 metric tons per hectare (Mai C. ADM). Today, global shrimp production has reached approximately 5.5 million metric tons (Rabobank, 2024). The majority of this production originates from two key regions: Asia and Latin America.
This rapid advancement has been driven by improvements in genetics, the adoption of innovative technologies, the industrialization of farming practices, enhanced disease prevention strategies, and the development of precise nutritional solutions.
Nevertheless, the industry faces growing concerns regarding sustainability. These include the conversion of natural land for aquaculture, excessive use of antibiotics and chemicals, discharge of polluted water into surrounding ecosystems, and the overreliance on fishmeal. Since 1980, shrimp feed has become the largest consumer of fishmeal, accounting for approximately 25% of global fishmeal usage (IFFO, 2022). Additional challenges have emerged in recent years, such as market oversupply, declining prices, and the rise of new diseases.
Sustainability: The path forward
Despite these challenges, sustainability remains a fundamental pillar for the continued development of the shrimp industry and its long-term viability. As a global leader in animal nutrition, ADM is deeply committed to promoting sustainability, particularly through nutritional innovation.
In shrimp feed formulation, ADM emphasizes the importance of balancing rapid growth performance with environmental responsibility. This involves incorporating more sustainable ingredients that minimize ecological impact. Key trends in sustainable nutrition include the use of organic minerals, phytogenics, yeast-based products, probiotics, and plant sterols.
In alignment with our mission to enhance farmer efficiency and promote sustainable practices, ADM has developed a specialized feed solution for Litopenaeus vannamei (whiteleg shrimp), supporting both productivity and environmental stewardship.
Importance of sterols in shrimp feeds
One unique challenge that comes with formulating shrimp feeds is the essential nature of cholesterol as a nutrient. Cholesterol plays key roles in cellular structure, tissue lipid transportation, and the regulation of lipid metabolism. It is also the essential precursor molecule to an assortment of steroid hormones that regulate molting, energy use, and reproduction (Kanazawa 2001). Crustaceans cannot synthesize cholesterol from smaller molecules, and they need sources of it in their feeds to support growth and health (1-2.5 g/kg diet for optimal growth, depending on species/life stage). Traditionally, formulators met the cholesterol requirements of shrimp by including lots of cholesterol-rich ingredients in diets, such as fish and squid oils and fishmeal. As the feed industry has been shifting away from animal-source ingredients over the last three decades, the risk of cholesterol deficiency has become a major concern (Chen et al. 2023a). While some mitigating solutions have been adopted over time (phospholipid products and bile acids to increase bioavailability), meeting the cholesterol requirements of shrimp continues to be a costly endeavor.